Japanese Izakaya Zuma Now Has An Opening Date

Just as Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill closed at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas comes news that its sushi replacement at the resort as an opening date. London-based Zuma from chef Rainer Becker debuts on Jan. 28, bringing a Japanese izakaya with a robata grill and sushi bar.

The restaurant features three kitchens dishing out plates meant to be shared. The main kitchen plans to serve suzuki no sashimi, a sea bass sashimi with yuzu, truffle and salmon roe; hourensou no goma ae, blanched baby spinach with creamy sesame dressing; and the tsubu-miso hinadori no oven yaki, baby chicken oven roasted with barley miso on cedar wood.

At the sushi counter, guests can find wagyu gunkan no caviar with wagyu beef, ginger and caviar; dynamite spider roll with softshell crab, chili and wasabi tobiko mayo; and a spicy yellowtail roll with yellowtail, serrano pepper, avocado and wasabi mayo.

From the robata grill, gyuhire sumibiyaki karami zuke, a spicy beef tenderloin with sesame, red chili and sweet soy; tori no tebasaki, sake-glazed chicken wings, sea salt and lime; and the wagyu tomahawk steak, 28 ounces of beef with fresh truffle.

Sake, shochu, yuzu and shiso leaves are used in the cocktails, all served with hand-carved ice blocks.

The cocktail menu features the rubabu with rhubarb-infused sake, vodka, passion fruit and lemon; the geisha smash with Ketel One, shiso leaves, cucumber, elderflower and yuzu; and the yuzu paloma with tequila blanco, homemade yuzu Campari; soda and green tea salt.

This spring, Zuma unveils the Zuma Zacapa Live Solera that uses locally sourced ingredients before it is aged and served.

The room, designed by Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Tokyo-based Studio Glitt and DesignAgency, takes up 9,000 square feet that uses wood, rusted iron, stone and glass. One wall is made of natural stone from Chiang Mai, Thailand, for example. The reception desk, bar and sushi counter are all made of grand tree trunks, also sourced from Thailand. The patchwork wall in the lounge has been created from colored Japanese paper. Two glass-enclosed private dining rooms seat 14 guests each.

This marks the 11th location worldwide for Zuma.

• All Coverage of Zuma [ELV]