Sushi Nakazawa — Restaurant in Washington

I was so excited to try Sushi Nakazawa because of its Michelin star and raving reviews, but I was thoroughly disappointed, to say the least. Out of all the omakases I’ve tried, this was pretty a pretty subpar experience.

While the fish was extremely fresh and high quality, and every bite was truly delicious, the positives end there. Once you get to this price point, you’re not just paying for the food anymore, you’re paying for the experience. And spoiler alert, you won’t get that here.

The service was extremely lackluster, especially from the moment you walk in. They seriously need to reconsider whoever they have working the front desk. She was extremely unwelcoming and frankly, just outright rude. We walked in and were not even greeted before we received a cold “do you want me to take your jacket.” Really? Our waiter on the other hand was very friendly and helpful with drink selections.

Also, the chefs were extremely distant, if that makes sense. For every bite, they would serve you the piece and then mutter the name quietly, leaving you to wonder what exactly you were eating. I paid extra for the sushi bar to get a personal “experience” with the chefs, but honestly I would’ve had the same experience at a table with how impersonal it felt. I’ve had a much more intimate and interactive omakase at places that cost half the price here. And considering it has a Michelin, I think it’s completely unacceptable and undeserved. You leave not learning a single thing about any piece you’ve eaten, not their names, ingredients, or origin. You might get the fish name, if you can hear the chef.

One other qualm I have is that, while delicious, I feel like the nigiri here is quite boring. There was nothing truly “extraordinary” or “creative” about the dishes served here. Every piece eventually just tasted the same. Same rice, same sauce, just a different type of fish for every bite. However, I’m aware this may just be more of a “traditional” type of omakase, so I’m not deducting any stars for this reason. Just something to keep in mind. If you’re looking for a contemporary take on sushi or just more creative innovations, look elsewhere, because you won’t...

We had been waiting to try Nakazawa, and then COVID hit. So we finally got around to trying it this past weekend. 5 stars for the fish quality - top-notch and service. 3 stars for creativity, price/value, and overall pompous attitude.

Let me start out by saying this is absolutely the freshest and highest quality fish you will find at any sushi restaurant in the DC metro area (we've been to pretty much everywhere else). Service detailing is also right on target. The smallest details and synced movements amongst servers really elevates the dinner to an experience. The meal finished nicely with a unique tofu milk custard & matcha tea - it was perfect. One dish that was surprisingly off was the Uni Flight. The uni was perfect - so fresh and delicious, but the sauces that came with the flight were too much in quantity. We were told to pour all of the sauce over the uni. I'm shocked a high-caliber sushi establishment would suggest drowning delicate sushi with soy sauce. We enjoyed the uni, did not enjoy the overly salty/overpowering sauces that came with it. The sauces need to be cut in half at least. There is quite a lack of creativity in the display and various ways to work the fish. We had 3 pieces of fish all marinated in yuzu, close to half the fish were flame charred, and plating was underwhelming. The omakase at Sushitaro has way more of a wow factor in both creativity and plating. Definitely expected more. Lastly, there was an overall air of boisterous attitude of the "Nakazawa" name. After our server greeted us, the first thing he asked was if we had watched the movie. We are here to eat excellent sushi - we are not fangirls. It was very unprofessional to ask. We noticed the music playing was very dramatic, and out of curiosity shazam-ed the song. Behold - we were listening to the soundtrack of the movie. It was such a stretch to utilize all these. The latter comments give the impression we are overpaying for the sushi and paying a premium for the name. It was arrogant and...

WOW!!!!! This restaurant is the epidemy of fine dining in DC!

The service itself was phenomenal - all four servers manning the dining room very present, engaged and circulated each of the tables with great precision. Each table setting was reset prior to the upcoming setting - used dishes were removed, beverages were refilled and tables were wiped down. Never once did I feel I had to hunt someone down - there was always a server eager to answer a question or assist with a request.

The food was also TOP notch! I ordered the classic omakese w/ one added supplement. While there is an upgraded version of the omakase available I thought the classic was PERFECT! The flights were well planned, appropriately spaced out, and delicious. All in all, I fully intended to return to Sushi Nakazawa in the near future. The wine by the glass selection is also amazing - while expensive for the amount poured, the quality of the every wine served in unbeatable.

A few tips to share with future diners. Online reservations are not released at the same time for solo diners as are for tables with 2+ diners. Solo diners may make there reservations online about a week prior to their preferred date. Wine portions by the glass are VERY small - each pour may be at most 4 ounces - so if you intend to drink more than 8 ounces of wine/sake I would highly suggest ordering a full bottle instead - it will save you a tone of one at the end of the meal. Personally I would opt for the sushi table experience versus the dining room experience. While yes you do see the staff preparing each piece live, the entertainment value of the sushi table isn't that marginal compared to the regular...