Just Open: Tokyo Tina, Windsor

The team behind Prahran's Hanoi Hannah (opened February 2012) and Windsor's Saigon Sally (February 2013) fire up the burners at their third venture, Tokyo Tina, this week. Simon Blacher, Paul Nguyen and Nic Coulter have been joined by Charlie Rothery and Adrian Li in the contemporary Japanese restaurant-dive bar at 66 Chapel Street, Windsor.

They've tricked out the double-fronted former bong shop with jade-green tiles, distressed walls and recycled timber battens to drop the ceiling height and given it a hip-hop soundtrack. Seating for 80 includes 15 to 20 in the small holding bar, 20 outside on Chapel Street, and about 40 in the split-level dining area.

Inspired by the team's Tokyo and New York reconnaissance mission last year, the menu features fusion dishes that are a snapshot of Tokyo now, says Blacher. Expect tonkatsu croquettes, wombok-wrapped makizushi with quinoa and enoki, hot and cold soba bowls, and ramen with blue swimmer crab and corn. Dean Alsford (ex MoVida, Nieuw Amsterdam) is heading the kitchen.

The drinks list offers more than a dozen Japanese whiskeys, canned beer from Australia, Japan and New York, sake and classic cocktails.

"People will feel comfortable coming in four times a week, but we also want guests to come from across the river to try our offering," says Blacher.

Tokyo Tina will be open for dinner from Friday, and will open daily noon-11pm from next week.

66 Chapel Street, Windsor, 9525 2774, tokyotina.com.au