I am happy to present Sono Restaurant, located at 319 Fayetteville Street, suite 101 in the Historic Hudson Building (the original Hudson Belk Building from the 1930's.) The fare includes a fusion menu of Japanese dishes, sushi and wonderful steaks, lamb, and fish.

The new owner's "G" Patel and Mike Lee came to me with a vision: "We want our customers to walk from Fayetteville Street, into a hip Japanese Sushi Bar in New York City". I think we have accomplished this goal, and Raleigh's premiere online publication newraleigh.com describes Sono as "about as progressive, without being over indulgent, as any interior to hit Downtown Raleigh in the past couple of years."

http://www.newraleigh.com/articles/archive/sono-brings-slick-vibe-and-sushi-to-downtown-raleigh

We consider this an honor.

This project was one of those great projects where the client is both trusting and has a great vision. This allows for a collaborative effort that is uber-successful. The interior is warm, modern, bold… and exciting all without being overstated. A cohesive whole… that relies on a few special elements to both hold it together as well as create the element of surprise. Simply: the space is a black backdrop with special elements in a contrasting blazing red. 'Special elements' include a 36 foot long sensual mural of an Asian woman in a wonderful red dress… reaching for an orchid. The black shiny bar is set fire with red backlit 3-Form panels of bamboo and recessed shelving that glows each wine glass and liquor bottle in the same firey red. The 3-Form panels are also used throughout the restaurant in the wall sconces as well as in the bathrooms to delicately expose shadows of movement between the two genders… and if desired, possibly even exposing the identity of the hand of one's mate if pressed up against the thin translucent bamboo barrier. One single slab of black quartz creates the lav for both sides, separated only by this thin organic division.

The main dining area is divided by bamboo stalks, and there is an eclectic use of moveable sliding pillows on the banquette seating to accommodate different table arrangements while still providing individualized personal comfort. The Japanese letters representing "Fish Delicious" or translated: "Sushi" hangs in red with bamboo supports over the tall booths fitted in contrasting fabrics. The floors and ceiling are dark, lighting is low, and each table glows with a single candle.