Lago opens in Milton

After months of anticipation, Lago Asian Cuisine and Sushi in downtown Milton has opened its doors. 

After a soft opening May 20, Lago officially opened May 22. Owner Preston Russell, who also owns Zava Cafe in Milton and Rehoboth Beach, is ready for the public to see what Lago is all about.

“I have excitement because I want to give the Town of Milton something they haven’t had before. Just a different concept and feel. But there’s a lot of pressure behind that because you want to execute that concept properly,” he said. 

The name Lago is based on the concept of lago in Mandarin, which Russell said is a promise to be true, a bond of friendship and trust. 

“To me, this is a culinary promise to the Town of Milton that I’m going to introduce something great,” he said. 

The idea for Lago came about as a matter of practicality. Russell and his wife, Caitlin, are big fans of sushi and Asian food, but her options were limited because the tempura batter was not gluten-free. Tempura is a key element of a sushi roll, Russell said, because it's what gives sushi a crunch and depth of flavor. 

It was then that Russell had the idea of having a sushi bar where 95% of the menu is gluten-free. 

“With this place, you can do vegetarian, you can do traditional, you can do specialty rolls, because we use a gluten-free tempura batter,” Russell said. “It changes the game, and I hope it sets the precedent for other sushi places to do the same.”

Russell lived in Southeast Asia for two years. There, he learned about culture, spices, and the plating and presentation of food. He said portion sizes are smaller, and the atmosphere of the inside is set through its murals of cherry blossoms, the famous tree traditionally found in Japan. Russell said Lago uses a special rice in its sushi imported from Japan and Vietnam. 

Besides sushi and sashimi, the Lago menu also includes curry, noodle bowls, fried rice and General Tso’s chicken.

Lago is located at 105 Federal St., and to prep the building for what Lago would be doing, Russell said an extensive renovation was done to make the restaurant more fitting of the Asian theme of the menu.

“Asian culture, everything is symmetrical. They work on lines and placing, and I wanted to do that. We showcase the silverware and a candle in the middle of the table. Clean, simple, but these are the essentials,” he said.

Lago will be open from noon to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday until summer, when the restaurant will be open seven days a week. For more information, go to facebook.com/lagosushi or lagoshushi.com.