The Japanese takeover continues, as DOJO is yet another very fresh, vibrant and delicious Japanese dining experience that has recently set up shop in Newcastle. And it really has taken it's appearance very seriously; the venue is as bright and bold on the inside as it is on the outside. As the name suggests, it's loosely themed on a Japanese martial arts gym, clearly fuelled on bucket loads of LSD. But DOJO isn't just a pretty face, they've clearly also been training hard in the kitchen.
The equally as vibrant menu that DOJO offers may well throw you off your feet. It delivers everyone's favourite Japanese dishes, but also some more obscure dishes for the adventurous, such as their Lobster hot pot, soft shell crab tempura and teriyaki rock oysters. Die hard fans may prefer the way other places do their Katsu curry, but if you're looking to take on a new and exciting bout of Japanese culture, then DOJO is where you'll find it. Like the recently reviewed Osaka, they have a very impressive selection of various sushi, nigiri and sashimi, all served at blackbelt level quality. But what sets DOJO apart, is their very well constructed Teishoku set dinners, which allow you to mix your favourite elements of Japanese food and comes at wallet friendly price...think Bento box but better.
The blazing cuisine and ass-kicking visuals at DOJO are perfectly complimented by ferociously brilliant serving staff. Their perfected knowledge of the cuisine means that they can also suggest a meal to your taste, if taking on the roasted eel set meal is too tough an opponent. DOJO really has the whole package, blending a lively atmosphere with solid flavours in a beautifully elegant way. All the spirit of a real-life Japanese dojo, none of the strange over-weight blackbelts, dirty old mats or cumulatively pungent sweaty smells. 90%
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%
Sushi is fantastic. It's fresh, flavoursome and is a very clean option of eating out. Independant restaurants like Nudo and St. Sushi do it very well, even the culinary conveyor belt franchise Yo! Sushi do a decent job. In fact, even bleeding Tescos have had a stab at knocking up these all-natural fishy delights. All have helped commercialise what was a less well known variant of oriental cuisine just 10 years ago. There's only one issue the Fat Spoon has with Sushi....how the hell is four measly bits of salmon, a slither of avocado and handful of rice supposed to fill you up?! Thankfully Tenji has the sashimi solution that everyone has been waiting for - a Japanese buffet restaurant. You'll half expect a katana-brandishing Uma Thurman to fly over the buffet counter and kick you in the face as you walk into this stunning Japanese styled restaurant given how much it looks like a movie set. The lowered seating area is particularly cool. A bountiful variety of sushi, sashimi, crab, mussels and scallops over ice is an ideal start to your dining experience here. But it doesn't stop there, they also offer a horde of authentic curries, steamed dishes, spicy noodles and soups. Look out for the slow cooked oxtail and belly pork stews, they've got enough flavour to make you have a minor accident in your pants. Excellent. There's even a chef on hand to casually grill the life out of a selection of delicious meats at the Teppanyaki station, including heart skewers on occasion! Got a sweet tooth? Not to worry, they even cover desserts, including the well known Japanese classic ... macarons! The evening buffet might be a little pricey for some, however they offer an eye-watering drinks deal for diners. All inclusive drinks for a mere £6, including Tsing Tao, house wine and warm Sake...making a trip to this house of rising stomachs well worth it. 86%
