Contemporary kaiseki is the the name of the game at this new Japanese and it delivers with cosmopolitan bells and whistles on – that is to say this is kaiseki dining with attitude, showing off a wide repertoire of flavours but not as you would necessarily expect them. There’s no shortage of experience or technique either, as the founders are Michelin-starred chefs Emmanuel Stroobant and Kazumine Nishida, and they have brought many of their acolytes with them! Don’t be fooled by the understated but edgy restaurant entrance set against a grey, industrial chic concrete wall or the entrance floor of natural stepping stones – it is a fun introduction. But it’s only when you have taken your seats at the counter that the delights (from the Kaze, Mio, or Yume menus) will make you realise the food is the main event here.
Their signature sashimi trio of hotate (scallop), hamachi (yellowtail tuna), and kinki is a must-have dish while the Iwate scallop is topped with oba leaf jelly and served with a citrus dressing given a little kick by a mildly hot yuzu kosho. Courses are given whimsical rock and pop hit names that add to the contemporary vibe. Some Like It Hot features grilled nodoguro (seaperch) and Japanese baby eggplant brushed with red miso sauce on a bed of sushi rice. Just The Way You Are is an aromatic house blend of gobo, chrysanthemum, oba, myoga, mint and anglica-like ashitaba.
This fun and exciting experience may just redefine the way you look at kaiseki dining.