Restaurant Review: Oro Nami, DC’s Underground Kosher Sushi Hotspot

by Bruce Levinson

Welcome to the first review in a series exploring distinguished kosher dining in and around our nation’s capital. Every restaurant reviewed carries the Capitol K hechsher from the Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington, the sole traditional rabbinic authority in the Washington metropolitan area (in Vaad HaRabanim we trust) and I only write about restaurants that are worthy of your time and palate. All columns are guaranteed to be free of lashon hara with a Yiddishe vibe.

Steps from the Four Seasons Hotel, near the corner of Pennsylvania & L, up a few concrete steps to a barren brick terrace, turning left and walking through an unmarked wooden door and down a flight of steps you will find an amazing experience waiting to be had. Treading down the stairs you notice the bar visible below on the left. You may also notice that, even with the advantage of height, you can’t tell whether most of the booths with the high-backed red velvet cushions are even occupied let alone know who might be dining there. Expect Oro Nami to become the next Washington in-place for off-the-record meetings and quiet deal making.

Our first stop is the bar with its magnificent display of bottles. You immediately peruse the many choices of Japanese malt whiskey. You’re not interested in the Japanese gins and vodkas? No, amazed by the 2 oz pours and deep discount on doubles you decide on a double Hakushu. Understandable, I also find The Yamazaki a tad sweet. Although the Eliyahu Craig 18 tempting me, I choose a 10 year old rye.

Dinner time. We take a booth near the back and I don’t need to look at the menu to know that I’ll be ordering the seared tuna appetizer. Does your chuckle mean that you’ll be having the Sushi Sandwich Roll? It does. I smile knowing that you won’t be disappointed. I’ve already decided on the Otoro Sashimi while you scan the sashimi and nigiri options. But you keep getting distracted by the procession of oversize specialty rolls and even larger poke bowls brimming with raw, baked or tempura fish passing us by as they are carried to tables closer to the bar. There’s something unusual about this place that sets it apart from anything you’ve seen in Japan or elsewhere, something deeply Jewish that you’re having trouble putting your finger on. It’s probably the portion sizes. Abbondanza! And the prices, they could be wholesale.

Judging by the size of the Omakase you ordered, you obviously like to fly on a full stomach. Don’t worry about the time, Dulles isn’t far away and you don’t have to worry about check in. Before we finish tonight, you’ll let me know how the sushi here compares and make sure to ring me up next time you’re in town. Maybe we’ll have cause to celebrate with Eliyahu Chai.

Oro Nami
2512 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037
www.oronamidc.com