Global Sushi Entrepreneur Will Bring Japanese Restaurant and Lounge Downtown

One of the restaurateurs behind Zuma, a high-end sushi and izakaya concept that has 13 locations around the world, will put a two-piece Japanese restaurant and lounge at the Midtown Center development that houses the Fannie Mae headquarters downtown.

Washington Business Journal reports that Arjun Waney, a co-founder of Zuma, and partners have signed a lease for two venues over a combined 10,000 square feet. The deal includes plans for Shōtō — an expansive restaurant with a sushi counter, a bar, and a Japanese robata grill — and Ākēdo, a lounge that will serve fast-casual street food for lunch and dinner before morphing into a venue fit for nightlife. Construction is set to begin early next year.

Nicholas Stefanelli (Masseria, Officina) also has plans to open a restaurant serving regional Greek specialties in the development next year.

The menus at Shōtō and Ākēdo, WBJ reports, will be developed by chef Carlos Estarita, formerly of Zuma Miami, one of the city’s 17 essential sushi restaurants. Zuma was founded in London by Waney and chef Rainer Becker and also has U.S. branches in New York and Las Vegas.

Eater Las Vegas gave the city’s Zuma an award for 2017 Design of the Year. The designer who led that project, Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Tokyo-based Studio Glitt, has been tabbed to conceive the look of the Midtown Center restaurants.

Other Eater city sites have reported on plans for Waney’s group to open concepts in Boston and Los Angeles.

Correction: This article has been corrected to reflect that Shōtō and Ākēdo are not affiliated with Zuma.

• Two Japanese restaurants from Zuma owners opening in D.C. [WBJ]
• Miami’s 17 Essential Sushi Restaurants [EM]
• Exploring the Design Secrets Behind Zuma [ELV]
• International Japanese Izakaya Chain Plans to Add Boston Location [EB]
• International Japanese Izakaya Chain Zuma Expanding to Downtown LA’s Arts District [ELA]