Now Open Downtown: Nine 05

By Michele Laudig Tue., Jul. 28 2009 at 3:14 PM

Categories: Chow Bella

After a hiatus for renovations and development of a totally new menu, the transformation of Nine 05 (from the restaurant formerly known as Fate) is complete. The restaurant opened last night.

Executive chef Matt Carter of Zinc Bistro and The Mission, joined by chef Jay Bogsinske, has created an upscale Asian fusion spot where guests can feast on a globetrotting variety of flavors, including red miso brisket crepes with smoked lime and wasabi yogurt (mmm!), smoked eel and foie gras with spicy garlic miso (double yum!), tonkotsu ramen (Japanese noodle soup with pork, one of my all-time faves), red curry mussels, braised gai lan, housemade kim chi, and more.

I can't wait to eat here.

This week is a soft opening, with dinner service only (5 to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday) and a limited menu. The full menu and regular business hours will kick in next week (11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday).

Also starting this week, Nine 05 will resume live DJ nights with DJ Proper Villian on the patio starting at 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.

This is just the beginning of Carter's downtown presence. Within the next two months, he'll be opening Canteen in the corner spot next door to Nine 05 (starting as a bar, and transitioning into a full-service gastropub), as well as an upscale tacos and tequila joint called El Rey in the building behind it, sometime in 2010.