KATSUMI Replaces Bar Japonais in Logan Circle
Logan Circle has traded one neon note for another as KATSUMI opens its doors at 1520 14th Street NW, taking the place of the late Bar Japonais. From the Rhythm & Eats team (the operators behind Bar Chinois as well), this new Japanese address leans intimate and atmospheric, with soft lighting, subtle neon, and Japanese-inspired artwork setting the scene.
KATSUMI is equal parts date-night den and sake-sipping salon. It’s a study in balance: moody but welcoming, modern but mindful of tradition. That duality carries into the kitchen, led by Michelin-starred chef Masaaki Uchino (aka “Uchi”) — while 2025 James Beard Semifinalist Andra Johnson (AJ) oversees the dining room.
The menu reads familiar at first glance, then flirts with flourish. Maki rolls range from the decadent Sour Cream & Onion Crunch Roll, crowned with Imperial Osetra caviar, black porgy, and potato crunch, to the aptly named Imperial Roll, layered with tuna, salmon, yellowtail, avocado, ikura, and jalapeño salsa.
Sashimi selections don’t shout, but they sparkle. Toro Caviar arrives glossed with cucumber, teriyaki, and truffle oil, while Salmon Aji Amarillo brightens the plate with passion fruit and scallion oil. Seasonal nigiri (saba, uni, hotate) also shimmers.
From the hot side of the kitchen, Pork Katsu Senbei delivers panko crunch with shichimi heat, and Lobster Tail Koganeyaki pairs chives with spicy aioli for a rich, shareable showpiece. The house gyoza (beef and cabbage wrapped and crisped) offers comfort with composure. Even vegetarian options, like Gojo Mushrooms sautéed in teriyaki, feel thoughtful.
Cocktails here court curiosity. The Matcha Mood mixes yuzu vodka with ceremonial matcha, strawberry, vanilla oat ice cream, and cacao… a dessert-driven dazzler. The Nitoro Kohi Martini riffs on the espresso martini with nitro cold brew, shochu, Okinawan sugar, and Benedictine. And the Anko-Iada blends rum, mango, pineapple, adzuki bean, and coconut milk into a tropical tipple with Tokyo undertones.
A seasonally shifting sake list rounds out the program, spotlighting distinctive bottles like Amabuki “Strawberry” Junmai Ginjo Nama and Nanbu Bijin Tokubetsu Junmai. Wine selections and additional Japanese spirits ensure the bar keeps pace with the kitchen.
In a corridor crowded with concepts, KATSUMI carves its niche through nuance. The soundtrack hums, the sushi shines, and the service steers the evening with subtle confidence. For dinner, drinks, and a dash of downtown drama, this newcomer makes a compelling case; proof that on 14th Street, reinvention remains reliably in rotation.
