We recently had the pleasure of dining at a Japanese restaurant which we can safely say is like no other in Hong Kong.
The restaurant is in the style of Kyoto kaiseki, which essentially draws on the traditional cuisine of the imperial court when Kyoto was the capital. It is, to say the least, high-end Japanese cuisine. But it is more than just a meal.
Without wanting to sound too pretentious, dining at this restaurant is a kind of art form. It's a balance between the food, the way it is served, the dishes and bowls that are used, the décor, and the music.
There has been immense attention to detail and this is reflected in the eye-watering eight months it took to fit out and decorate the restaurant before opening.
Given the rents in Hong Kong, this was some commitment to getting it right. The workmen were flown in from Japan, as were the 10 waitresses. They were trained for three months on how to serve customers correctly, how to perform the tea ceremony, and arrange flowers. They are overseen by a supervisor experienced in Kyoto kaiseki.
The attention to detail doesn't stop there. All the ingredients for the food, and the water to cook the rice and to make tea, all come from Japan. The dishes and bowls are not only Japanese, they are antiques. Even the pebbles that form part of a decorative traditional Japanese garden come from Japan. The washrooms are obviously Japanese since on entry, the lid automatically opens invitingly.