Downtown Markham is getting a new 140-seat restaurant this October. Kiu, which means “joyous rain," is the latest venture by Koji Zenimaru and Jason Matsubara of Ramen Isshin — the spinoff of well-loved Cabbagetown izakaya Kingyo. The new 5,500-square-foot place will have walnut table tops, black leather chairs and striking red accents.

Prices — lunch averages $20, dinner $55 — reflect a mid- to high-end clientele. The omakase eight- to 15-course menu betrays a Japanese approach to cooking, with dishes like sweet soy marinated chutoro and otoro carpaccio, lightly seared lobster ceviche and sake-steamed mussels with soy milk and tomato.

A sake and oyster bar for about 20 patrons will face the Courtyard by Marriott currently under construction. Meals in the VIP rooms (with coat check and a private chef) will cost $300 per head. 

Kiu Japanese Restaurant, 169 Enterprise Blvd., Unit L201, Markham