Yu-u

Push through the nondescript laneway door and down broad timber stairs to a spacious basement restaurant that exudes cool and calm. With jazz in the background, gentle lighting, noise levels that barely rise above a murmur and a simple Japanesque fitout of concrete, timber and flashes of midnight blue, Yu-u feels uniquely romantic. Sit at the intimate bar or a communal table and await the well-paced procession of elegantly proportioned share dishes. Verdant broccoli florets come blanketed in a deeply addictive, orange-speckled cod roe mayonnaise; charry calamari and asparagus retain a beautiful crunch; plump prawn dumplings arrive wrapped in a delicate wrinkly skin; and sashimi mackerel topped with shredded ginger makes a noteworthy departure from the usual tuna-salmon double act. Contemplating dessert? As the green-tea ice-cream is no mind-blower, opt instead for skewers from the grill - chicken thigh, breast or even liver. Service is attentive. water is replenished, plates changed and sake poured, adding to the polished experience that is Yu-u.