Credit: Shinto
The conversion from Miami Nights to Shinto Japanese Steakhouse (857 Columbia Rd., 440-772-5017) is complete. After sitting idle for nearly three years, the Westlake building reopened in September. The spiffy new west-side Shinto location joins the 16-year-old original in Strongsville (17070 Pearl Rd., 440-878-3868).

Inside the meticulously renovated space are multiple hibachi tables, conventional tables, a sushi bar and beverage bar. Japanese food fans can look forward to an extensive menu filled with sushi, teriyaki and lively teppanyaki-fueled feasts.

Shinto’s owner is Sheng Long Yu, whose name might sound familiar because he’s also behind a number of new and newish restaurants around Ohio and beyond. In addition to Shinto, Yu operates Kenko in University Circle and Kent, Dagu Rice Noodle in Asiatown, Pittsburgh and Atlanta, a poke restaurant called iPoke near the Cleveland Clinic and Hell’s Fried Chicken near the Case Western Reserve University campus.

This article appears in Nov 4-17, 2020.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.