What you need to know about Hillsboro Village's newest restaurant

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E.J. Boyer

Staff Reporter- Nashville Business Journal

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Seed Hospitality's new restaurant Lucky Belly opens today in the former Zumi Sushi space on Belcourt Avenue in Hillsboro Village.

Seed CEO Patrick Burke has dubbed the concept "Japanacana," serving a pairing of American and Japanese "comfort" foods: milkshakes, burgers and sushi.

"It's really an interpretation of the youthful energy of urban Tokyo," said Burke, who solidified the concept after a summer trip to Japan, where he noted a rockabilly, Americana undertone to Japanese teen culture.

The Lucky Belly menu offers a selection of small plates (edamame, hot chicken spring rolls), nine burgers and sandwiches, and nine "rock'n'rolls" (sushi). The sandwiches range from a traditional gourmet burger to a Japanese fried chicken sandwich, which includes brussels sprout kimchi, fried egg, blue cheese and spicy sauce. The milkshakes are made with Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. (I, for one, am intrigued by the S'mores shake, as I live my life in constant pursuit of replicating this toasted marshmallow milkshake. It's exhausting).

Seed Hospitality is also the group behind East Nashville's popular ramen restaurant Two Ten Jack, which opened earlier this year. A Two Ten Jack is set to open in Chattanooga in late February, but Burke said he has no plans to expand beyond the three restaurants just yet. But when he does, the cuisine will be Japanese.

"I try to make it clear that my obsession is with Japan and Japanese culture," said Burke. "I really like exploring that element and culture, I'm not really interested in pursuing other cuisines."

Zumi Sushi, Seed's first restaurant, opened in 2009.

"Nashville's changed a lot in five years, I've changed a lot in five years," said Burke, when asked why he changed the concept. "The Village is such a broad slice of Nashville demographically – you've got Vanderbilt, Belmont, students, employees … and new apartments being built right there. I feel like the Village is the historic center of Nashville in a lot of ways… it has the high energy of Tokyo."

E.J. Boyer covers the Music City's tourism, hospitality and music business.