Acclaimed Japanese Fine Diner Kazuki's Is Opening Its Doors in Carlton This Week

After closing down its Daylesford location earlier this year and replacing it with the more casual Sakana, Kazuki's is opening the doors to its new restaurant — and bringing its Japanese fine dining from regional Victoria to Melbourne.

Come Tuesday, November 20, Japanese born chef-patron Kazuki Tsuya and his wife and business partner Saori will launch Kazuki's in Carlton. It's a case of new surroundings, same approach for the flagship eatery, in a split-level site that'll seat 30 downstairs and 18 on the second floor.

"Although the new restaurant will look very different, our team is focused on bringing the same soul of the original Kazuki's to its new home," says Kazuki. "The kitchen will be guided by the same philosophies and the same warm Japanese hospitality will be at the heart of everything that our guests experience when they visit."

Design-wise, with a calm, serene feeling all part of the eatery's vibe, the interiors will feature timber screening, rich carpets and naturalistic lighting — and an overall colour palette that heroes grey with accents of Japanese elm, granite and leather.

As for the menu, it continues the fusion of Japanese and European flavours that Kazuki's is known for, paying tribute to the chef's heritage as well as his French training. Kazuki himself steps into the role of executive chef, while Anthony Hammel (ex-Pei Modern, and a Daylesford Kazuki's alum) takes the position of the restaurant's head chef.

Diners can expect dishes such as kingfish sashimi with buttermilk, finger lime, white soy and ginger, plus sea urchin with russet potato chips, beluga caviar and cultured cream. The Sher wagyu flank is cooked over coals, and comes with a smoked eel and port wine reduction — while desserts include a dark chocolate tart with gianduja ganache, hazelnuts and miso caramel, as well as yoghurt sorbet with yuzu and verbena curd, and Anzac biscuit crumbing.

Five and seven course tasting menus with matched beverages are also available, as well as a four-course lunch on Sundays — and if you're heading by on a Friday and Saturday evenings, you won't be able to order a la carte.

Japanese sake, whiskey and spirits feature on the drinks list, as does wine from Japan and Australia among a hefty international selection.

Find Kazuki's at 121 Lygon Street, Carlton from Tuesday, November 20. It'll open for lunch from Friday–Sunday from 12pm and for dinner from Tuesday–Saturday from 6pm.

Images: Peter Tarasiuk