Sake Restaurant and Bar

I’m more a beer guy than a sake guy, but I’m nothing if not willing to learn more about the other four letter liquor.

Turns out there’s plenty more to sample at Sake Restaurant and Bar, the newish Melbourne outpost in a restaurant group that’s been winning gongs for its Sydney and Brisbane venues.

Sitting next to Hamer Hall in a lovely spot by the Yarra, this large space sprawls across two levels, while little touches like the sake bar and private booths keep it feeling cosy.

Miriam McLachlan has the awesome title of Sake Sommelier and has put together an extensive list of sake and shochu varieties. This is also the only place in town where you can dip your beak in the Kozaemon range, Japan’s 300-year-old boutique brewery.

Of course all that sake needs something to line the stomach, and the menu from Group Executive Chef Shaun Presland and Melbourne Executive chef Rose Ang features an ever-changing list of Japanese dishes that have a bit of fun.

Fusion dishes like sashimi tacos (two tuna & salmon sashimi filled baby tacos with chilled tomato salsa matched with Kozaemon Junmai ‘sake shots’ $17) are tasty, fresh and slightly messy.

My favourite was the beef tataki (seared tenderloin with garlic chips, snow peas sprouts & tataki sauce $20), the super tender slices of beef sung when dipped the sweet, salty sauce.

Continuing along the seabed, the miso-cream scallops (with baby corn, asparagus, shiitake mushrooms & yuzu miso cream $31) were little gold medals of glory, though could’ve done without the baby corn.

If you just can’t decide there’s the nine-course degustation with two drinks for $88 pp.

And I did learn something new about sake. It works excellently as a shooter with Asahi.

SAKE RESTAURANT AND BAR
8687 0775
Mon – Fri lunch 12pm – 3pm, dinner 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat – Sun 12pm – 3pm, dinner 5.30pm – 11pm
Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne
100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
sakerestaurant.com.au