Two new restaurants coming to Downtown Bentonville will bring something relatively new to the area's culinary scene: two forms of Asian-style cuisine.
Junto is a modern Japanese eatery, and Bar Kapu is touted as a laid-back bar offering tropical-inspired drinks. Both restaurants will open Friday, Aug. 30.
The restaurants will be in the lobby of the new Motto Hilton Downtown Bentonville at 229 S. Main St., which also opens Friday. James Beard Award semifinalists Steve Palmer and Kimball Brienza of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group are behind the concepts.
Junto is a modern Japanese restaurant with a menu from Chef Masa Hamaya that includes seasonal small plates and chef specialties, alongside an extensive list of traditional sushi, sashimi and nigiri. Guests can partake in the chef’s “omakase,” which translates to “I leave it up to you." This option has its own dedicated entrance.
Representing a different style of Asian cuisine and culture, Bar Kapu will serve tropical drinks and an elevated menu of Southeast Asian-inspired small plates and finger foods. The cocktail list, which is served in a variety of creative, fun glassware, features traditional tiki flavors with a modern twist — fruit-forward and familiar, but balanced. The fusion menu highlights the cuisines of Southeast Asia, East Asia and Hawaii. Bar Kapu will welcome guests for dinner and weekend brunch, with a private room catering to pre-booked parties.
“Bentonville is a special place for many reasons,” Steve Palmer, founder of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, said in a press release. “We’re looking forward to being a part of such a lively community, where the comradery and excitement extend from the world-class mountain trails to the walkable downtown.”
Palmer recently spoke along with representatives from the Motto Hotel on the Visit Bentonville podcast New American Town. He talked about the excitement for local food in Bentonville and why it was important to bring unique concepts to the town.
“You can’t meet someone in Bentonville that isn’t excited about Northwest Arkansas,” he said in the podcast, adding that Indigo Road plans to have a total of four food and beverage spots in the region. “Indigo Road is putting down some roots here.” While the new upscale restaurants are in the hotel lobby, they cater to locals as well as visitors.
“These new eateries will be great additions to our already amazing culinary scene,” said Alison Nation, vice president of communications and marketing at Visit Bentonville. “We know Motto guests and locals alike are going to enjoy these dining experiences.” In his podcast interview, Palmer reiterated that the restaurant concepts are “a restaurant located in a hotel and not a hotel restaurant.”
The Motto is a relatively new concept for Hilton with the Bentonville location being only the fifth in the nation and eighth in the world. The six-floor, 175-room Motto Downtown Bentonville is minutes from the local walking and biking trails. This is the first Motto in Arkansas and the entire Southeast United States, according to the Motto Hilton website.
Walk-ins are welcome, although reservations are encouraged and will be available on OpenTable starting Friday.
For more information about Motto Hotel, visit Motto Bentonville.
To learn more about Bar Kapu, visit Barkapu.com To learn more about Junto, visit JuntoSushi.com.
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