SUGARCANE raw bar grill, the James Beard-nominated, Miami-born eatery today announced the opening of a new location in the vibrant Dumbo district of Brooklyn, New York, set between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Slated to open this summer, the 11,000-square-foot, 300-seat waterfront restaurant will find a home in the 150-year-old Empire Stores building located at 55 Water Street in Brooklyn. This opening follows on the heels of the brand’s successful November 2016 debut on Restaurant Row at The Venetian Las Vegas, which was recently recognized by Eater as one of the “15 hottest restaurants in Las Vegas.”
SUGARCANE raw bar grill’s celebrated culinary concept of globally inspired small plates unites three kitchen concepts—an open fire grill, raw bar and traditional kitchen. The team will be led by Executive Chef and Partner Timon Balloo, whose kitchen approach brings immersive flavors to the plate, drawing culinary inspiration from all regions of the world as well as his own multi-cultural background.
“New York City is a culinary epicenter,” says Shimon Bokovza, managing partner of Samba Brands Management. “So the opportunity to open SUGARCANE raw bar grill in Brooklyn in one of the most iconic locations in New York City was an opportunity of a lifetime.”
“Bringing the SUGARCANE raw bar grill concept to New York is a dream come true,” says Chef Balloo. “The brand that we’ve created is rooted in soulful spirit and genuinely captures my approach to cooking. Each dish strives to celebrate culinary diversity, uncovering rich flavors from so many of the world’s abundant spice cabinets-many of which are concentrated in New York City of course.”
Situated between the iconic Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, SUGARCANE raw bar grill will be located in the recently renovated Civil War-era warehouse that was primarily used for coffee storage by the Ariosa Coffee Company. The restaurant will feature a 2,000-square foot outdoor patio adjacent to Brooklyn Bridge Park, with stunning views of the East River and downtown Manhattan, and just steps from the famed Jane’s Carousel. The new LEED-certified Empire Stores building will have an open-air public passage from the Dumbo neighborhood to the waterfront. The redevelopment of the Empire Stores is part of a larger effort to transform this area of Brooklyn’s waterfront into an iconic park—the most significant park development in Brooklyn in over a century.
In partnership with Samba Brands Management leadership, award-winning design firm CetraRuddy taps into the organic textures and elements of the original building, while introducing sleek modern design influences. Eclectic and welcoming, the restaurant boasts an 18-seat bar, two large communal tables, and an open kitchen in the spirit of the “come one, come all” vibe that the beloved brand has come to represent since its 2010 Miami debut.
