Zuma by Chef Ninja will be the new tenant in the former Brickside Food & Drink space at 4866 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The building has sat empty for over a year. "Chef Ninja" is chef-owner Mitsuhisa Nishio, who has opened several Asian-Latin fusion restaurant concepts in the United States, including El Ninja in Providence, Rhode Island; Sushi Mambo in New York City; and Daddy Ninja, opening soon in Kissimmee, Florida. Zuma by Chef Ninja will be one more in that vein by Chef "Michu," specializing in sushi that combines the flavors of Japan and the Caribbean, where he grew up as a son of the first generation of Japanese people to emigrate to the Dominican Republic.
Too many niche places opening up. We need something like a good Jewish Deli, Irish Pub, or mid-range Diner with a large variety of dishes (like the "Silver Diner" (not that brand obviously given the New American concept is on the other end of downtown) but that's not a greasy spoon either.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes a Jewish Deli or Irish Pub not niche?
DeleteIt's criminal that Rockville, Silver Spring and Wheaton have thriving Irish pubs but zero in Bethesda.
ReplyDeleteWhat's criminal is that there are fewer and fewer local chefs and restaurant owners opening in downtown Bethesda. Are there some, of course. But so many and often are out of town and/or major chains. Bring back Hard Times.
ReplyDeleteTwo Jew-ish delis have failed in the triangle. Bad management or...?
ReplyDeleteCould use a gastropub. The bar food at Caddies and Rock Bottom is subpar stuff.
ReplyDeleteHeckmans and ____?
ReplyDelete@9:49 - Why are you complaining about Caddies and Rock Bottom? They are both pubs, and give you gas.
ReplyDeleteDeli food costs are disproportionately high when compared to other themed restaurants, extensive menus and then labor
DeleteHard Times back would be nice… or Dogfish!
ReplyDeleteThe other Jewish deli was bubbies. Or something similar
ReplyDelete9:49 - Heckman's and Uptown Deli. Neither lasted long.
ReplyDeleteWhat's "criminal" is the criminal element possibly factoring in any new prospective proprietors choosing not to open up here in moribund downtown B-town.
ReplyDelete