Picture: Interior at Zeppelin. It hasn’t crashed and burned yet.
Last Updated 7/24/2021
Current Status: They are open for dine-in. Take-out and delivery options continue.
Before Times Review:
The priorities of the team behind Zeppelin, who also own Chaplin’s, aren’t difficult to suss out. The giant Godzilla mural on the outside (overlooking the outdoor seating) and the chic, retro design inside indicate the fun, attractive setting they were going for. The bar is on the ground floor as you enter, with two-three bartenders moving constantly to keep up with the orders. The design, both in the bar and the upstairs dining room, attempts to channel the 1930s for inspiration, but it is the crowd of those pushing 30 (or just past) that is the target audience. The dining room does late-night karaoke – reservations for weekend nights are hard to come by. The food choices are literally lost in the cocktail, sake and wine lists in the menu. Don’t be deterred, the food is decent. The team brought in Chef Minoru Ogawa (who has his own wonderful place, Sushi Ogawa) to construct a stable, solid list of choices that are not that expensive. Contrary to what Sietsema said, I like the tempura (light batter, not too greasy) and the sushi is decent. The service is not as spotty as you might expect from a new place with crowds out of the gate. Depending on your mood or age it is a good place to start or end your night.
Rating: Worth Trying Out
Cuisine: Japanese
Neighborhood: Shaw
Address: 1544 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Website: https://www.zeppelindc.com/
Reservations: Call: 202.506.1068
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: Cautionary First Bite
Washingtonian: Preview with lots of pictures.
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