Yau renames eatery

Wagamama founder Alan Yau has renamed his latest restaurant, ahead of its launch in October. Formerly known as Cha Cha No Hana, the finedining Japanese restaurant is now called Sake No Hana.

North Design is understood to be creating the graphics for both Sake No Hana and Cha Cha Moon, Yau’s forthcoming Chinese restaurant concept. This follows the departure of the graphic designer for the project Kenya Hara. Yau’s company Hakkasan declined to comment on the move.

A Hakkasan spokesman denies that Sake No Hana’s name change is connected to the introduction of the Cha Cha Moon concept. ‘The original title was a working one that we always planned to evolve,’ she says. Cha Cha Moon will open at the end of the year at two London sites – on Ganton Street in Soho and in Whiteleys shopping centre in Bayswater.

Architect Kengo Kuma designed the interiors for Sake No Hana, which Yau intends to be his most upmarket offering yet. Yau’s other ventures include Chinese fine-dining restaurant Hakkasan, Thai outlet Busaba Eathai, and dim sum and tea house Yauatcha (pictured). Plans submitted by the restaurant to Westminster City Council reveal that the venue will be spread over three levels. An escalator will connect the ground floor sushi restaurant to the main restaurant on the first floor, which features raised perimeter seating and a mezzanine with private dining rooms.