Nobu to Open March 1, De Niro to Attend Grand Opening

Celebrity chef-restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa's Beijing restaurant will open on March 1 in the former Pinot space at the back entrance of the JW Marriott. March 1 onward is "soft opening," with the official opening party scheduled for April 7. Co-owner Robert de Niro is expected to be in town for the grand opening, with Jackie Chan also on the VIP guestlist - he'll be celebrating his birthday that day.

Nobu signatures like black cod with miso and rock shrimp tempura with creamy chilli sauce will be the menu's centerpiece dishes. The kitchen will be headed up by two executive chefs - one Norwegian, the other Japanese. The Japanese chef will run the sushi counter, with the Norwegian chef overseeing other orders. The restaurant seats around 100-130 diners and features private rooms, a bar area and a non-smoking area.

Nobu has already hosted a series of private tastings, and did a one-day opening for Valentine's Day. We'll give you more on the restaurant when we have it - look out for a review in the April issue of the Beijinger.