BCB3, the hospitality group that combines the talents of James Beard Award-winning chef Jamie Bissonnette and industry pros Andy Cartin and Babak Bina, has officially opened its trio of Downtown Crossing restaurants: Somaek 소맥, Temple Records and Sushi@Temple Records.
The three Temple Place spots, just down the street from Cartin and Bina’s existing concepts (jm Curley, Bogie’s Place and The Wig Shop), capture the group’s passions for music and travel by way of exceptional food and drink, and a de-formalized way of dining out that’s more like having dinner at a friend’s house.
At Somaek, where Bissonnette’s mother-in-law Soon Han is credited as a consulting chef, the menu highlights traditional dishes like Haemul Pajeon (a seafood and green onion pancake), Dwaeji Bulgogi (pork bulgogi made with peppers, soy and gochugaru), and a banchan menu that boasts four different kimchi, seasoned cucumbers and stewed potato. There are cocktails and low ABV libations, courtesy of Cartin and, of course, the restaurant’s namesake beverage, Somaek, a popular Korean drink made with soju and beer, will be on offer.
Somaek’s 16-seat dining room, designed by Lisa Davis Interiors with input from Bina, is kitted out with Korean art gifted by Bissonnette’s in-laws and, in keeping with the East Asian emphasis on the five elements, the space balances wood, stone and steel for a vibe that is warm and inviting yet minimalist. The restaurant, located at 11 Temple Place, will be open for dinner Monday through Saturday. Have a look at the menu and book your table online via Resy asap. In the meantime, you can get a sense of what’s in store on their website and IG.
Just down the street, the other two (two-in-one) concepts, Temple Records and its downstairs sushi bar Sushi@Temple Records, combine two of Bissonnette’s passions by way of a 32-seat listening bar and subterranean sushi den. Guests at Temple Records can enjoy a curated playlist, most of which is sourced from Bissonnette’s own vinyl collection, paired with Curtin’s drink menu. Expect highballs, herbaceous libations, and a deep list of whiskeys, Japanese gins, wine, sake, shōchū, and beers—just don’t expect any shaken cocktails; too noisy! Every element of Temple Records serves to preserve the integrity of the soundsystem, which Bissonnette built himself.
Those looking to level up their evening can head downstairs to Sushi @ Temple Records, where Sushi Chef Kenta Katagai will serve a menu of nigiri, moriawase, sashimi, and makimono around a custom 22-seat sushi bar made of imported Japanese Hinoki wood. Guided by the principles of Wabi Sabi, a design philosophy that embraces the beauty of the imperfect and impermanent, the space leans into its historical elements by showing off its granite foundation walls and 200-year-old beams.
Temple Records and Sushi@ are located at 17 Temple Place. Temple Records is open everyday from 5:00pm-2:00am, and Sushi@ is open Tuesday-Sunday from 5:00-10:00pm. You can book a table via Resy to check it out and keep an eye on their respective Instas at @templerecordsbar and @sushiattemplerecords to stay up to date.
