Shakou brings urban feel, modern Japanese cuisine to St. Charles

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

eschelkopf@shawmedia.com

ST. CHARLES – Shakou has brought its modern Japanese cuisine and urban vibe to downtown St. Charles.

The restaurant recently opened its doors at 312 W. Main St. in downtown St. Charles. Shakou is currently serving only dinner. Lunch hours are set to begin on June 15.

“We are trying to create a city vibe in the suburbs, while doing a tremendous product and great service, and having just a very, very fun atmosphere,” said Shakou founder Aleks Dupor.

This is Shakou’s second location. The restaurant has garnered rave reviews after opening in Libertyville two years ago, being named by the online reservation service Open Table as one of the top 100 “Hot Spot” restaurants in America.

Shakou’s main floor features a dining room with a sushi bar and a cocktail lounge with a bar. The restaurant’s second floor features a sake room for small groups and an upper mezzanine with a spacious bar area for before-dinner drinks and cocktail celebrations.

Dupor and his business partner, Adam Garvanian, head up operations at the restaurant, along with owner Ed Hartigan. Shakou Executive Chef Sang Choi has 15 years of experience under his belt, including working at such notable restaurants as Blue Fin in Chicago and Blue Ginger in Woodridge.

Lynne Schwartz, executive director of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership, said the opening of Shakou fits in well with the partnership's new branding effort: "St. Charles – Discover Your City Side."

“We do have all these urban type[s] of restaurants,” Schwartz said. “It’s exciting for us that they chose downtown St. Charles.”

Shakou’s menu includes a variety of sushi, including tekka (tuna), negi hamachi (yellow tail), and kappa (cucumber). But the menu also features other items, including chicken teriyaki, lobster, steak, shrimp and braised short ribs.

“The menu is very open to all styles,” Dupor said. “Our menu is very expansive. My executive chef is a tremendous talent.”

The menu will change two to three times a year based on the season, he said.

“The chef is very attuned to changing things up and bringing in seasonal items,” Dupor said.

The restaurant’s look also is open-ended, with modern-looking furniture blending with chandeliers.

“It’s a little different,” Dupor said. “The style itself is very eclectic, with a very urban feel.”

The restaurant has a seating capacity of about 250 people, and the restaurant also can be booked for parties.

“If someone took the entire place up, I could probably hold a party for up to 300 people,” Dupor said.

Contributing to Shakou’s lively feel, the restaurant plans to host DJ events on the weekend. For those looking for a urban type of restaurant, Dupor said he believes the restaurant is filling a niche in the area.

“We are giving people in the suburbs the chance to feel like they are going into the city and not have the city pricing and everything,” Dupor said.

Information about Shakou is available at www.shakousushi.com or by calling the restaurant at 630-444-0850.