Tju Details Plans for New Restaurant

Remember the Whispers story of the Chi family of restaurateurs opening a new place in Little Rock?

Your Whispers writers reported that the restaurant was to be called Tao Chi and would open in a 5,111-SF space in the Shops in the Heights at 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Well, we’ve since caught up with Robert Tju, who is partner and general manager of the Chis’ Sushi Cafe at 5823 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Tju is opening the new venture with Jacob Chi, backed with Chi family funding, he said.

Tao Chi was actually an initial name chosen, but the Chis decided to take their name off the restaurant so Jacob Chi and Tju could freely create a “Robert and Jacob concept,” Tju said. Hence, the name it will open under: RJ Tao Restaurant & Ultra Lounge.   

The concept is a “modern steakhouse and ultra lounge” slated to open May 15, Tju said. The dining room seats 100.

The eatery will be an Americanized, upscale steakhouse that also serves seafood, some Asian cuisine and some unusual options like veal chops and ostrich burgers.

“We’re going to be doing fondue and we’re going to be doing steaks on hot Himalayan salt blocks,” Tju said, “two small ‘wow factors’ that we can do.”

The fondue menu for the lounge will mainly offer chocolaty desserts, but will also feature some cheese appetizers.  

Tju also plans to offer a variety of wines that can be ordered by the glass.