Katsumi Makes the Foot of Logan Circle Cool Again
It’s not every day a restaurant switcheroo works, but month-old Katsumi does. When the team behind red-lit dumpling sensation Bar Chinois sensed its sophomore project across town (Bar Japonais) wasn’t clicking at the foot of Logan Circle, it made the hard (and costly) decision to close after just over a year to start over from scratch, reopening this winter with a striking new one-word name, an ea
At neon-lit Katsumi, there’s a focus on Japanese food in a more intimate atmosphere with half the seats. The kitchen executes the dishes well, even when its executive chef Masaaki “Uchi” Uchino (of Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa fame) isn’t around.
What to order
- Ballers in the house can turn to toro caviar topped with truffle oil for $52. For half the price, I thoroughly enjoyed the shimmering plate of hamachi crudo with garlic and cilantro.
- The duo of marinated chicken skewers, while a little small in portion size ($12), were prepared to perfection.
- Uchino’s sourcing from Japan shines in the quality of the fish. But rolls don’t take themselves too seriously, as seen in the high- low- sour cream and onion with sea bream, Imperial Osetra, and crunchy potato chip topper ($24).
The vibe
- Katsumi feels like a real nightlife spot with punches of its cherry blossom-pink logo spelled in caps, zippy neon light strips, and geisha murals overseeing soft lounge seating near the windows (so be prepared for passers-by to stop and stare).
- Owners Dean Mosones, Mark Minicucci, and Margaux Donati happen to also be homies, thus setting a good-times-only tone for everyone inside. See: communal caviar bumps posted on Katsumi’s Instagram stories last night.
Insider tip
Katsumi scored a big fish with the hire of general manager AJ Johnson, who’s well known in D.C. and beyond for her bartending skills (and also being awesome and hilarious). She broke down all the best recs on the menu, making us laugh along the way.
