Izakaya Den. A restaurant
which, at the first mention of its name, received a fine indicator from a
curious foodie: “It sounds wonderfully homey and Japanese,” she says.
The place was disguised in a basement of a building. Led down by a flight of stairs, its discovery wouldn’t have been found if you didn’t know what to look for. In my case, I knew what I was looking for, and still thought Google Map was playing tricks on me.
I knew, as I went down the stairs, that it was going to be a good place hidden in the corner of Russell and Little Collins St. past the black drapes and you’ll step in into what feels like you’re in the central fashionable side of japan.
The restaurant was overflowing with gents and ladies in formal attires. It was Wednesday night, and while lounging to wait for a table for one, I took in the view and could already sum it up in two words: after-work hangout, indeed.
The place and music gave a relaxed atmosphere, a backdrop to agile waiters and waitresses serving crowds of men and women immersed in good laughs and chats.
I was then ushered to the bar area, which extends down the narrow rectangular space. It’s a good spot to watch the chef create delightful food and drinks in font of you. a warm hand towel then perched on the high table to cleanse the hands, another Japanese culture incorporated into a western setting.
I pick my selections out from the A3-sized menu scrolls and decided to have a glass of sake shicisakura and sakata coated prawn with citrus mayonnaise for the night.
The portion was clearly disappointing. I was looking for a dinner plate only to find three fairly fat prawns rested on a small plate. It’s a place where you find delectable Western-style Japanese appetizers to keep the conversation going, I discovered.
The taste tells its been prepared with skill and care. Not amazing, but good. The prawns were crisp and tender, just with the right thickness of crumbs, and served with citrus mayonnaise (awesome mayonnaise by the way) it satisfied the tongue if not the stomach.
And as for the drink, there’s nothing special I can say, with a blend of melon and fresh aftertaste. But anyone who craves for a warm or cool sake will love their sake collection. Not to mention their stacks of Australian and Japanese wine and beers decorating the wall.
Coupled with decent food and drinks, its a nice spot to loosen up in the evening. You’ll be lucky to leave the place with a simple chorus of courtesy and a polite question of “Where are you going?”
Venisa (Guest Reviewer)
Thanks Venisa! For more information on Izakaya Den, visit their website here.
The place was disguised in a basement of a building. Led down by a flight of stairs, its discovery wouldn’t have been found if you didn’t know what to look for. In my case, I knew what I was looking for, and still thought Google Map was playing tricks on me.
I knew, as I went down the stairs, that it was going to be a good place hidden in the corner of Russell and Little Collins St. past the black drapes and you’ll step in into what feels like you’re in the central fashionable side of japan.
The restaurant was overflowing with gents and ladies in formal attires. It was Wednesday night, and while lounging to wait for a table for one, I took in the view and could already sum it up in two words: after-work hangout, indeed.
The place and music gave a relaxed atmosphere, a backdrop to agile waiters and waitresses serving crowds of men and women immersed in good laughs and chats.
I was then ushered to the bar area, which extends down the narrow rectangular space. It’s a good spot to watch the chef create delightful food and drinks in font of you. a warm hand towel then perched on the high table to cleanse the hands, another Japanese culture incorporated into a western setting.
I pick my selections out from the A3-sized menu scrolls and decided to have a glass of sake shicisakura and sakata coated prawn with citrus mayonnaise for the night.
The portion was clearly disappointing. I was looking for a dinner plate only to find three fairly fat prawns rested on a small plate. It’s a place where you find delectable Western-style Japanese appetizers to keep the conversation going, I discovered.
The taste tells its been prepared with skill and care. Not amazing, but good. The prawns were crisp and tender, just with the right thickness of crumbs, and served with citrus mayonnaise (awesome mayonnaise by the way) it satisfied the tongue if not the stomach.
And as for the drink, there’s nothing special I can say, with a blend of melon and fresh aftertaste. But anyone who craves for a warm or cool sake will love their sake collection. Not to mention their stacks of Australian and Japanese wine and beers decorating the wall.
Coupled with decent food and drinks, its a nice spot to loosen up in the evening. You’ll be lucky to leave the place with a simple chorus of courtesy and a polite question of “Where are you going?”
Venisa (Guest Reviewer)
Thanks Venisa! For more information on Izakaya Den, visit their website here.
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