YOU YU Japanese Restaurant
Opening Date｜2020.10，Address｜No. 99 Fuquan Road, 8th Floor Garden, Mercure Hotel, Shanghai
“South China produces delicious fish, and the fish swim with their tails wagging.”
— The Classic of Poetry Xiaoya.
The name of “You Yu” is inspired by the ancient Chinese book “The Classic of Poetry”. The poetic elegance extends from the name to space. Space is designed to perfectly interpret the culinary experience. When space and food collide and produce a wonderful chemical reaction, the whole culinary experience forms a perfect closed loop. In “You Yu”, the chef designs the menu for each meal called “Omakase” instead of ordering food by the guests, and the diners can experience the ultimate service and enjoyment tailored by the chef.
Omakase is not only a kind of performing art but also the embodiment of the spirit of the chef. The craftsman spirit of the chef drives them to interpret the exquisite cooking techniques in the grip sushi，and finally presented in front of the guests.The curved counter provides seats that can let the guests be seen by everyone, even if they are far away from each other, which would be less awkward than chatting at square tables. Space can also be simply separated according to the number of diners so that the original reception of 16 people can be separated into two hidden spaces for a maximum of 8 people each.
An ink painting by artist Xi Pan for “You Yu” is transformed into wallpaper that adorns the space, the silence of the underwater world echoes the theme of the restaurant. The building is shaped like a cylindrical aquarium, diners sitting inside seem to be wandering in the water, stroking the water plants, and playing with the fish. When sunlight penetrates the glass covered with fish scales, it leaves a reflection on the wall that overlaps the wallpaper which becomes a re-creation of art.
“You Yu” creates an “Underwater world” that embraces the skyline, and as the “Wabi-Sabi” collides with Oriental ink painting, a symphony would happen. From overture to the movement, the view changes with every move. “You Yu” Japanese Restaurant, standing on the highland of the city, radiates light and blocks all the noise out of the door, comforts people with delicious food. It has already become a small world to escape from reality temporarily in a busy city, embracing freedom and tranquility.
