Oru, a new interactive sushi counter from the team behind acclaimed Houston spots Neo and Kira, opens in a minimalist, pale-hued space centered around a Japanese hinoki wood square bar where two to three chefs serve guests directly. Unlike Neo’s high-price omakase, Oru is designed for flexible budgets with a menu spanning hots, colds, makimono, nigiri/sashimi, and desserts, letting diners splurge on premium wine and sake or drop in for happy hour. The menu blends favorites like caviar banana ice cream and pistachio coulant with originals such as eggplant salad with crispy shrimp legs and savory taiyaki accompanying caviar service. Seasonality appears in dishes like ramp chawanmushi, while pickling and fermentation are emphasized, including house miso from soybeans and peppers and a fish sauce made by upcycling seafood trimmings.