Seafood lovers reel in two new, locally-owned restaurants
Seafood lovers reeled in two new, locally-owned restaurants this week.
BIG SHARKS FISH & CHICKEN opened Monday serving up deep-fried seafood selections, as well as chicken strips and burgers at 330 South Grand Ave. E. And area diners will get their first taste of NAMI POKE Tuesday with the soft opening for the Hawaiian-Japanese fusion establishment at 916 South Grand Ave. W.
“Nami is Japanese for ocean waves and we’re bringing a wave of freshness to Springfield,” said Hau Nguyen of his new restaurant that will feature poke, the traditional Hawaiian raw fish salad. “People are excited for it. Many have either heard of poke or have tried it before. They’re excited to be able to get it here in Springfield.”
Nami Poke will be open for limited hours this week as a staff training exercise. A streamlined menu will be served from noon to 6 p.m. July 25-29. Beginning Aug. 1, regular operating hours will be 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
The menu features 10 signature poke bowls featuring everything from tuna to tofu, salmon to shrimp, chicken to the Japanese eel, Unagi.
Or customers can craft their own poke bowl, choosing from a variety of proteins, toppings, sauces and garnishes. Other selections on the menu include sushi “donuts” with the donut-shaped rice base topped with a choice of tuna, salmon, Unagi or imitation crab. Side dishes include seaweed salad, octopus salad and miso soup.
The majority of the menu is gluten-free, using a wheat-free tamari sauce instead of soy.
The Chicago-based seafood distributor TRUEWORLD FOODS – known as the preeminent distributor of Asian sushi and sashimi grade specialty seafood – is supplying the seafood.
Nami Poke – located in the former LI’L WILLY’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ site – is a quick service establishment with indoor seating but the entire menu is served in to-go containers. Phone: 217-679-3771.
The opening of Big Sharks Fish & Chicken near downtown Springfield marks the third location for the Decatur-based brand and the first time it has ventured beyond its hometown waters. But it won’t be the last.
Owner Sajed “Saj” Qattoum confirmed he has secured the former LONG JOHN SILVER’s site in Champaign where he plans to open a fourth location in the summer of 2024. Big Sharks Fish & Chicken has two locations in Decatur.
Qattoum acquired the Springfield address – formerly home to AUDI’S CAFE & GAMING – last summer.
“We’re bringing in top quality food all fresh, cooked to order,” Qattoum said. “You get it hot every time.”
Big Sharks’ seafood selection includes catfish filets and nuggets, tilapia and walleye filets and jumbo shrimp. Chicken cuts include tenders, wings, gizzards and liver. Selections can be purchased as meals, family combinations and party packs. Side dishes include fries, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and hush puppies.
Operating hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Dine in and take out available, as well as orders can be called in advance for pickup within 15 minutes. Phone: 217-717-9700.
MEL-O-CREAM DONUTS have been making mornings a little sweeter in Springfield for eight decades. Now the brand is testing adding some savory options to the lineup.
A selection of breakfast sandwiches are temporarily joining the lineup alongside the old fashioned and fritters at the 4411 W. Yukon Drive store.
“We’re just seeing what the response is,” Springfield franchise owner Amanda Crossland said, referring to the savory menu items as a test. “That side of town there aren’t a lot of morning options. Thought we’d try a savory (option).
“So far the initial response has been great. People really like them.”
The sandwiches feature egg and cheese paired with a breakfast meat (choice of sausage patty, bacon or Canadian bacon) and tucked into either an English muffin or a bismarck shell. Cost is $3.99.
A timeline has not been set to decide whether these newcomers will become a permanent menu offering or expand to other Springfield Mel-O-Cream stores, Crossland said.
The Springfield Mel-O-Cream franchise also operates locations at 525 North Grand Ave. East, 217 E. Laurel St. and 3010 S. Sixth St. Still no word on whether the Fairhills Mall store will be reopening. The location at 1953 W. Monroe St. closed in May with management citing issues with the facility.
The Grant family served its first deep-fried, sugary confections in Springfield in the 1930s. Today, the Springfield and Lincoln franchisees are the only place where you can buy these doughnuts under the Mel-O-Cream name. But MEL-O-CREAM DONUTS INTERNATIONAL makes frozen and pre-fried donuts that are sold to bakeries throughout the Midwest.
Tickets are available for the ILLINOIS STEWARDSHIP ALLIANCE’s 2023 Harvest Celebration.
A family-friendly hog roast will be held Sept. 10 at the Indian Creek Farmstead in Petersburg. The menu highlight will be a pasture-raised, locally sourced hog roast. Vegetarian options available.
Tickets include the meal, along with live music and activities that include a hayride and petting zoo.
Cost is $50 for adults, $25 for kids ages 4 to 15. Kids 3 and younger eat for free. Family packages available. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ilstewards.org.
It’s not too late to celebrate National Hot Dog Week – and win a Chicago-style getaway from PORTILLO’S
The weeklong fanfare for the frank wraps up today (Sunday, July 23). That means you have until midnight to lavish some love – as well as your chosen condiments – on those links. Take a photo or video of your footlong fandom for a chance to win Portillo’s Chicago-Style Sweepstakes.
The grand prize winner will receive a package for two includes Delta Airline travel vouchers, as well as tickets for one day of Lollapalooza, tickets to Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum, as well as a $50 Portillo’s gift card and limited edition Portillo’s 60th anniversary merchandise,
An additional 60 names will be drawn to receive an exclusive T-shirt designed by the Chicago-based apparel line Relish.
To enter the sweepstakes, post a photo or video of how you celebrate Hot Dog Week on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #chicagostylesweeps and tag @portilloshotdogs. Entries must be posted by midnight July 23.
The drawing will be held July 27.
The A La Carte column highlights restaurant openings, closing, renovations and relocations, as well as personnel changes and business news. Natalie Morris can be reached at 737-7254 or by email at natalie.sjr@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Seafood lovers reel in two new, locally-owned restaurants
