San Diego, Calif. - R.D. Olson Construction, an Irvine-based firm specializing in building hotels, retail outlets and restaurants, has been contracted to remodel the busiest company-owned Benihana within the well-known Japanese-style restaurant chain.

The restaurant is located at 477 Camino del Rio South in San Diego. The $720,000 project will entail the remodeling of the sushi bar and lounge, and building an addition to the dining area.

In remodeling the 8,500-square-foot restaurant owned by Benihana National Corporation, R.D. Olson Construction will build a custom white pine sushi bar decorated with a free-formed trellis. The face of the sushi bar will bear eloquently designed perforated metal, which also will be used in a suspended accent feature above the bar. Sushi bar seating will increase from eight to 20. The construction company will install new carpet throughout the dining area and lay quarry tile flooring in the prep kitchen and around the sushi bar. In keeping with the Japanese theme, R.D. Olson Construction will build shoji screens as window coverings and build custom hoods over the dining room's teppan tables.

MJSA Architecture & Interior Design, a Salt Lake City-based firm, is responsible for the remodel design. Construction will begin in March with an expected completion date set for June. The restaurant will remain open during construction.

In addition, R.D. Olson Construction has been contracted to remodel another Benihana located at 3760 East Inland Empire Blvd. in Ontario, Calif. at a project cost of $128,000.