Shimon Bokovza

Founder

Shimon Bokovza’s restaurant concepts pair stunning design with innovative, critically acclaimed cuisine. A graduate of Cornell’s prestigious School of Hotel Administration, Shimon applied his talent and creative vision to pioneer multi-sensory brand experiences from the beginning of his career.

Bokovza opened the first SUSHISAMBA in NYC in 1999. Under his direction, the Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian-inspired restaurant evolved into one of the most sought-after destinations in the world for cuisine, culture, music and design. The brand has locations in Doha, Dubai, Las Vegas, and London with openings planned for Edinburgh, Milan, and Riyadh.

Then, in 2012 he debuted the inimitable gastro diner, Duck & Waffle, in London. After the success of the 24/7 restaurant in the clouds, the beloved eatery opened its doors in Edinburgh in 2023 to media and guest acclaim. The concept, created to celebrate the joy of delicious food & drink in a warm and buzzy atmosphere is built around the craveable flavors of comfort food with the namesake dish at the forefront. And, with over 2 million sold and counting, that iconic Duck & Waffle dish was born at Bokovza’s third award-winning restaurant: The James Beard-nominated SUGARCANE raw bar grill - with locations in Miami (2010) and Las Vegas (2016). 

Shimon’s other award-winning concepts include the James Beard-nominated SUGARCANE raw bar grill in Miami (2010) and Las Vegas (2016) as well as internationally known and loved Duck & Waffle, opened in London, 2012 with a recently opened second location now in Edinburgh and more on the way. 

Shimon is a graduate of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and lives in New York City with his family.