Ganbei Chinese Restaurant and Bar Opens in Downtown Rochester

In Chinese culture, "Ganbei" means "cheers" or "bottoms up"—a celebratory toast—and Maher Faik hopes plenty of customers will raise their glasses at his new downtown Rochester eatery, Ganbei Chinese Restaurant and Bar. 

Faik, an Oakland Township native, opened Ganbei on June 28 at 227 S. Main St., in the space formerly occupied by Fuse Lounge & Bar, and hopes to diversify downtown's food selections with premium Asian cuisine. 

"The goal was to create an attraction in the southernmost district of downtown and build something unique and draw people and kind of liven up and expand the threshold of the downtown area," Faik said. 

Faik said crowds have been moderate to steady in his first few days in business and has seen an emerging demand from lunchtime crowds. 

Ganbei is Faik's second restaurant. He has operated Far East in Clawson since 2011, which he said prepared him for opening Ganbei.

Behind the bar, Ganbei offers a variety of martinis, Japanese whiskey and imported beers from China and Japan. 

Faik has even bigger plans for his downtown space. This fall, he will open the second floor of the restaurant, which will offer a private dining area in one half and a lounge area in the other. This, he said, would provide patrons a place to drink and socialize after dining.