Rosella
New York City, NY
Rosella is a sustainable sushi restaurant in the East Village.
Chefs Jeff Miller and Yoni Lang partner with local purveyors to source as many domestic items as possible; this includes fish from the coasts of New York, Oregon, and Florida, rice vinegar from New Jersey, herbs from Rooftop Reds in Brooklyn, and more. Beverage director TJ Provenzano puts an equal emphasis on sourcing, with a curated list of small-batch sakes and a wine selection that highlights American producers.
While our visual identity puts the Rosella parrot at the center, our interiors intend to convey a love of craft and the duality of Rosella's concept:
borrowing from traditional sushi masters craft but not authentically Japanese
a hybrid venue mixing casual wine bar and high end omakase
Anchored by a large, central bar which doubles as a kitchen and eating counter, we used color to divide the space. The materials and colors hint at Japanese artisanal decors (stretched canvas, dyes, cement tiles, raw wood) yet the design is nothing like that of a conventional sushi bar, in which color is used sparingly. The all-fabric walls emanate warmth and comfort, a priority for the owners, who aim to democratize the genre and be inviting to their East Village neighbors.
In line with the team's sustainable goals, we collaborated with local makers such as fefostudio, and Clover Ceramics, commissioning custom lighting and tableware for the space.
Read the New York Times review!
Creative direction & design: Polonsky & Friends
Interior Design Support: Monica Fonseca
Build: The Cosecha Group
Graphic Design: Margaret Mercer & Claire Dufournier
llustrations: Hollie Kelley
Photos: Charles Roussel
