Janet Gompers loved the poke bowls she ate in Hawaii, so she wanted to bring that experience to Owensboro. She’s doing just that with Fire Bowl, a new restaurant on Frederica Street that will also offer authentic hibachi and sushi wraps.
Originally, Gompers and her husband Charlie Joel planned to offer private hibachi service, but an opportunity arose to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant at 3600 Frederica Street (in the former El Tucan location).
The couple has 20 years of experience in the hibachi business.
“My husband trained everyone how he used to do it, and I think everyone is going to be blown away with the hibachi. Some people are saying it tastes the way it used to be years ago,” she said.
While hibachi will be a main focus for Fire Bowl, Gomper said she wants to bring authentic poke bowls like she had growing up in Hawaii. She said poke is something that’s served everywhere in Hawaii, and when she went back most recently, it was all she ate.
“When I came home, I knew these were the most beautiful things I’ve seen. I had to bring it here,” she said.
Poke Bowls are made using ahi tuna, and customers can enjoy whichever toppings they choose.
Currently, Fire Bowl uses a local distributor for their products. As the business grows, Gompers said she is interested in utilizing her contacts to bring in tuna from Hawaii.
Gompers and her husband are grateful for the support they have received throughout the process.
“Customers have experienced this somewhere else [while traveling], and the fact that they’re in here and they’re loving it just makes us really, really happy,” Gompers said.
Fire Bowl is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a break from 2-4 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Gompers said the hours are temporary as they fill their staff, but they plan to eventually be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.
