Skaneateles, N.Y. — After three years of planning, construction and auditioning chefs, Adam Weitsman’s latest restaurant in Skaneateles is about to open.
Hidden Fish, located at at 7 Fennell St., has been billed as a modern twist on sushi. It is expected to open in the second week of January. This will be the fourth restaurant in Skaneateles for Weitsman, the scrap metal tycoon and philanthropist. He partnered with Jeff Knauss, Vinny Lobdell and Vinny’s son Noah.
“It’s going to be really special,” Weitsman said this morning. “It’s taken longer than we expected, but we want it to be perfect.”
The group hired Chef Joseph Tran, who moved here from San Diego. Weitsman found the chef through a talent agent. “This chef actually is so amazing,” he said. “Worth the wait. He’s next level.”
Chef Tran will prepare signature sushi rolls and other Asian-inspired delicacies using fish flown in from all over the world, Knauss said.
The group of partners sampled food from the tentative menu on Sunday. They ate bluefin tuna (chu toro) from Baja, California, North Atlantic Faroe Island salmon, Yellowtail from Japan with a spicy sauce and albacore tuna from the Pacific Northwest with spicy garlic oil. Knauss said it was the best he’s ever had.
“It truly will be an elevated sushi experience for Upstate New York,” he said. “Our chef is incredible, and between him leading our food and flavors to the unique ambiance, I believe it’ll be a really special place for our community.”
This is Weitsman’s first Asian restaurant. He bought and re-opened The Krebs in 2009, focusing on American cuisine made with fresh local ingredients. In April of 2019, he opened the Elephant & the Dove, a restaurant known for its refined Mexican fare and creative drinks from its massive bar. Last June, he opened Clover’s, a diner he named after his daughter because their favorite breakfast spot nearby closed.
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Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drink and fun across Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at cmiller@syracuse.com. You can also find him under @HoosierCuse on Twitter and on Instagram. Sign up for his free weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.
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