Umi Den opening pushed back to July

You’ll have to wait a few more weeks to have a drink on the back patio at Umi.

Umi Den, the downstairs lounge at the new Umi Kitchen and Sushi Bar in Kendall Yards, is now slated to open July 15.

The upstairs restaurant opened in early May.

Bar manager Colleen Early had been planning to open the lounge June 21. But minor construction issues have delayed the opening, she said.

Umi means sea or ocean in Japanese. The restaurant specializes in high-end seafood and sushi.

Along with the rainbow, caterpillar, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Las Vegas and Spokane rolls, the menu features tempura, rice and noodle dishes, and kushiyaki, or grilled and skewered meats and vegetables.

The decor features ash wood accents, including a white-washed feature meant to evoke an oversize Japanese lantern. Light fixtures also evoke Japanese lanterns and fishing baskets. The vibe is light, bright and airy.

Minors aren’t allowed downstairs, where the atmosphere is more masculine. There’s dark leather seating and wallpaper meant to resemble dark, patterned wood.

Plans call for the lounge to carry assorted sakes and Japanese whiskeys as well as batch cocktails and craft cocktails featuring Asian-inspired flavor profiles.

Think lemongrass, coconut, Asian peppers, jasmine tea and shiso. Look, also, for the signature Umi Fish House Punch, shochu, a distilled Japanese spirit, and baijiu, a Chinese spirit typically distilled from fermented sorghum.

The patio off of the lounge is expansive and offers sweeping views of the Spokane River. It’s located right along the Centennial Trail and is shaded by the deck at Maryhill Winery’s tasting room, which is located directly above the den in the same building.

Umi is at 1309 W. Summit Parkway. Call (509) 368-9372. On the web: umispokane.com.