yagiza
THE SAKAI, a Michelin-listed sushi restaurant in Frankfurt, Germany, is located just a 5-minute walk from Roppongi Station in a back alley. The restaurant features spacious counter seats and private rooms at the back. The head chef at the Roppongi branch, Mr. Ninomiya, previously served as the head chef at "Sushi Ninomiya" in Urawa, Saitama Prefecture, which is part of the same group. Expectations are naturally high. We opted for the omakase course priced at 17,000 yen (tax included) (5 dishes, 12 pieces of sushi including rolls) and the sake and food pairing course priced at 25,000 yen (tax included). Before the courses started, there was a presentation of carefully selected ingredients sourced from Tsukiji Market, which added to the excitement. We toasted with a sparkling wine from the finest winery in the UK, BALFOUR. It was a refreshing and dry wine with a deep flavor, absolutely delicious. The courses included dishes such as steamed clam rice from Kashima, tuna with karasumi and homemade tartar sauce on a spoon, and black sea bass carpaccio with beet jelly and Tosazu dressing. The sushi selection featured striped jack from Hachijo Island, fat greenling, konoshiro from Saga Prefecture, young ayu with tade leaf sauce from Wakayama Prefecture, stewed squid egg sac from Aomori Prefecture, and more. The tempura of spring vegetables (young corn, taranome) was crispy and delightful, using mist batter made with beer. The dessert was a melon cocktail. We requested less vinegar in the sushi rice, and the pacing of the courses was just right. Each dish was creative and delicious, leaving a great impression. The pairing not only included wine but also sake and gin, with a wide variety to choose from. The marriage of flavors was well thought out, making the dining experience entertaining and satisfying. The final dessert was a cocktail prepared by Mr. Imai, who also has experience as a bartender, and it was innovative. The cocktail tasted just like a melon! To top it off, there was a surprise gift prepared for us at the end. With its good value for money, THE SAKAI offers a casual yet enjoyable sushi dining experience suitable for both entertaining clients and everyday dining. I am now curious to visit their sister restaurants in Urawa, Omiya, and Aoyama.