words by NIA TOPALOVA
Just a month ago, entrepreneur Nassim Zeta and Japanese chef Kazuya Matsumoto opened Sushi Oodo, an intimate restaurant in the heart of Amsterdam, Utrechtsestraat 33, built around a highly focused approach to omakase dining. The restaurant is a result of Zeta’s long fascination with Japan and fine dining.
Guests can take a seat at the counter and and leave the menu in the hands of the chef. As there is no conventional à la carte menu, the dishes are entirely shaped by the season and ingredients available that day. The work of chef Matsumoto follows the Japanese principle of shun, serving an ingredient at the precise moment it is at its best. Japan and the Netherlands come together at Susio Oodo as Japanese seafood is combined with selected Dutch produce with special attention to temperature, ageing and timing.
Sake is central to Oodo’s omakase experience, with a list featuring bottles rarely encountered outside Japan, acquired through relationships with Japanese breweries and specialist sake stores shaping the collection. Different bottles are selected to complement the meals unfolding course by course, placing the paring as an essential part of the dining experience.
The space, designed by Framework, is purposefully decorated with carefully selected Japanese furniture and art objects, featuring a light wooden counter as a central piece, surrounded by warm tones and considered lighting creating a calm setting.
Experiencing Sushi Oodo was truly special, as it was a reminder that simple things like dining can be transformed into a moment for all of us to finally slow down, forget about our busy schedules for an evening, and enjoy each bite with attention and curiosity.
