Was spoilt with a visit to Ishizuka for my birthday and I, lover of all things Japanese, had actually never heard of this elegant 2-hatted restaurant tucked away in the basement of an apartment block.
The whole evening was set out in such a lovely refined way. I won’t spoil the actual 10 course menu, which is based on seasonal ingredients from Australia, New Zealand and surrounding regions, but it was crafted perfectly from entree to dessert. So thought out. Each dish had at least 6 separate elements to it. So much precision and delicacy needed, and it was a pleasure to sit and watch the chefs at work.
A relaxing atmosphere and not too pretentious, which you will sometimes find with fine dining venues. Just good well executed dishes and staff who are genuinely passionate about their food.
Would definitely come back to try its changing menu!
Took my partner here for his birthday. Let’s just say he absolutely loved it. The food, staff and environment were amazing!
From start to finish this was an experience to savor...the restaurant is nested in a basement and once you enter, you experience a wonderful journey in time to Japan. You follow a set menu and are taken from seafood to wagyu beef and then to amazing desserts. Service is fantastic, everyone is so knowledgeable...the seating allows you to watch all the chefs from any location, feeling intimate and comfortable. Simply brilliant.
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Hidden away in the CBD basement, this exotic place offers one of the best kaiseki fine dining experience you can ever get in Melbourne.
I had been to many fine dining ranging from 1 to 3 hat and this 2hatted restaurant sure to deliver its best. From food to drink, their attention to details is to the max.
I will not dare to spoil you by describing the dishes, but I can assure you that food wise, there is nothing to fault. The chef's skills are top notch. Where 80% of the time you will find that the chefs in most Japanese restaurants do not know how to use their Yanagi well, it is not the case of the chefs here, they had bring the best out of their ingredients.
Fresh and masterfully crafted even for something as basic as chawanmushi to something extraordinary as fugu, not to mention the A5 wagyu and toro (which compared to the one I had in Japan fish market, isn't far off). I would definitely recommend anyone or everyone to try this place out for an amazing culinary experience. The rest is up to you to taste and decide.
I had dined in Japan for many occasions, this place does Justice to its origin.
Food - 5*
Service - 4.7*
Ambience - 4.8*
Amazing food, equally amazing service and experience.
Very good ambience, loved the setting and the space given (Kisume’s chef table in comparison was much more squished). I loved most of the food, except the zensai which was not that much of a standout. Was pretty cool to watch the chef trim the toro as I had not seen that done before (only slicing prior to this haha). The dessert was well executed and was also treated a daifu for my “birthday”. I will be coming back when the menu changes.
There’s nothing to not love or be impressed by at Ishizuka. From the amusing treasure hunt for us to find the “secret” and secure entrance to the basement, to the impeccable and friendly service both by the wait staff and chefs to the intimate decor and setting and last but definitely not least, the beautifully crafted and thoughtfully presented fresh ingredients and delicious dishes. What a delightful culinary experience indeed!
Possibly the best Japanese in Melbourne but overpriced. Food was great nonetheless
Possibly the best Japanese fine diner I’ve been to in Melbourne. Each course was delicious and beautifully presented. The service was prompt without being overbearing. Toro was irresistibly soft and melt in your mouth.
Took my good friends here to celebrate them getting married and was not disappointed. The food and the story behind each dish was amazing. The service was professional and the atmosphere was relaxing but fun.
This is way more than what we were expecting. The food, wine pairing, team and services are fantastic, best dining experience of my VIC trip. I recommend to go for the wine pairing as they really do a good job on selecting the right wine n sake. The Japanese service is also a gem in AU.
I have to say thank you for the amazing dinner for our birthdays and anniversary! I really enjoyed the experience and the staff explaining what we ate. Everything was different and was tasty. It was kinda bit hard to find but we managed. We had to evacuate because of a fire alarm but the staff made it up to us 🥰. Thank you!
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Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course Japanese meal and usually focus on seasonal ingredients for the dishes. I dined here when they had the 2022 autumn course and it definitely felt like I was teleported back to Japan.
There is only a limited counter seating per session in front of the open kitchen where you can see every dish being prepared. All the chefs worked seamlessly and their attention to details plating the food was mesmerising to watch. The staffs were friendly and were more than happy to explain the dishes further if you have any questions.
The food not only looked too good to eat but were so delicious. The sashimi and sushi were fresh and the hot dishes were cooked perfectly with all the ingredients working in harmony. They also had the option to add additional sushi (may depend on availability). Finished off with the dessert which was light, refreshing and not too sweet; just as impressive as all the other dishes.
The fact that their menu changes every season means that you can enjoy a whole new kaiseki experience if you plan on revisiting. Definitely worth the visit and definitely won't be the last!
Phenomenal food and the service was amazing. One of the best Japanese dining experiences I have ever had. Everything was fresh and authentic. Absolutely love the interior as well.
Beautiful interior and a hidden gem. We came here for my birthday and the experience was unforgettable. Kaiseki dining, a seasonal menu of courses where this week as the last week of their summer menu. The service was immaculate and the dishes were so well presented and rich in flavour. I loved each dish and all had their own unique flavour.
Really cool hidden venue. Great service, attentive staff. Food was prep with great attention to details. An amazing Kaiseki experience 👍🏻👍🏻
Had Ishizuka this Thursday! My dinner was the 8pm session. The food was great but the only unique dish was the wagyu beef!!! The A5 wagyu beef was melting in my mouth, and the outside layer is a little bit crispy- very good dish and the texture was different with other wagyu Japanese bbq. The sashimi was okay. Some of the dishes I felt like similar to my homemade one… I still recommend this place if you have enough money😅 but you don’t have to. Love the ambience and good experience :)
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