From Jesse, of Sen restaurant, Sag Harbor, NY:

Family, Heritage & the Heart of a Restaurant 🏮🍣

A restaurant isn’t just about the food – it’s about the people behind it, the stories woven into the space, and the small details that make it personal. Here, at Sen, family is everywhere.

Most days, I have sumo wrestling playing on the screen behind the bar. My father was a sumo wrestler, and it’s a way of keeping that part of our heritage alive. It’s a connection to where we come from.

And then there’s my mother. All the artwork in the restaurant right now is hers. She’s painted a series of sumo wrestlers that are currently up throughout the space, and she’ll be rotating in new pieces for our next Chef’s Dinner. 

More Than Just One Restaurant

My brother and I have built something bigger than just one place. Together, we run Sen, and are part of Tip Top Hospitality that oversees:

K Pasa – Laid-back, all-day Mexican in Sag Harbor, serving the best breakfast ever.

Kumiso – Ramen and umami-packed bites in East Hampton Village.

Smokey Buns and Scoop & Waffle – Smashburgers, whiskey and ice cream (a perfect combo), in the alley behind the book shop in East Hampton Village.

Southampton Cinema and Southampton Inn – Part of our broader hospitality reach.

Bamboo – Another piece of the puzzle.

Meanwhile, my brother is doing his own thing at Aldo’s Coffee Company in Greenport, New York, known for biscotti, scones, and some of the best coffee in the area. The brand is now going national and I get to enjoy it every morning in a K-Cup. 

And I’m running The Green Room, the bar inside Sag Harbor Cinema, through my Oishi Services consultancy. 

Inside Tip

At Sen, take a minute to look around – it’s a restaurant and family story in motion. From the sumo wrestling on the screen to the art on the walls to the way we run service, every detail is connected to something bigger.

It’s all part of what makes this place feel like home – not just to us, but to you and the people who walk in, pull up a seat, and become part of our sen-sational community, too.

Contact

🌐 Sen Restaurant

Lead-in Image

@rjessematsuoka / Instagram