5 minute read
Saké- An Asian Restaurant
Over the past couple of years, there has been a growing interest in Japanese food among food aficionados in Goa. Many restaurants offering authentic Japanese food have sprouted up all across the state. One among these many restaurants is Saké - The Asian Lounge at Assagao. Located at Saunta Vaddo in a prime spot where the popular Squirrel Bar used to once stand, Saké is an Asian restaurant which offers delicious Japanese and Cantonese food. They also offer a specially curated cocktail menu. The restaurant opened its doors to the public in May 2022.
A SinQ property
Saké is the newest offering to Goa's HoReCa sector by the SinQ Hospitality Group run by Sahil Adwalpalkar. A man who needs no introduction, Sahil is a civil engineer by qualification. He holds a MS degree in Construction Management from Kansas State University. He founded SinQ Hospitality 10 years ago. The brand has launched more than 16 entities in the last 10 years, including the famous SinQ nightclub, Soho, Showbar Exchange, Soro, SinQ Beach Morjim and Satiwa.
Sahil’s Vision for Saké
Sahil says that the idea of starting Saké was in his mind for a very long time. However the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic delayed his idea from taking shape. “We wanted to start an Asian lounge that could offer the perfect experience in terms of food, design, music and hospitality that's on par with any Asian dining space in India”, he says. Sahil explains that the word “Saké” means rice wine in Japanese. We wanted a name that could convey the message that the place isn't only about dining, but the entire experience of food, cocktails and music, making it a complete lounge experience and the name ‘Saké’ just helped us convey the same”, he says.
The Speciality Of Saké
Kenneth Rebello, who is a corporate manager at SinQ Hospitality, says that the restaurant offers popular Japanese favourites like sushi and ramen, but at the same time also has some innovative dishes like ‘sushi-on-crack’ onits menu. “It's a rice cracker with wasabi, soya and salmon/tuna, which is loved by our customers”, he says. “We also have celebrity chef Harsh Dixit's signature brie bao's”, he adds. Chef Harsh was Ranbir Kapoor’s private chef during the shooting of the movie “Bramhastra”.
Sahil says that among all the dishes offered on their menu, their ‘sushi on crack’, salmon carpaccio, boas, and dimsums designed by chef Harsh Dixit, are a hit amongst customers. “Saké's USP is its price factor – They offer premium quality Japanese food at a price which is very much affordable and also much lower as compared to most of their competitors in the same restaurants segment.
The Bar
Apart from food, Saké Lounge also offers a wide variety of cocktails and mocktails. Their bar menu, which has been curated by bar manager Rohan Barbosa, features an exotic collection of alcoholic beverages. “Our bar menu is all about modern mixology”, says Rohan. “We offer some techniqueforward cocktails like Saké Maho, (which is a clarified drink with a smoke bubble), and ‘So Matcha Better’, which is a twist on a classic pina colada, which has been clarified and then served over a clear ice block with matcha foam”, he says. Most of the drinks offered at Saké lounge are inspired by Japanese culture and ingredients. They also have a separate category of Gin Highball, which are very fruity, refreshing and tropical. “The highball category has been
designed keeping in mind the growing gin culture in India '', says Rohan. “We also have cocktails like Ume Negroni and Un-fig-table for those who enjoy spirit-forward cocktails. The menu is designed in such a manner that everyone can enjoy their drinks'', he says.
Public Response And Challenges Faced
Sahil says that his restaurant received a very good response from the public ever since it started operations 2 months back. “The food reviewers have compared our food to one of the best food they have had in the country. Chef Harsh has done an outstanding job designing the menu and also getting the team to roll out exceptional food”, he says. Sahil says that every business has its fair share of challenges. “Hospitality is always about maintaining the staff so that consistency can be always maintained”, he adds.
Future Plans
At Saké, there is good music playing all the time to enhance the dining experience of guests. “The DJ plays according to the mood of the crowd. We are hoping to launch our music gigs and brunches by the next season in September or October”, says Sahil. When asked whether he intends to open more outlets of Saké in other parts of Goa, Sahil says that he hasn't thought about it yet. He says that he and his team want to focus on this venture and stabilise it as one of the leading Asian food outlets in Goa before they take the next step. Sahil says that he and his team have worked very hard to create this unique dining concept in Goa. He invites everyone to come to Saké with their family and friends and experience authentic Asian flavours. Bon Appetit!
