Downtown Sushi

Upscale new sushi restaurant in downtown Dallas comes with all the sakes

Upscale new sushi restaurant in downtown Dallas comes with many sakes

Musume cod
Photo by Ben Gibson

Dallas' Arts District scores a new restaurant in Musumé, an exciting concept specializing in contemporary Asian fusion cuisine bringing sushi, Asian entrees made with French techniques, and a comprehensive selection of sake.

Named for the Japanese word for "daughter," Musumé comes from Josh Babb and partner Sean Clavir, whose Rock Libations restaurant group owns Shooters in Victory Park, Prohibition Chicken in Lewisville, and Chop Shop in Carrollton and Roanoke.

Most relevantly, Babb was general manager and co-owner at Kenichi Dallas, the Japanese restaurant that resided at Victory Park for 10 years.

Open for lunch and dinner, Musumé will be the second restaurant at Hall Arts, the complex from developer Craig Hall, joining Stephan Pyles’ Flora Street Café, which opened in 2016.

Executive chef Ken Lumpkin is a sushi master who has extensive experience in classic French cooking. A New Orleans transplant who grew up in a Japanese household, he’s owned or opened several Japanese restaurants, including Umai, his acclaimed eatery in Memphis.

Musumé's menu reflects that culinary range, with dishes such as grilled lamb lollipops and five spice duck leg confit. There's also a significant representation of vegetarian and vegan offerings including a "Super Fly" vegan roll.

Musumé intends to carry the largest selection of sakes in the state of Texas. That's a bold venture but one that Kenichi once claimed, so there you go. They'll have more than 100 labels, as well as a sake on tap option. An extensive Japanese whiskey list and an Asian-inspired cocktail menu round out the bar program at the bar.

Decor includes a large ceremonial gong hanging at the entrance, and cement beams which serve as circular canvases for Asian murals depicting images of nature. A second-floor rooftop patio overlooking Flora Street and the Arts will be used for private events only. Boo.