K
ris Torrance is the bar manager at Republic Texas Tavern owner’s newest concept Onēsan Dim Sum Sushi. Torrance has been a bartender for over a decade, learning the ins and outs of the industry before opening Onēsan and creating its cocktail menu. Torrance started working as a bartender 10 years ago in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before moving to Nashville and then Scottsdale, Arizona. He arrived in Dallas to work at Whiskey Hatchet in Deep Ellum. Later, after settling into the cocktail and bourbon scene at Republic Texas Tavern, Torrance helped open its neighbor Onēsan. Onēsan opened in July and serves dim sum, sushi rolls, nigiri and other Asian-inspired dishes. The drink menu boasts cocktails like the Death Over Dishonor, with Japanese whisky, Szechuan peppercorn ginger syrup and plum bitters. WHAT WAS IT LIKE MOVING FROM DIVE BARS TO R E PU B L I C TO T H I S N EW P L AC E ?
MEET A BARTENDER From dive bars around the country to sake cocktails at Onēsan Interview by ALYSSA HIGH | Photography by JOHNATHAN JOHNSON
14
prestonhollow.advocatemag.com
AUGUST 2022
I’ve never worked in the sushi or Asian concept. So it’s a lot of learning about sake and dim sum and sushi and things I never thought I would eat, which is cool. Republic is up my alley with bourbon and American gastropub steak and stuff, but it has been really cool learning about the Asian restaurant world and studying its processes. It’s fun, and it’s challenging. But it’s easy to go right back into everything that you already know and are comfortable with.
