Overview
Originally from Windsor in Melbourne, restaurant and cocktail bar Sash has embraced the concept of fusion cuisine. It marries Japanese flavours with familiar dishes from other countries. Think pizza, tacos and sliders dished up with a Japanese twist. And it has just arrived in Surry Hills.
Sash's best-known, and most popular, dish is its pizza. With ingredients like tuna tataki, twice-cooked pork belly
As well as the unusual combination of flavours, texture is also an important part of the pizzas. "The experience starts with a slightly crunchy, thin base, balanced by textures of soft fish and wasabi mayo. There's also a contrast in temperature. The pizza has a hot base topped with cold fish," explains co-owner Kyle Stagoll. "Even though the combination of sashimi and fruit in poke bowls is now common in Sydney, the way we do our pizzas provides a much richer flavour and totally different experience."
Other dishes on the menu, created by Executive Chef Peter Wu, include charcoal bao filled with crisp-fried prawns, sushi nachos and tacos topped with wagyu beef or miso eggplant. Some less left-of-centre items also feature, including kingfish sashimi and a lineup of hand-rolled sushi. If you'd like to stick to pizza, though, you can also have one for dessert — in the form of a apple crumble version with sweet miso and white chocolate and raspberry ice cream.
Drinks are also a big part of this big (in personality and size) venue, which spreads itself across two neon-lit levels on Wentworth Street. Fifteen signature cocktails are available, designed by bartender Kyle Rose (Chin Chin), and feature almost as many Japanese flavours as the food. Think lots of yuzu and sake, as well as spritzes and shots (the latter for those wanting a larger-than-average night).
If you are wanting to linger over drinks, it's suggested you settle yourself into a leather booth in the bar area, while those wanting to eat can perch themselves at wooden tables in the restaurant. Either way, you should be able to nab a spot — the venue has a 160-person capacity, and is open every night of the week.
Sash is now open at 82 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills from 5.30pm till late Monday and Tuesday, and midday till late Wednesday through Sunday.