"UPS is to blame for the delay of Sarah Gavigan’s new Gulch izakaya Bar Otaku’s opening to Monday, January 14 — as they’re awaiting the arrival of the kitchen’s Yaki grill before they can swing open the doors to fire up the yakitori and start pouring sake for the masses. Bar Otaku will serve as an extension of Nashville native Gavigan’s popular Otaku community and an attempt to unify the popular brand which helped introduce the art of ramen to Music City. The renovated space offers communal seating, private booths, dark walls, and light wood, allowing the Otaku-style art and illustrations (from local graffiti artists and artists from around the world) to shine. The 2,700-square-foot space has 103 seats, including 9 at the bar and 10 at the chef’s counter. Bar Otaku’s originally intended opening date was Saturday, January 12. Gavigan shared a thoughtful post on her personal Instagram, saying, “This izakaya may have been born in 12 days, but it’s been living inside my mind for two decades. Simply bringing the Japanese pantry back onto my life has been a delight, and beautifully simplified. Make no mistake, this izakaya is about exactly that.” Bar Otaku will open daily at 4 p.m. beginning Monday, January 14 and will be open “late”." - Delia Jo Ramsey
