Friday Food Insider: NYC partnership launches sushi spot in Kennebunk

Photo / Alexis Wells Rosella’s founders, beverage director TJ Provenzano, left, and chef Jeff Miller on opening night.

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This week I have sushi on my mind as a new sushi restaurant opens its doors in Kennebunk and my brain is still craving the spicy avocado roll.

When I walked through the door of Rosella at 1 Chase Hill Road in Kennebunk, I was greeted by a modern and cozy restaurant as the chefs rolled out sushi behind the long bar as they readied for the opening Thursday night.

The Kennebunkport Resort Collection partnered with New York City’s sushi restaurant Rosella NYC to open its second restaurant in the Grand Hotel, bringing the renowned restaurant’s innovative approach to Japanese cuisine to the coast of Maine.

The intimate 28-seat restaurant, features a bar, standard table seating and a bonus outdoor space that has a spectacular view of the downtown.

Rosella co-founders TJ Provenzano and Jeff Miller met while running a small omakase — loosely translated as, "I leave it to the chef" — that was focusing on sustainable sushi in the East Village of New York and opened Rosella NYC in 2020.

Alexis Wells

Rosella

“We were contacted about coming up here and checking out the scene because of the fact we focus on local ingredients and local species,” said Provenzano. “Maine has such a fantastic bounty of all of that to choose from. Kennebunk chose us; we were serving a lot of Maine seafood in New York, and so when we were contacted about this opportunity it made a lot of sense.”

Rosella was designed by Kennebunkport Resort Collection’s creative director, Mark Cotto. It was curated to align with the Rosella brand but has its own feel in New England. Douston Construction in Arundel and Hurlbutt Designs in Kennebunk was part of the construction process as well as other designers.

"We wanted it to feel like Rosella like the brand that we have built but we wanted it to feel at home in New England," said Provenzano. "We didn't just want to carbon copy our East Village and drop it off here."

This restaurant is the first and only upscale sushi and omakase concept in the area. Featuring a selection of Rosella’s dishes, seasonal picks and exclusive new items, the menu is complemented by a selection of domestic wine, small-batch sake, and a focused cocktail list created by Provenzano, who is the beverage director.

Miller, who is the chef, told Mainebiz this week that they use non-traditional ingredients to help minimize food waste and they pride themselves on thoughtfully sourcing local seafood instead of importing from Japan.

“Everything is as local as possible,” said Miller. "Every day and every week it will be different based on what’s in season and who in the area carries what.”

The menu items will include cold dishes, rice bowls, hot dishes, sushi and sashimi, little rolls available as hand rolls, big rolls and desserts. Rosella will also offer a small-scale takeout dinner menu. This space will have many dishes that aren’t offered at any other restaurant, including pickled mussel sushi.

Rosella will be open Thursday through Monday from 5-10 p.m. year-round.

Alexis Wells

Rosella avocado sushi roll.

The avocado roll is spicy yet refreshing, the homemade soy sauce has the perfect taste and the cocktails will hit the spot after a long day at the beach.

Looking to do a sushi crawl? Check out these spots.

Let’s begin our sushi tour in Portland, shall we? Portland offers many sushi restaurants but here are a few.

Yosaku, at 1 Danforth St. in Portland, features premium quality sushi and traditional tastes from the Japanese kitchen. Looking to get a lunchtime bento box of sushi? Then this is your place. It also has a beautiful outdoor patio.

Courtesy / Mr. Tuna

Mr. Tuna mobile sushi truck.

Mr. Tuna, at 28 Monument Square in Portland, offers sushi burritos, maki rolls, bowls, bento boxes, sashimi and more. Check out the website for upcoming special events, including Brunswick Pride on Saturday, Resurgam Music & Arts Festival on Sunday at Ocean Gateway and Highballs & Handrolls on Father’s Day.

Tokyo Sushi Ramen & Bar, at 11 Brown St., is fairly new to the Old Port sushi scene. They opened their doors in 2021 and offer a variety of different sushi options, as well as signature Ramen bowls and other noodle options such as pad Thai and hibachi-style cooking, but they don’t offer the traditional show.

Oishi Japanese Restaurant & Bar, at 285 U.S. Route 1 in Scarborough, offers sushi, kitchen hibachi grill and various noodle dishes.

Let’s head to Springvale, Kai Asian Fusion at 459 Main St., offers tasty sushi and Asian fusion cuisine. If you’re in the area check them out and try their sweet potato roll or their spicy tuna roll.

Tomi Sushi And Noodle Bar at 106 Commercial St. in Rockport, has a sushi menu and a Thai menu. They have special rolls, maki rolls, platters and more. They opened their doors in 2012 and is family owned and operated.

Did you check out Rosella? What was your favorite roll? The Mainebiz Food Insider wants to know! Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz