A new high-end Japanese restaurant is headed for University Town Center and the space formerly occupied by Bento Asian Kitchen. Owned by Jimmy and Johnny Tung, the brothers who started Bento Asian Kitchen and Tampa’s Michelin-starred Kōsen,  Zōtō will feature upscale Japanese izakaya (small plates) with a comprehensive cocktail program that leans heavily into Japanese whisky.

“After seeing the response to Kōsen, we knew we wanted to expand our presence in the Tampa Bay area,” Johnny Tung said a press release. “Sarasota has world-class beaches and is on the rise as a top travel destination. It just felt like the right move.”

Chef Lwin Siss, who most recently honed his skills at Kōsen, will lead Zōtō's culinary team. Siss played an integral role in helping Kōsen retain its Michelin star this year.

Slated to open later this summer, Zōtō will feature a 60-seat dining room along with a 50-seat outdoor patio and, eventually, a hidden omakase room called Yūgen, scheduled to open in the project's second phase.

Zōtō will be located at 190 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota. For more information, click here.