Famous for its London-based Itzakaya, Zuma brings the classic Japanese faire to Istanbul with a contemporary waterfront dining room on the European shore of Istanbul. Situated in a period building with views of the Ortakoy Mosque and Bosphorus Bridge, the main dining room is more casual than its Hong Kong or London counterpart with open kitchen and sushi bar defined by natural stone and glass. A small lounge arranged in wooden banquettes and club chairs is perfect for casual wintertime lunches, but nowhere near as in demand as the outdoor terrace come summer with its sleek dining room at a few feet above the waterline with outdoor robata grill and private jetty for quick VIP departures.
The Food
A traditional Japanese Itzakaya menu offers small dishes like thinly sliced yellowtail with garlic pickles, beef carpaccio with miso and salmon tartare with sevruga caviar. Imported exotic fish mean excellent selection of sashimi platters as well as soft-shell crab with cucumber or Wagyu sushi with caviar garnish. Robata dishes like shitake mushroom skewers and miso eggplant are an excellent compliment to signature main courses like miso black cod, seared foie gras with crushed umeboshi and chicken roasted on cedar plank.
Last Word
Trendy Japanese Izakaya finds waterfront home with outdoor dining room and sake bar in Istanbul.
