Glorious fusion

New Restaurant

TThe hip-swivelling rhythm of Brazil is not usually associated with Bradford; Yokohama is a world away from West Yorkshire.

But to spend an evening at the new SakkuSamba restaurant is to sample the best of Brazilian-Japanese cuisine and culture right here in the heart of the White Rose county.

Dripping in stylish elegance and boasting a modern, chic vibe, this gastronomic venture is a concept by Estabulo at The Broadway shopping centre in Bradford city centre.

It offers a glorious fusion of JapaneseBrazilian food – essentially sushi and grilled meat – with over 150 delicious

Serves

tapas dishes to choose from.

The restaurant’s opening in June followed the success of their venue by the same name in Spinningfields, Manchester and Sakku in the centre of Leeds, which specialises solely in Japanese food.

The appeal of SakkuaSamba in Bradford is that it offers such a wide variety of culinary delights for foodies on this side of the Pennines.

And how my dining partner and I lapped it up.

Having booked in for an early dinner at 5pm on a Monday evening, we were greeted upon arrival by a member of staff who could not have been more accommodating.

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He escorted us from the ground level, where diners can enjoy a pre-meal drink in the bar, to a luxurious first floor restaurant which takes the breath away.

The décor is exquisite and to call it lavish would be quite the understatement.

It feels like you are entering an exclusive nightclub as neon lights adorn the walls, pink cherry blossom hangs from the ceilings and a huge bar dominates in front of the main dining area.

Background music, with souped-up versions of songs from artists such as George Michael and Supertramp, add to the ambience and enhance the overall dining experience.

We were offered a choice of seating and opted for a comfortable, spacious round booth before a waiter explained how the system for ordering food and drinks worked.

Diners are given an electronic tablet with which to order.

An all-you-can eat menu allows for four dishes to be ordered at a time, with 11-minute breaks before the next round of tapas can be tapped into the tablet.

A memo to any concerned technophobes reading this: do not worry, the system could not be any simpler and works an absolute treat.

For those who love fish and meat, this place really is paradise.

The choice of dishes is wide and varied and includes Brazilian grilled meats and sushi, noodle dishes, bao buns, and pichana, Brazil’s favourite cut of beef.

Our first four dishes consisted of prawn and octopus salad, salmon salad, tuna aramaki and king prawn tempura.

The presentation was impeccable and, as soon as our food arrived, I knew we had made the right choices.

A wide range of drinks is also available, with soft drinks, wines, cocktails, mocktails and draft beers.

We opted for two pints of draft Sagres beer and it was soon time to order another round of tapas.

This time we went for the chicken katsu – a panko-breaded chicken fillet with Japanese curry sauce – a cap of rump (a Brazilian favourite cut of meat) accompanied by roast potatoes and garlic mushrooms.

Still we were not finished.

The portion size of each tapas are generous but they are so tasty and moreish that we ordered a final round of dishes.

This time we opted for a skewer of lamb rump, a skewer of tender chill beef and side dishes of roast potatoes and fries.

Each was delicious and superbly cooked, with excellent service to match.

We finished off with luxury white chocolate orange cheesecake and coffee before realising we had been in the restaurant for nearly four hours.

That said everything for the quality of food, service and relaxed atmosphere in SakkuSamba.

Their website hits the nail on the head with this description of itself which reads: “SakkuSamba is more than just a restaurant; it’s a space where we bring people together to share good times, make beautiful memories, and explore a diverse culinary landscape.

“It’s a place where we celebrate our love for food, where we invite you to try something new, and where we hope you will discover a new favourite dish.”

That feels about right because this is experience to be truly savoured.

You do not feel rushed in any way and the value for money is outstanding.

Lunch and dinner prices range from £32.50 to £47.50 depending on the day and time you visit.

One of the friendly, attentive waitingon staff remarked how busy the venue has quickly become at weekends, particularly Saturday nights, when SakkuaSamba has dancers and a DJ.

During our visit, the majority of the diners were couples with a handful of small groups and families also enjoying this unique experience.

Dining like this certainly has its part to play in Yorkshire’s food scene and is a hugely welcome addition to Bradford. I will certainly be back.

SakkuaSamba

The Broadway Shopping Centre Hall Ings, Bradford, BD1 1JR Tel: 01274 265972 sakkusamba.co.uk At

H Modern, chic

H Mouth-watering tapas

H Excellent value for money