Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, is now home to an ambitious new restaurant celebrating Nikkei, the coming together of Peruvian and Japanese cuisine and culture. Amé has been five years in the making, and it's aiming to shine a light on the underrepresented cuisine, which respectfully blends Peru's bold flavors with refined Japanese techniques and ingredients. "Amé is our most ambitious project yet, and one that's been five years in the making. Nikkei is still incredibly underrepresented in Australia, and we're excited to interpret it through a Sydney lens on one of Oxford Street's most renowned corners. Amé is a venue and an experience that we hope will contribute to the next chapter of a street that has played such an important part of Sydney's story," says Ibby Moubadder, co-founder and creative director of ESCA Group. Nikkei dates back to 1899, when Japanese migrants settled in Peru. The new settlers adapted their traditional cooking methods to available local ingredients, creating a beautifully blended cuisine now featured at the newly opened restaurant. Executive Chef Erik Ortolani designed the menu after spending time in Peru experiencing Nikkei firsthand. "My training has shaped everything I've done at Itō and Jōji to date, and it's the foundation I've brought to Amé. What interests me about Nikkei is the way these two distinct cuisines come together, and the balance between the precision of Japanese food and the boldness of Peruvian cooking. At Amé, I've taken that foundation and worked with the exceptional seafood and produce we have here in Australia to create something that feels true to both influences," says Ortolani. His opening menu features dishes such as Peruvian-inspired nigiri, Japanese korokke blended with Peruvian causa, arroz con pato — Peru's traditional duck rice — served in a cast iron pan with ginger dashi and aji ponzu, and dark chocolate and lucuma mousse. Jerom Morris (hailing from Curtis Stone's Gwen in LA) leads the beverage program, which is built around ingredients fundamental to both Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. Try the Spice Crown, a curried-pineapple take on a daiquiri, or The Pink Rabbit, a strawberry milk punch with gin, Chartreuse, and shishito. Amé adds to the Oxford & Foley precinct, a bustling space home to newly opened Mecca Coffee and Aenza, as well as Soho House, which is set to open in 2028. And now, ESCA Group brings a late-night destination to the precinct: Loa. Hidden below Amé, Loa serves neo-classic cocktails, backed by a rotating music program, in a moody space built for late-night hangs. "Loa has been part of the vision from the very beginning. Oxford Street has such a rich history of nightlife, music, and self-expression, and we wanted to create a space that carries that forward. Loa is a room for everyone, where the music comes first, the drinks are flowing, and the night builds to a full dance floor," says Moubadder. Morris is keeping himself busy, leading Loa's beverage program as well. His list predominantly showcases classic cocktails with a clever twist. The Skinny Colada combines Havana Club, cream sherry, pineapple and coconut water, while the Perfect Cadillac features Los Altos, lime and agave, accompanied by an orange-infused reposado shot. A soft serve machine at the bar even pours a reimagined gimlet. "We wanted the drinks at Loa to feel as fun as the music and the atmosphere. We have the cocktails everyone knows and loves, but we've given each one a new shape with fresh ingredients and refined technique. They're drinks you'd order again and again, made to keep the night moving," says Morris. Ortolani lends his hand with a menu of tasty snacks suited to a few more rounds of cocktails, such as a golden curry empanada, a wagyu cheeseburger, and chicken karaage with honey and sesame dip. Loa is walk-in only, open from 5pm Wednesday through Sunday, and boasts live music acts, resident DJs, and special guest takeovers, with a cheery happy hour from 5-7 pm. Images: Supplied. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
