Osaka - Big Flavours in Little Japan

In city where the market of Japanese cuisine is dominated by the likes of St. Sushi, Nudo and Yo! Sushi, it can be very difficult to make a name for yourself even in an under represented dining genre such as Japanese food. You can either take a back seat throne like Spital Tongues' Tenji. Or you can jump right in the thick of it, roaring like a fine dining beast....just like this Beauty. Although the initial vibe you'll get from the teeny tiny Osaka is one of peace and harmony, you will soon find that their menu packs more vibrancy than many of the generic bars and commercial restaurants of Grey Street put together.

Osaka isn't just another run of the mill sushi house, they boast a monstrous variety of these fresh seafood based delights, offering them in all shapes and all sizes. The sheer palate tingling level of freshness continues through to their excellent value bento boxes, their blazing teppanyaki dishes and elegant noodle dishes. But the must try prizes here are amongst the speciality maki and temaki dishes. Deep fried sushi sounds like hideous Scottish molestment of this delicate cuisine. But actually it's the closest you can get to deviant indulgence without taking your clothes off.

Everything fits together at Osaka, from the incorporation of some brilliant Japanese wines and sakes to the beautiful set-up and complementary attendees. Watch out you old timers of sushi production, because Osaka has arrived. It's fresh, it's new....and it's coming for you. And it's definitely contributing to the expension of this hugely vivid Asian cuisine in a sexy way. 85%