Channel Eats Out at Sakebar Nippon • EATING OUT ON THE SHORE
Selection of delicious dishes.
Masa, Yoshi and Mako.
The Channel Team: Nikki Davidson, Tanya Rotherham, Kim McIntosh.
Entertaining traditions at most fun Japanese restaurant. Sakebar Nippon Takapuna's menu. Chunky chopped vegetables Surely this is the most entertaining in a spinach dumpling wrapper, restaurant experience you’ll find along with the pork gyoza, were in Takapuna. Described as an lightly fried and served with chopped Izakaya restaurant, best translated fresh spring onions. One of each was as a Japanese-style gastropub, just right. which originated from sake shops A full range of classic Japanese that allowed customers to sit on cuisine is presented to choose from, the premises to drink, Sakebar including the choicest sashimi, sushi, Nippon has an informal, lively skewers, teppan, tempura and udon atmosphere. dishes. We chose the trio of sashimi You cannot help but smile and with kingfish, salmon and tuna laugh when you enter and receive along with the perfect beef tataki. a raucous welcome from all the Both picture perfect and fresh in staff who beat the drums, tinkle the the mouth. Some succulent chicken kitchen utensils and announce the karage and sesame green beans new arrivals. Sakebar Nippon entrance on Anzac Ave. balanced the flavours well. On your own, you can sit at We ensured we’d saved room for dessert and were rewarded the bar and watch the Japanese chefs chop, toss, slice and fry with one of the best crème brulees we’d had anywhere. The green fresh ingredients. Sharing with others is relaxing in the booths tea machi ice-cream was moreish while the banana tempura was surrounded by banners and other Japanese imagery including surprisingly light and delicious. pretty lanterns overhead. And this is where we settled in for a fun, A chat with Masa, chef Yoshi, and manager Mako gave us more interactive meal one warm March evening. Masa, young television journalist on a year’s work and language insight in to all the ‘extras’ you get here at Sakebar Nippon. The karaoke dining room allows a group to enjoy a fun evening along experience, looked after us (in his ‘year of the rat’ hat) with some with a couple of set menu options while, if it’s your birthday, you cold drinks and patiently stayed on standby could be the recipient of a resounding birthday wish from the team while we perused the large pictorial menu (available to view on their and their various instruments, hats and masks. It’s a very inclusive experience here. website). We were trying Arigato gozaimusu to the wonderful welcoming and entertaining to design a selection team at Sakebar Nippon. We’ll be back for some karaoke! of dishes that truly reflected the wide range on offer. But Open 7 days for dinner 5pm until late first, we started with 32-34 Anzac Street, Takapuna. a little sushi and 09 486 2249 www.sakebar.co.nz some most delectable gyoza; the most If you would like your café, bar or restaurant reviewed by the popular appetiser on the Channel team, please contact us. Beef Tataki.
www.channelmag.co.nz Issue 108 - April 2020
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