food fancier

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

I thoroughly enjoyed the 10 course degustation dinner menu with a group of 6 friends tonight (a Saturday night).

On arrival, our group was ushered into a private dining room reminiscent of a scene from Shogun (I kept expecting Geisha to walk in at any moment). I did note that music would have added to the ambience although in every other respect the restaurant and staff was faultless. I noticed the main restaurant area seemed very austere so I am not surprised that others have rated Azuma low on ambience but this was not my experience.

The food - where do I start? Absolutely superb in every way, presentation, variety and quality. Each dish was subtle and unique in flavour with generous serving sizes. The abalone smoked in sake was a taste sensation, moist and tender with just the right amount of "bite". Another standout was the seafood custard. Delicate morsels of scallops and prawns suspended in a light, creamy custard broth, superb.

One small disappointment in a degustation of culinary triumphs was the wagyu beef strips (cooked medium) in a garlic sauce. These were a little underdone for my liking and somewhat chewy but since this was one of the last dishes served, I had very little room left to enjoy them anyway.

Tempura vegetables served with 3 different flavoured salts on the side were crispy and delicious. The green tea salt in particular provided a tantalising contrast to the perfectly acidic crunch of the capsicum tempura.

Full marks were given for service as our waitress was charming, attentive, unobtrusive and very helpful. Although I love Japanese food, I do not eat raw seafood (sacrilege, I know!). My request to have the raw meats of the degustation cooked was (amazingly) met without fuss and the result was still superb food. The two vegetarians in our group ordered the vegetarian degustation and were delighted with selection and quality of each dish.

Just when we thought we could not eat another bite, dessert arrived. Three tiny dishes containing mango sorbet, creme brulee and chocolate gateau. I would cheerfully return to Azuma just to enjoy the silky texture of the luscious brulee nestled under its sugar crust, vanilla pod seeds in evidence at the bottom of each pot. Sheer heaven.

All in all a really fabulous experience. Azuma is the perfect "treat" restaurant to impress someone you love, or for that critically important business meeting. Definitely a restaurant to linger in. Three and a half hours just flew by. I hope to return to Azumas again in the very near future and will recommend it to all who ask.

Mar 31, 2012

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Visited this restaurant for a spur of the moment celebration during a weeknight. Absolutely superb in every way. Staff were friendly and attentive. The fish dishes absolutely delicious and I still dream of the candied fig dessert. A bit pricey but worth every cent. A lovely celebration restaurant.

Feb 14, 2012

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

Visited during the week with a very hungry work group of 6 (one female and 5 BBQ loving men). Having tried a few Brazilian BBQ restaurants in the past I was bracing myself for small serves, slow service, and lots of obscure inedible things (chicken hearts etc). Was delightfully surprised, absolutely top quality cuts of meats, plenty of them, all mouth wateringly marinated to perfection.

Loads of sirloin, scotch fillet, chicken breast and even the sides of cheesy potato salad, piquant salsa and cheese bread were delicious. Despite eating to the point of bursting, the meat was so lean that no-one felt queasy afterwards. Extremely good value for the $38 pp we paid.

The service was friendly, attentive and lightning fast. Ambience is relaxed and definitely geared more to loud noisy groups than a romantic dinner for two. Having said that, the food was so good I have made a booking for Valentines Day! Definitely will be a regular at this restaurant.

Feb 14, 2012

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Went with a small family group for a Father's Day lunch. Food absolutely delicious, fresh, flavoursome and authentic. Service was particularly attentive and helpful, with belly dancer entertainment thrown in. We shared a banquet, there was so much food we couldn't eat it all and our vegetarian friend was well catered for. Extremely good value, fast pleasant service, a great experience.

Dec 14, 2010

3.8 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  1     

Entrees forgettable and bland ( prawn salad)- and at $27 for three tiny prawns, not good value. Main course (fish pie) superb. Service just horrible. Inattentive , autocratic and downright rude waitress. Had to practically beg to be served. We were unaware of the restaurants policy of not serving birthday cake (they claim OH&S restrictions) so were forced to take it away with us again - very disappointing. Our group of 8 had expected so much better from this restaurant. Think twice before lunching here.

