Japanese culture meets Italian decadence

Anyone who has spent time exploring Sydney’s seemingly endless array of culinary offerings knows that the city is brimming with Japanese restaurants. However, if you’re after a unique dining experience, Kanade is Australia’s first Japanese-Italian fusion kaiseki: a traditional multi-course Japanese meal with Italian influences that celebrates Japanese culture. And the setting – the hub of Sydney’s bustling CBD – gives Kanade a vibrant, crazy-busy Tokyo feel.

Guests can perch on a bar stool at Kanade’s raw bar, situated beneath a bright red timber cage that pays homage to the torii gates that mark the entrance to a Shinto shrine. Or you can be tucked away behind blood red curtains in simplistic yet moody spaces that have a theatrical, cabaret bar-like feel.

Hideki Okazaki, who heads up the kitchen team, has worked in Michelinstarred restaurants Arnolfo, in Tuscany, and Shangahai’s Frasca. He also worked under Tony Bilson in Sydney.

Delve into some Japanese classics such as Chicken Nanban Karaage kanade.com.au

Southern Kyushu Style with a creamy egg and pickle mayonnaise, or indulge in a succulent and refreshing Alaskan King Crab salad roll stuffed with cabbage, celery and carrot. Embrace the Italian influence and dine on Wafu spaghetti prepared in a Japanese fashion – the bacon, mozzarella, onsen egg and fluffy miso cream is lip-smackingly good. The barbecued scampi with nori butter sauce and sweet potato fries is a heartily delicious combination, as is the Wagyu sirloin with smashed kipfler, asparagus and moromimiso sauce.

There’s a tantalising range of Japanese-inspired cocktails served in saké barrels, and some experimental cocktails that are firsts for Sydney’s dining scene. The menu is designed to delight and inspire guests to try something different. However, in a nod to one of Italy’s best exports, the wine list is amazing, and the waiters will happily pair some of their top drops with decadent dishes such as lobster karaage with deep fried soba noodles and Yukari rice.