Sushi Dojo Vet David Bouhadana Angling to Open ‘Nishiwaki’ on Eldridge Street
This image has been archived or removed.
Well, that was quick. The former home of Apizz on Eldridge Street – it closed three months ago – already has a replacement in the wings. It’s going from Italian to Japanese cuisine.
A new sushi joint called Nishiwaki is on the docket for 217 Eldridge. Derek Feldman is the applicant of record here, who also owns the New Jersey-based J&D Furniture company. He and celebrated sushi chef David Bouhadana together seek a full liquor license with hours of 6am to 2am all nights. According to the application on file with Community Board 3, Feldman has no experience in nightlife.
The proposed establishment boasts a twenty-foot, L-shaped sushi bar, seven tables, and thirty-nine seats.
Bouhadana has basically been a free agent since Sushi Dojo was shuttered by the Department of Health last October. The city came down hard on the East Village haunt because the head chef had been preparing sushi without gloves (the traditional way). The Bouhadana brouhaha reached fever pitch, and when the restaurant reopened a month later, he was no longer aboard.
A Sushi Dojo spokesperson told Eater in November that “Bouhadana’s unprofessional conduct and deliberate repeated violations of NYS DOH codes and regulations” was cause of his jettison.
Nishiwaki goes before CB3 on May 16. Here’s their sample menu.