Cowfish opening 5th US location at the Summit

The nation’s original “sushi burger bar” will open its fifth location at the Summit in the summer of 2017. 

The concept for the Cowfish Burger and Sushi Bar began as a joke during a late-night call between friends. Founders Marcus Hall and Alan Springate had been in business together for more than 12 years when they came up with this unique concept. 

The two had opened a Pan Asian restaurant based out of Montreal, but after nine months, Hall said the concept didn’t feel right, so they opted out of the franchise. However, they continued to operate under a different name and menu, one that included sushi. It was a costly decision for them, but one that has paid off. 

“We made some changes, going to fresh ingredients and making things from scratch,” Hall said. “We listened to our guests and formulated our own menu, and people wanted sushi. Alan and I had no business being in the sushi business whatsoever, but we’ve been blessed fortunately and led in ways I can’t describe.”

While looking to open a second location in 2010, Hall decided to move next door to the gourmet burger restaurant that Springate owned, knock down the wall between them, and merge the two together to form a sushi burger bar. 

“We were in a period of creative explosion,” Hall said. “It was an opportunity for us to formulate what it will look like. It was a fun and stressful time.”

Hall said they are excited to expand to Birmingham, and the move has been a long time coming. 

“We had been negotiating the Summit property, and the last trip we made there, I fell in love with it even more,” Hall said. “It just feels right. There’s a good energy, and Birmingham is excited about something new.” 

The Cowfish Birmingham will offer the same innovative menu and atmosphere as its other locations in Charlotte, Raleigh, Orlando and Atlanta. Its goal is to offer something for everyone. 

The gourmet burger menu features half-pound, all natural, hormone-and antibiotic-free, never-frozen patties. The sushi menu offers traditional sushi rolls, sashimi, nigiri and fusion rolls. For guests who want to mix the two, the Burgushi menu items include sushi rolls created using burger components and pickup style sandwiches created using sushi.

Other menu items include appetizers, sandwiches, handcrafted cocktails, craft beers, handspun milkshakes and desserts. 

The Cowfish will be at the lower level of the Summit near Saks Fifth Avenue. The 6,000-square-foot full-service restaurant will feature a high-energy environment with bright colors, custom artwork, vibrant music and a saltwater aquarium filled with live cowfish. With seating for 250 guests, The Cowfish has two commercial kitchens, one for sushi and a hot kitchen. 

A covered patio will offer an outdoor dining option, and it will be enclosed and heated during the winter months.

“Our restaurants are come one, come all,” Hall said. “People can come after the gym or ready to go out on the town. It’s also very family friendly.”

Hall said he wants to grow his business, but be anti-chain. They pride themselves on having a strong management team and exceptional customer service.

“We take care of our guests and serve high-quality products,” Hall said. “It’s much more of an experience than just going out to eat.”

For more information, visit thecowfish.com.