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Almost three months after Griffintown supper club Rufus Rockhead closed amid notable circumstances, sister restaurant Shinji will uncover the overhaul of the Bruno Braën-designed space today.
Manager Olivier Berkani (owner of the Phoenix 1 food truck) is hesitant to dub it "Bar Shinji" but admits that patrons may use the moniker to distinguish it from chef Shinji Nagai's restaurant proper.
The two spaces now share a single entrance on Notre-Dame Ouest (customers enter via the bar side). Nagai will introduce a casual, small plates bar menu in the next week or two.
Another change is in the works for the original Shinji restaurant. A sushi counter will soon take the place of a drinks prep area. The new bar side will serve the entire restaurant.
As for the rest of the considerable, bygone Rufus Rockhead space, Berkani discloses that owners (David Bourdeau, Éric Le François, Jeff Stinco) plan to add a room for private events.
The new Shinji bar opens today at 5:00 p.m.