A Boutique Sushi Bar Offering a Laid-Back Approach to the Chef Kilgore Experience
Cape Coral, FL (RestaurantNews.com) Nestled inside the newly opened speakeasy Escondido Lounge awaits OISE-Ushi, an exciting new boutique sushi bar concept founded by Chef Brad Kilgore and local entrepreneur Brad Cozza. The restaurant partners recently opened OISE Ristorante in Fort Myers to a full book and are now thrilled to expand the brand’s footprint in the Southwest Florida area. OISE-Ushi set to begin service end of November 2025 and will feature a luxury sushi bar with seating for six. Guests will place their food and drink orders at the counter, which will then be brought to their table. Seating will be available on a first come, first serve basis. The full menu will also be offered at the bar inside Escondido Lounge. OISE-Ushi will represent the vision of acclaimed Chef Brad Kilgore, whose innovative approach to Japanese cuisine has earned national recognition.
Guests can now treat themselves to a Chef Brad Kilgore curated experience through the artistry of sushi and hand rolls in a laid-back atmosphere. Chef Kilgore’s main goal was to create a recipe-driven sushi-focused menu, where each roll is considered a ‘complete’ dish, no add-ons needed. The menu showcases OISE’s distinctive fusion approach through carefully crafted dishes. Still centered on the concept of “Itameshi” – a blend of Japanese and Italian cuisines – the offerings at OISE-Ushi reflect Chef Kilgore’s personal culinary journey.
Signature sushi options include the Unagi Roll featuring Barbecue Glazed Eel, Chipotle Aioli, Black Sesame Mayo, Wasabi Tobiko and Cilantro. Pioneering the Temaki or hand roll trend within SWFL, the menu will offer expertly crafted handrolls, notably, the Chicken Karrage stands out as a menu highlight, featuring Furikake Candied Bacon, Butter Pickle Fresno Chili, and Yuzu-Truffle Ranch. Another standout is the vegetarian option, the Corn Elote 17 featuring Blistered Baby Corn, Miso-Aji Aioli, Marinated Shiitake, Cilantro Sprouts and Tajin.
“Even though this is a slightly consolidated version of the full OISE Ristorante menu, we want our guests to feel like they can enjoy a complete meal at OISE-Ushi by adding the array of Yakitori skewers to the menu,” says Chef Kilgore. The menu will feature three options including Chili Garlic Shrimp, Sweet Soy Peppercorn Steak and Glazed Chicken Thigh.
The cocktail menu will feature several fan favorites from OISE Ristorante that showcase the Itameshi fusion concept including the Yuzumisu Margarita featuring yuzu juice, house-made limoncello, and sweet Chantilly. Some traditional options with exciting twists include the Litchitini and the Poinsettia Old Fashioned incorporating hibiscus and cranberry. The drink menu will also offer an array of sake, beer and wine.
OISE-Ushi arrives not merely as another dining option but as a culinary destination poised to transform expectations. Southwest Florida food enthusiasts finally have access to the sophisticated fusion cuisine typically found only in major metropolitan areas. “Cape Coral is experiencing explosive growth with the delivery of the Cove at 47th and the Bimini Basin Project and of course, the Yacht Club area. We are so excited to be the first metropolitan based concept in the Downtown South Cape district area,” says Brad Cozza. As Cape Coral’s restaurant scene continues to mature, OISE-Ushi certainly positions itself at the forefront of this exciting gastronomic evolution.
For more information, please visit OISE-Ushi.com.
Follow Oise on social media for updates: @oise_ushi