Coming to Nashville: High-end sushi bar designed by firm behind the Sphere in Las Vegas

Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean

Experience Zuzu — a high-end, Asian-influenced restaurant and bar — is coming to 2nd Avenue.

The restaurant and companion second-floor bar, coined appropriately the Upstairs Bar, will move into a nearly 10,000-square-foot space next to Hampton Social.

Experience Zuzu is coming from the Elia Group, a real estate and hospitality company founded by Zaid Elia. The group is behind a number of developments in Detroit, including Parc Restaurant, which revamped a failing Au Bon Pain into an upscale restaurant and bar.

Elia said the flagship location has performed "extremely well" in Detroit.

"It's given us a springboard to consider markets like Nashville," Elia added.

Why Nashville? Latest restaurant venture explains

The group chose Nashville for its vibrant energy. A location across the street from Ascend Amphitheater is also a draw.

To execute the concept, the Elia Group is working with iCrave, the design firm that created the futuristic interior of the Sphere venue in Las Vegas. Other projects include the Philadelphia International Airport, New York's Starrett Lehigh Market and now, a sushi-driven restaurant just off Broadway.

A sushi tower at Experience Zuzu.
A sushi tower at Experience Zuzu.

As for what the concept is shaping up to be, officials supporting Experience Zuzu consider it something entirely "new and compelling" for the city, and promises "(similar to) immersive environments you'd find in Miami or Las Vegas."

What exactly does that mean?

The design of the space is paramount to creating a dining experience Elia described as a "journey" that unfolds over the course of a guest's time at the restaurant.

"The most important part is the space, which will be beautiful and over the top in terms of design," Elia said during a phone call from Michigan. "We have created an experience that aims to ignite and elevate the senses."

As for the menu?

"The menu showcases decadent creations crafted by our talented chefs," he said.

In concrete terms, that means several sushi rolls made with fresh fish flown in daily and entrees such as Thai Bronzino and A-5 wagyu cooked over a hot stone. There's also an omikase experience.

A wok-fired menu includes rock shrimp and lobster lo mein or shishito pepper steak made with prime beef tenderloin.

The most popular roll in the Detroit restaurant is the butter-poached lobster roll made with mango, shiso leaf, avocado, spicy mayo and Kizami, or shredded, nori.

Nashville's newest dining experience: Here's what else to know

  • The restaurant will be two stories, with the Upstairs Bar over the restaurant proper.

  • Elia described Upstairs Bar as an ultra-luxe lounge and club with high-end craft cocktails and smart small plates. Said Elia: "As the evening progresses, we'll turn up the music and turn down the lights."

  • An outdoor patio will seat 50.

  • The Detroit restaurant is staffed with Japanese-trained sushi chefs, who will also train the Nashville staff.

  • A dress code requires guests to avoid overly casual attire, including athletic apparel and activewear.

  • The Nashville restaurant will be located at 222 Second Ave. S.

  • Experience Zuzu is slated to open later in 2024, with the exact opening date to come.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville restaurant scene to get Detroit-based, upscale sushi spot

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