Dec 14, 2010

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

I thoroughly enjoyed the 10 course degustation dinner menu with a group of 6 friends tonight (a Saturday night).

On arrival, our group was ushered into a private dining room reminiscent of a scene from Shogun (I kept expecting Geisha to walk in at any moment). I did note that music would have added to the ambience although in every other respect the restaurant and staff was faultless. I noticed the main restaurant area seemed very austere so I am not surprised that others have rated Azuma low on ambience but this was not my experience.

The food - where do I start? Absolutely superb in every way, presentation, variety and quality. Each dish was subtle and unique in flavour with generous serving sizes. The abalone smoked in sake was a taste sensation, moist and tender with just the right amount of "bite". Another standout was the seafood custard. Delicate morsels of scallops and prawns suspended in a light, creamy custard broth, superb.

One small disappointment in a degustation of culinary triumphs was the wagyu beef strips (cooked medium) in a garlic sauce. These were a little underdone for my liking and somewhat chewy but since this was one of the last dishes served, I had very little room left to enjoy them anyway.

Tempura vegetables served with 3 different flavoured salts on the side were crispy and delicious. The green tea salt in particular provided a tantalising contrast to the perfectly acidic crunch of the capsicum tempura.

Full marks were given for service as our waitress was charming, attentive, unobtrusive and very helpful. Although I love Japanese food, I do not eat raw seafood (sacrilege, I know!). My request to have the raw meats of the degustation cooked was (amazingly) met without fuss and the result was still superb food. The two vegetarians in our group ordered the vegetarian degustation and were delighted with selection and quality of each dish.

Just when we thought we could not eat another bite, dessert arrived. Three tiny dishes containing mango sorbet, creme brulee and chocolate gateau. I would cheerfully return to Azuma just to enjoy the silky texture of the luscious brulee nestled under its sugar crust, vanilla pod seeds in evidence at the bottom of each pot. Sheer heaven.

All in all a really fabulous experience. Azuma is the perfect "treat" restaurant to impress someone you love, or for that critically important business meeting. Definitely a restaurant to linger in. Three and a half hours just flew by. I hope to return to Azumas again in the very near future and will recommend it to all who ask.

Mar 31, 2012

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Visited this restaurant for a spur of the moment celebration during a weeknight. Absolutely superb in every way. Staff were friendly and attentive. The fish dishes absolutely delicious and I still dream of the candied fig dessert. A bit pricey but worth every cent. A lovely celebration restaurant.

Feb 14, 2012

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

Visited during the week with a very hungry work group of 6 (one female and 5 BBQ loving men). Having tried a few Brazilian BBQ restaurants in the past I was bracing myself for small serves, slow service, and lots of obscure inedible things (chicken hearts etc). Was delightfully surprised, absolutely top quality cuts of meats, plenty of them, all mouth wateringly marinated to perfection.

Loads of sirloin, scotch fillet, chicken breast and even the sides of cheesy potato salad, piquant salsa and cheese bread were delicious. Despite eating to the point of bursting, the meat was so lean that no-one felt queasy afterwards. Extremely good value for the $38 pp we paid.

The service was friendly, attentive and lightning fast. Ambience is relaxed and definitely geared more to loud noisy groups than a romantic dinner for two. Having said that, the food was so good I have made a booking for Valentines Day! Definitely will be a regular at this restaurant.

Feb 14, 2012

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Went with a small family group for a Father's Day lunch. Food absolutely delicious, fresh, flavoursome and authentic. Service was particularly attentive and helpful, with belly dancer entertainment thrown in. We shared a banquet, there was so much food we couldn't eat it all and our vegetarian friend was well catered for. Extremely good value, fast pleasant service, a great experience.

Dec 14, 2010

3.8 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  1     

Entrees forgettable and bland ( prawn salad)- and at $27 for three tiny prawns, not good value. Main course (fish pie) superb. Service just horrible. Inattentive , autocratic and downright rude waitress. Had to practically beg to be served. We were unaware of the restaurants policy of not serving birthday cake (they claim OH&S restrictions) so were forced to take it away with us again - very disappointing. Our group of 8 had expected so much better from this restaurant. Think twice before lunching here.

Dec 14, 2010