International Drive is getting a serious glow-up. Chef Michael Collantes is bringing Nomikai by Sushi Saint to Icon Park, a steakhouse-minded sister concept that mashes up big American cuts with precise Japanese technique, with an opening targeted for late July or early August. The new spot will scale up Sushi Saint’s hand-roll program into a larger, tourist-facing dining room built around hefty proteins, seafood shareables, and a full cocktail lineup. Collantes calls Nomikai his biggest project yet and is aiming for a dark, neon-kissed room that cuts against Icon Park’s bright, family-attraction energy. It is also a rare chef-driven bet on a stretch of International Drive better known for chains than omakase pedigrees.
Menu, size and timing
Nomikai’s menu is set to swing hard into steakhouse territory. Diners can expect tomahawk steaks, dry-aged cuts, and koji-marinated steaks alongside whole branzino, miso king salmon, lobster noodles and rice dishes, plus Sushi Saint hand rolls, ceviches, sashimi, and vegetable-forward plates, according to Orlando Weekly. The Icon Park restaurant will move into the former Sloppy Joe’s and Paramount Fine Foods space and is aiming for a late July or early August debut. Cocktails are part of the build, but Collantes told Orlando Weekly he is not chasing a boozy izakaya scene and instead wants an upscale, polished experience that skips the attitude.
Location and look
The new restaurant is headed for 8371 International Drive, Suite 60 inside Icon Park, according to What Now. Collantes told the outlet that “nomikai” means a celebratory drinking event and described the design as a “Tokyo neo-cyberpunk” room lit in neon blues and purples with lounge-style music. The buildout is planned to seat around 60 guests, a major jump from his downtown operations, which typically top out between 10 and 30 seats. In other words, he is swapping tiny counters for a full-on dining production.
The chef behind Nomikai
Collantes is the chef-owner behind Soseki Modern Omakase, Perla’s Pizza, and Sushi Saint, the temaki hand-roll lounge that helped set up this new concept. His website, MikeCollantes.com, lays out that portfolio, and the MICHELIN Guide lists Sushi Saint as a Bib Gourmand pick. Those credentials are exactly what he is bringing to Nomikai, which helps explain why a chef known for intimate omakase counters is suddenly going bigger with a louder, spectacle-forward room on the tourist strip.
Why Icon Park matters
Icon Park sits on one of Orlando’s busiest tourist corridors, where most diners are funneled toward casual chains and quick crowd-pleasers. Nomikai will drop directly into that mix, surrounded by heavy foot traffic and out-of-town groups. What Now notes that the restaurant’s spot is squarely in the path of high visitor volumes, a natural fit for a theatrical, protein-forward menu built for sharing. Collantes has previously said he pulled back from opening another Sushi Saint in the tourist zone to avoid cannibalizing his downtown locations, which is why Nomikai’s separate identity and steak-focused angle are so key.
When to expect it
Local reporting points to a late July to early August opening window, with the exact date depending on permits and construction speed. Orlando Weekly notes that the team is steering diners to Nomikai’s Instagram for the latest updates as the buildout wraps. Until the doors open, expect plenty of buzz around a neon-lit, steak-heavy riff on Japanese flavors from one of Orlando’s most closely watched chefs.
