Sushi Room Is James Street's Luxe New Japanese Fine-Diner with Caviar Rolls and Wasabi Cocktails

When Sushi Room opens its doors in The Calile Hotel on Tuesday, June 14, there's no prizes for guessing what's on its menu, with its focus right there in its name. But this new addition to James Street promises to level up your sushi experience — as the hotel's fellow tenants Hellenika and SK Steak & Oyster have with Greek feeds, cuts of beef and bivalve molluscs.

Sushi Room hails from the same crew as Hellenika and SK Steak & Oyster, aka STK Group, which is branching out into Japanese fine dining. Its focus is on simple ingredients, sophisticated dishes and traditional preparation, all while still turning the act of making its meals into an experience, and also giving the whole process its own spin along the way.

You'll certainly soak in the luxe vibe, retro-inspired decor and theatrical presentation, with the central 9.3-metre solid Japanese hinoki timber counter — which sits upon black limestone — drawing the eye. Architects Richards & Spence have taken cues from 1960s neo-futurist designs, and hero texture in a big way. Here, a shallow dome also hovers above the main 60-seater dining room, and natural stone, timber, paper and Japanese Kuriēto ceramics all feature, as does a combination of booth, bar and table seating.

That impressive look and atmosphere is matched by a menu that spans seafood aplenty under Japanese-trained Head Chef Shimpei Raikuni. Yes, sushi and sashimi are obviously the stars of the show, and Sushi Room will serve up caviar Toro Toro sushi rolls, moriawase and lobster tempura, and oysters sourced daily. Grilled yakimono dishes will also be on offer, plus omakase and enkai options if you'd prefer the chef to choose or just like the ease of a set menu.

"Simplicity, purity of flavour and intelligence will form the basis of this menu. It will be elegant and beautiful while at the same time simple, adhering to Japanese sensibilities and form," explains Raikuni.

Patrons will sip sake pairings that span from light to rich flavours, plus cocktails made with shiso, yuzu and wasabi — and whisky and international wines.

And if you're keen on gathering seven of your nearest and dearest for a particularly special meal, the private dining room on the mezzanine level seats eight, is surrounded by red curtains, and comes with its own bar as well.

Find Sushi Room inside The Calile Hotel, 48 James Street, Fortitude Valley, from Tuesday, June 14 — open nightly for dinner, and for lunch from Wednesday–Sunday.