They’re getting ready to roll.
St. Johns County’s first revolving sushi belt restaurant, Nara Sushi, is nearing their grand opening, marketing manager Stacey Liu told The Citizen.
The hotly-anticipated venture is aiming for an opening at the end of February or early March.
The brand’s owner is expanding from Pooler, Georgia — a suburb of Savannah — where the mechanized concept has already seen success.
“We’ve been open in Savannah for three years now, and business has been great,” said Liu.
The unique, 4,200-square-foot eatery will be located in Ponte Vedra at the Shoppes at Valley Ridge at 10850 U.S. 1.
“Right now in our Savannah restaurant, we have about 400 plates rotating and around 20 options customers can choose from,” Liu said. “Those options range from desserts to appetizers to nigiri and special rolls that are unique to our restaurant.”
The experience blends automation with traditional service. “You can also order off the menu — it’s very interactive,” Liu said. “We have little trains on top of the rotating belt that deliver sushi straight to your table.”
Technology extends beyond the belt system. “We also have a cat robot that delivers food, and our customers love it, especially the kids,” Liu said. “The cat robot is fully human-sized — it’s about five feet tall, has wheels on the bottom, and runs on its own.”
Staff remain part of the service model, assisting customers and keeping the operation running smoothly.
The restaurant also emphasizes desserts and drinks made on the premises. “We brew our teas in-house, and they have popping bubbles, fruit pieces, and fruit purée,” Liu said. “All of our desserts are handmade.”
Design and atmosphere were also carefully considered. “We love big windows,” Liu said. “The owner really loves natural sunlight and an open concept with light-colored wood.”
