NOBU JAPANESE (CROWN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX)

Service: 5/5
Ambiance:2/5
Food Presentation:5/5
Food Taste:4/5
Price:2.5/5
TOTAL:7.4

Beware of the entrance chant because yes it is directed at you. All staff honour your entrance with a Japanese greeting at full voice, it is amusing and warm welcoming. The place is beautiful with its dimmed lights, contemporary decor and comfortable seating. Now the idea of going to places like this intimidate me a little bit. You do not know what to expect. It began like this four hours earlier when I went upstairs and tried to make a booking. The attendant was not so warm and had advised me that Nobu could not accommodate me because they were booked however if we came in at 10:30pm there might be a chance. I looked at her and said, "so you are telling me that Nobu is booked out at 6:30 and 8:30 fully and that I should try to come at ten or sure to be back at ten". She paused and said OK there is an opening at 6:30. "Well fine I'll take it". Arriving at 6:30 precisely we ordered the the highly recommended tasting menu as well as two other mains, one was the terryiaki chicken, the other was the wasabi lobster. Wow! what a meal, new flavours baptised my palate. And my kids loved the food too. Hats of the the the kitchen. For one to go to a specialised place such as Nobu you expect something else and that is what you get. Service issues and high prices aside, Nobu probably gives you the best researched balanced meal of the ingredient type than any other restaurant I have eaten at. The perfection behind each morsel of food is amazing and the reason why Nobu is what it is. Finally, the staff should understand that more customers means more sales, thus getting back to the incident seven hours prior, we left at 9:25 pm and the place was not more than 20% full at any time that we were there.

Crown Entertainment ComplexLevel

Ground, 8 Whiteman Street

Southbank VIC 3006

Phone (03) 9696 6566

KENZAN JAPANESE RESTAURANT (MELBOURNE)

Service: 5/5
Ambiance:5/5
Food Presentation:5/5
Food Taste:5/5
Price:5/5
TOTAL:10 Congratulations Kenzan first perfect 10!

What do I know, well let me tell you. I have eaten a lot of food in my life time and in doing so have seen things done plainly, mediocre, good and excellent. Kenzan is excellent. You do not need any gimmicks here, all you see and get is the real thing. Little Tokyo in Little Flinders Lane is exactly what Kenzan gives you. So much so that you get a lesson when dining there. It honestly feels like you are in Japan. The minute you walk through the bannered door it hits you. The staff, the decor, the smell, the action, it is great. Then the food, forget about it, it is the best Japanese food I have ever had, It was good because it is good, the freshness, the hard working dedicated chefs that are old school work horses. The staff are always smiling and chirpy, the hosts very respectful. Well done Kenzan well done. Make sure you try the fruit dessert, it is bloody wonderful.

Summary: Please book as it is always full.

Kenzan Japanese Restaurant

Collins Place

45 Collins Street

(56 Flinders Lane)

Melbourne 3000

Phone 03 9654 8933

Fax 03 9650 7710

I CUGINI (NIDDRIE)

Service: 5/5
Ambiance:1/5
Food Presentation:3.5/5
Food Taste:5/5
Price:4.5/5
TOTAL:7.6

Something of a tragedy like that of a typical Italian drama. It is obviously the best Italian restaurant in Niddrie and its surrounds but they are competing against too many cheap and nasty food halls that keep the crowds away. Nowadays Italian being so generic, it takes an aficionado in understanding quality over price. I had some heart food in this place. Nostalgic memories flowed in but was sad to see it empty. They make mean cozze(mussels), calamari are great and sausages were fine. I want to tell you also that the dessert was good too. Give these three lads a go, and please remember you can't compromise food for price.
Summary: Book a party and support these boys good effort.

I Cugini
338b Keilor Rd
Niddrie 3042
(03) 9379 2403