M. Alan Scott
HARTLAND TOWNSHIP — Imagine sitting in a sports bar in Hartland, watching your favorite team play an important game, when suddenly, the food and drink you ordered arrives and it’s… California sushi rolls and sake?
Welcome to Hatorando Sushi Sports Bar, located at 10586 Highland Road. Combining sports and sushi may seem like an odd pairing, but step inside and the commitment to the sports theme is clear, as is the extensive menu, packed with fresh sushi, rolls and fusion appetizers.
Hatlandau opened in February 2020, one month before restaurants across Michigan were shut down due to the coronavirus. The concept was the brainchild of owners Randy Palermo and Joe Torrence, locals who love sushi, sports, and classic rock.
Hatlandau offers all three in a contemporary, spacious setting with nine big-screen TVs, more than two dozen NFL helmets autographed by former players, and autographed sports memorabilia from Charles Woodson and Magic Johnson to Barry Sanders and Muhammad Ali adorning the tables and walls.
Manager Heather McCoy Smith said that while sports on the TVs and rock ‘n’ roll music blasting from the speakers are part of the restaurant’s theme, the focus is on the food: traditional sushi, rolls, rice and noodles, and teriyaki bowls are all available to eat in, or for carryout or catering, and delivery is also available through DoorDash.
“We consider ourselves a sushi restaurant that serves (fusion) bar food,” says McCoy Smith, who lists sticky wings, tuna-stuffed jalapeño poppers and a variety of burgers as options, but sushi lovers love the prepared rolls.
Sports-themed sushi rolls such as the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, MSU and Wolverines are staples for many sports fans, while the Heartland Eagle is a local favorite with its sushi rolls filled with crab salad, cream cheese and steamed shrimp, topped with avocado, sweet chili, spicy mayonnaise and tempura crunch. McCoy Smith flies in fresh tuna from Hawaii every week, and sometimes gets calls from suppliers 3,000 miles away about other fresh catches.
Despite the restaurant’s uniqueness, it hasn’t always been easy. McCoy-Smith said retaining staff remains a challenge, even four years into the pandemic. Hatlandau has 18 employees, including a specially trained sushi chef from overseas. The restaurant is located off Highland Road, near the intersection of US-23 in the Heartland Plaza shopping center.
But Hatland is attracting new clients from within Livingston County and beyond through advertising, signage and an active social media presence. But nothing beats a personal referral.
“We’ve tried all kinds of advertising,” McCoy Smith said.
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McCoy-Smith and her team, including head chefs Angelo and Jake, are always looking for new ideas to present to customers. The weekly quiz will begin on October 17th, with new menu options scheduled to be available until the end of the year, before a menu change in early 2025.
“It’s the hardest but most rewarding job I’ve ever had in this industry,” said McCoy Smith, who has nearly 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry. “It helps that we have great owners and great food. It’s hard work, but we do it.”
Hatorando is open seven days a week. For more information, visit hatorandosushi.com.
— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. To contact the newsroom, please contact newsroom@livingstondaily.com.
