Nearly two months past its original opening timeline, BASH Original Izakaya opened to the public this week in Woodbridge. The Japanese pub filled the space briefly occupied by Izakaya Katsu, which closed in June after just six months of business at the corner of Trumbull Avenue and Putnam Street.

Bash is operated by seasoned restaurateur Harold Kim of Canton’s popular Japanese restaurant Izakaya Sanpei. He and his business partners aim to develop Bash into a small chain of four to five izakayas.

The partners kept most of the decor from Izakaya Katsu intact including the tatami-style seating and lanterns. However, Bash’s team invested significantly in improving Katsu’s old kitchen, which lacked a fryer despite serving fried food on its menu. Likewise, the new owners moved the entrance from the somewhat surreptitious alley behind the restaurant to the front along Trumbull Avenue. They’ve also added temporary signage — something Katsu notably lacked.

Bash is expected to serve an extensive Japanese snack-style menu as well as sashimi and a variety of Japanese craft beers. In the spring, it’s expect to add a patio area with a biergarten.

Bash is located at 5063 Trumbull Ave.; open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday (Closed Mondays).

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