A tiny, ultra-exclusive sushi counter is lining up to claim one of Dublin’s most familiar corners. NomaEN, a Kyoto-inspired Japanese dining concept, is planning to move into the former Oscar’s Restaurant & Bar on High Street, centering the project on a 10-seat omakase counter led by Chef Taishi Noma and an upscale, members-only lounge called The Den. If it all comes together, the new venture will replace a neighborhood fixture that shut down in early 2024 after more than three decades on High Street.
As reported by WhatNow, NomaEN is slated for the long-vacant Oscar’s space at 84 N. High St. and is being positioned as a boutique destination built around an intimate omakase experience and a refined, members-only social room. According to the outlet, membership applications for The Den are already open through the group’s website. WhatNow also notes that it reached out for details on ownership and timing but had not received a response at the time of publication.
On its own site, NomaEN also lists the address as 84 N. High St. and prominently advertises an "Opening Spring 2027" target on its homepage. The site describes NomaEN as a Kyoto-inspired, members-only club that will feature a 10-seat omakase guided by "Master Chef Taishi Noma" alongside a secluded lounge reserved for members. Visitors will find a membership sign-up prompt and a contact email, although the site does not share any pricing information or tiers.
Chef Taishi Noma's track record
Chef Taishi Noma’s résumé includes leading Cleveland’s Ginkgo and a stint at the now-closed Haiku in Columbus, with profiles emphasizing his Kyoto training and private-chef work. Cleveland Scene detailed his time helming Ginko and his subsequent shift into private events and catering, crediting him with great technical skill in sushi and traditional Japanese preparations. Taken together, those past roles suggest the omakase at NomaEN is likely to be a tightly curated, chef-driven experience.
A long-time corner gets a re-do
Oscar’s of Dublin closed in late January 2024 after more than thirty years in business, according to reporting republished from The Columbus Dispatch. The shuttering left a high-profile hole on High Street, and the property has drawn redevelopment interest since. WhatNow notes that a previously floated boutique-hotel concept for the site never advanced. NomaEN is the latest proposal to reimagine that corner.
Membership and open questions
NomaEN invites would-be members to apply and provides a contact address, but it stops short of answering some key questions. The site does not clarify whether the omakase counter will be reserved for members only or if any seats will be available to the general public. It reiterates the "Opening Spring 2027" timeline and offers an email for inquiries. Until the operator releases membership pricing and a clear policy on public access, the exact guest experience remains something of a mystery.
