ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Famed "Iron Chef" Jose Garces announced Wednesday that his second planned downtown restaurant will open in fall.
The new eatery, Okatshe, will open at 947 W. Hamilton St., connected to The Moxy Allentown Downtown Hotel in mid-September, Garces announced in a release.
Garces, who won the second season of Food Network’s “Iron Chef,” said the business now is hiring to fill all positions in advance of the opening.
“Our experience in downtown Allentown has been wonderful. Our second concept, Okatshe, is going to add a unique food and bar experience to the Lehigh Valley’s growing culinary scene."Chef Jose Garces
Okatshe, which the release said is based on one of Garces’ popular restaurant concepts, will be a modern take on traditional Japanese izakaya.
The restaurant will feature Japanese small plates, sushi and sashimi with a lively cocktail and Japanese whisky bar.
More details on the restaurant’s design, menu and cocktail and sake bar will be announced soon, the release said.
“Our experience in downtown Allentown has been wonderful,” said Garces, who opened the Cuban café and rum bar Rosa Blanca at 950 Hamilton St., in March.
“Our second concept, Okatshe, is going to add a unique food and bar experience to the Lehigh Valley’s growing culinary scene.
"We can’t wait to reveal more details over the next few weeks, but we are thrilled with the location, which is connected to The Moxy Hotel, next to Archer Music Hall and across the street from Rosa Blanca.”
Positions sought, chef's history
The release said Garces’ team is hiring for front- and back-of-house roles, including hosts, bartenders, servers, food runners, line cooks, sous chefs, dishwashers and more.
Candidates interested in joining a fast-paced, dynamic team with growth potential can email resumes to okatshehiring@chefgarces.com.
Garces is a James Beard Award-winning chef, entrepreneur, food innovator and restaurateur. He is known for helping to build Philadelphia’s restaurant scene in the early 2000s.
With more than two decades of experience in the culinary world, Garces is celebrated for his authentic Latin dishes, which are the products of his Ecuadorian roots and culinary experience.
Garces first was executive chef at Alma de Cuba in Philadelphia in 2001.
He opened his first restaurant, Amada, in 2005 — naming it after his grandmother. That was followed by restaurants in Chicago, Arizona, New Jersey, Palm Springs, Washington, D.C., and New York City.
