Ichi Ni!
Address: 12 The Esplanade, St Kilda, 9534 1212
Score: 33/40
Wowzers! What a fantastic, funky, awesome place! (Did I say funky and awesome in the same sentence? I think I’m getting old). Well it is. Anyway, great value for money, beautiful fresh food and a great atmosphere. Tick, tick, tick!
Everyone had been talking about this place, so when I finally decided to scratch my Ichi Ni, I was cynical. I admit it. But this place is just great! Meaning one, two in Japanese and nestled next to the music mecca of the Espy, it’s perfect to tumble into for dinner after some drinks and Melbourne’s best bands or a night out in its own right.
We started with some warm edamame to munch on before we had a look at the menu. They were fresh and crunchy. It was an omen of better things to come.
Spicy avocado and tofu, which you spoon into a wakame sheet and eat like a squishy handroll was delicious and fresh. Five pieces of gyoza ($10) were fresh and hot and crunchy and delicate. Pork belly miso ($10) were strips of spicy, grilled fatty pork coated in beautiful miso sauce, served on leaves of lettuce. Given the size of our table we ordered a vegetarian and a standard tempura ($10 and $12 respectively), each served with a tartar sauce, apparently made with beetroot. The tempura was fresh, hot and crispy and included a nice range of veggies.
Then we moved onto the yakitori. Each serving consisted of two skewers and we chose eel ($8) and okra ($6), each served with the house special, yakitori sauce. They okra was lovely and something a bit different. The unagi was hot and fresh, but pretty standard Japanese-style eel.
We then had a large sushi and sashimi plate ($45), consisting of 10 nigiri, 6 maki and 18 pieces of sashimi. It was not just stunning to look at – the fish was fresh and delicious.
For dessert we had a selection of four ices: pumpkin, cheesecake, balsamic vinegar and edamame. Cheesecake and pumpkin tied for first place, edamame was OK and balsamic failed. We all really wanted it to work – the idea of balsamic ice cream is really quite fantastic – but in practice, it doesn’t work.
To accompany the meal there were some lovely sakes and umeshus around the table, varying from dry to fruity and all at a really reasonable price.
The service was fast, despite the business of the restaurant, and it had a really fun, upbeat feel. I know I’m going to back here soon – I don’t think I’ll be able to stay away!
The best thing about this restaurant was that you can come here and have a don buri for under $20 or you can glam it up and go the whole hog with sashimi and a bottle of high class sake. Either way you’re guaranteed to have a totally fantastic night.
Service: 8/10
Food: 8/10
Value for money: 8/10
Ambience: 9/10
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Tags: St Kilda |
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