Chef Michael Chanthavong, formerly of O-Ku, will lead the kitchen at a new concept from O-Ku owners Indigo Road Hospitality Group. Mizu will be in the new Hyatt Centric SouthPark, a brand from Hyatt targeting modern travelers. According to travel blog The Points Guy, “today’s hotel guests are demanding a little more excitement, more individuality and more personality from full-service hotels.” One way the Hyatt Centric brand looks to provide that is through its restaurant offerings. 

Mizu will be located on the restaurant’s top floor, with a menu centered on seafood made using Japanese robata grills. 

“The robata grill serves as the main inspiration for the menu, using it to create dishes with ingredients from mushrooms to Yellowtail cheeks and lobster,” Chanthavong says.

The restaurant’s beverage manager will be Ed Parowski.

Chanthavong was the opening chef at South End sushi spot O-Ku, Charleston-based Indigo Road’s first foray into the Charlotte market in 2016. It was followed by Oak Steakhouse and Indaco. Chanthavong has been cooking since he was a kid; his parents owned several Thai restaurants, where he worked until he turned 18 and moved to Charlotte. His first job here was at the Charlotte-Douglas airport location of Phillips Seafood.

After he was laid off from O-Ku at the start of the pandemic, Chanthavong made plans to launch a food truck featuring dishes from Laos. The food truck remains in progress. Construction on the truck has been slower than anticipated, but it should be on the road soon after some remaining plumbing tweaks, Chanthavong says.

Mizu is expected to open in August for dinner service, before eventually adding brunch hours.

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