New Thai & Sushi Restaurant Coming

“Innovative and fun”, that’s how executive chefs and owners Tony Koraneekit and J.J. Lertsinsongserm describe the new Thai/Japanese fusion bistro they plan to open in Milwaukee this November. They intend to call it Rice N’ Roll Bistro, and it will be located at the Farwell Shoppes (at 1952 N. Farwell Ave.), where they have leased 1,300 square feet of space.

Chef Tony Koraneekit started his culinary career in New York’s famous Restaurant Row in Times Square. After moving to New York from Thailand in 2005, Tony, a business major at local Pace University, started working nights in his aunt’s seafood restaurant, Danny’s Grand Sea Palace in midtown Manhattan. The Sea Palace boasted lavish seafood creations and a nightly cabaret that was famous with its patrons. It was here that Tony discovered he had a passion not only for food but for the entrepreneurial side of the restaurant business. In 2007, Tony moved to the Midwest and continued working with his aunt as a sushi chef, in two of her Thai/Japanese-inspired restaurants just north of Chicago.

Chef JJ discovered his passion for working with food while cooking with his mother at a young age, creating Thai dishes from scratch. He too moved from Thailand, coming to the Chicago area in 2009, where he attended school and started working in his aunt’s restaurants. Here he trained to become a sushi chef and has since worked in multiple locations throughout the US, steadily honing his skills.

Together, Tony and JJ, working with some helpful advice from a mutual friend, a food critic from Japan, started putting together a menu, hoping to someday open up their very own Thai/Japanese fusion bistro.

Rice N’ Roll will be a family business. With a combined experience that spans decades, Chef Tony and Chef JJ want to create a unique blend of menu items, creating hand-rolled sushi and using only the freshest, highest quality ingredients, bringing big city inspirations to Milwaukee’s East Side.

Chef Tony says they intend to cater to the local university students, offering up a half-price happy hour, featuring a different roll each evening. “Our concept is to produce impressive Thai/Japanese inspired dishes at an affordable price to everyone.”

Both chefs are exited to see the space transform. “We hope to create a warm and friendly atmosphere. Someplace you want to have dinner with family friends,” says Chef Tony. The goal is to create an authentic, inviting environment that will match their passion for the food they create.

They expect the restaurant’s grand opening to take place this November. You can find updated information over time at their Facebook page at http://facebook.com/ricenrollmilwaukee, which should have future postings with updates on the menu and the design of their new space. They also invite you to follow them at ricenrollmilwaukee on Instagram, where you can view some of their creations

Chef Tony’s message to future patrons is simple: “We hope you will find Rice N’ Roll Bistro to be innovative, fun, and your new favorite neighborhood eatery.”

Restaurant Designs

On the Menu