If it seems like we’ve been hearing about the soon-to-open Roxu Asian Fusion for the past few years, that’s because we have been. The restaurant, located by Barrio in the Uptown district of Lakewood, has been “coming soon” for two years. But the finish line is fast approaching, says management, with a scheduled opening just two or three weeks out.

Most of the delays have been thanks to construction, with the owners – Christoff Short and Kim Novotney – taking on much of the work themselves. The main floor of the building at 15607 Madison Avenue, once three separate storefronts, has been combined into a single 3,000-square-foot space. When it opens later this month, Roxu will accommodate approximately 90 guests in a sleek, modern dining room and bar.

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Chef and manager Robert Dippong, formerly of Johnny’s Bar and Johnny’s Downtown, describes the bill of fare as his take on a tapas-style Asian fusion eatery. Yes, there will be sushi, but the menu goes well past raw and rolled fish, he says.“I love Asian food personally – the sushi and fresh fish – but the fusion is the fun part of it,” he says.Imagine cuisines like Chinese, Japanese and Korean mingled with our Midwestern ingredients and sensibilities and you begin to get an idea of what to expect. In Dippong’s hands, comfort foods like chicken and waffles or barbecue ribs and slaw get an Asian spin. The menu will feature snacks like fish ribs, duck wings, fried rice and tuna poke, and larger plates like noodle and rice bowls like bibimbop.The bar will offer cocktails made with fresh-fruit, sake and even tea.The name, by the way, is an Asian play on "rocks you." Owner Short was born in the Far East.