Restaurateur Mehrzad Sharbaiani is set to open his new upscale Asian-influenced restaurant on the corner of Fourth Street and Market Street downtown in November. The new restaurant will occupy 10,000 square feet on the ground floor of the Cowger Garage directly across the street from the Kentucky International Convention Center and will operate under the slogan “Where eats meets west.”
The news is part of a growing trend where the convention center is being encircled by eateries such as Wolfgang Puck Express and Panera Bread. A McCormick & Schmick’s restaurant is also slated for the area in the Starks Building. The corner spot was previously occupied by Kunz’s Restaurant which closed last year for financial reasons.
Sharbaiani runs Z’s Oyster Bar near Shelbyville Road and Hurstbourne Lane. He recently opened a new location in Indianapolis and is looking to expand to additional cities in the future. New head chef at the new Z’s Fusion will be Dallas McGarity, formerly of Volare Italian Ristorante on Frankfort Avenue. He has been a chef at high end restaurants in England, South Carolina, and Kentucky. The dishes at the new Z’s Fusion will be creatively prepared, so look forward to some new innovative dining.
- Panera Bread to Open Downtown Location (Broken Sidewalk)
- Z’s Oyster Bar (Official Site)
- Persian Empire: Fate steered Sharbaiani to restaurant work (Business First)
- Z’s Fusion restaurant plans November opening (C-J)
