Tigerlily Restaurant Opens Wednesday in Downtown Ferndale
(Hometown Restaurant Group, Aug 9, 2022)
FERNDALE, Mich. — After nearly two years of planning and design, as well as a nationwide search for the consummate chef, Tigerlily (231 W. Nine Mile) will open to the public in the former Antihero space on Wednesday, August 10 at 4 p.m., with a special limited menu featuring sushi, creative small-plate shareables and items from their authentic Japanese robata grill – all created by Chef Chris Vasquez.
Meaning “fireside cooking,” robatayaki or robata harkens to a centuries-old Japanese cooking style that is similar to barbecue. Using a white oak, binchotan charcoal with little smoke or flame, ingredients are skewered and cooked over the coals to perfection. The accompanying sushi bar includes delicacies such as imported A5 wagyu, caviar-topped nigiri and sustainably sourced bluefin.
Tigerlily Executive Chef Chris Vasquez was recruited by Hometown Restaurant Group in May while working as head sushi chef at Chicago’s much-lauded Momotaro restaurant. Born and raised in the Detroit area, Vasquez has over a decade of sushi experience, including positions at Maru and Nippon in Metro Detroit.
“This is a new kind of sushi that Detroit hasn’t seen,” Vasquez says. “We are taking an Edomae style of sushi and bringing in different contemporary flavors and techniques. We are creating a new style — not like New York sushi, but fusing it with different cultures while still being authentic to what sushi is. It’s really an expression of a fun new concept that’s a bit more sophisticated and unique.”
In addition to an elevated level of food, Tigerlily will be elevating the guest experience to new levels. A private“omakase” room allows for multi-course meals where menu choices are left to the chef’s discretion, based on each individual’s preferences. Of course, guests may always make their own selections from Tigerlily’s wide range of sushi, nigiri, sashimi, small plates and robata items.
The 4,000-square-foot main dining room, designed by Birmingham architects Ron & Roman, features an open, marble-topped sushi bar set beneath a six-panel mural installation by Detroit artist Glenn Barr and retained from the original Antihero design. An extensive bamboo countertop anchors the east side of the restaurant, adjacent to the private omakase room at the front of the restaurant.
Inspired by Asian influences and Ferndale’s unique color and tradition, Tigerlily gives a nod to the flower that once grew wild in the area: the tiger lily. Considered a symbol of pride and positivity, Tigerlily is fitting both for Ferndale and its residents, as well a budding restaurant that plans to be a standout in Ferndale’s bouquet of restaurants. Tigerlily will be open 4-10 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 4-11 p.m. Friday; and 3-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Check out the website at https://www.tigerlilyferndale.com for the latest!
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