Minamishima, Melbourne: Restaurant review

How can a restaurant be so refined and so exhilarating? Ponder the conundrum at Minamishima’s mood-lit sushi counter, where a regal parade of 18 courses lays claim to the crown of Australia’s best omakase experience. Cheffy artfulness plays within nigiri sushi’s tight parameters. The firmly gelatinous texture of miso-cured John Dory and the bracing brininess of lightly vinegared mackerel under a translucent shroud of battera kombu jelly are a revelation in one-bite form. An increasing emphasis on composed dishes adds a new spark for sushi master Koichi Minamishima’s tribe of die-hard fans. Tempura abalone from Tasmania arrives in a viscous abalone liver sauce so clean and sweet you might risk defying etiquette to swipe a greedy finger through it, while a hauntingly smoky chrysanthemum and duck soup brings the Zen to the zenith of the savoury courses. Notable wine guy Randolph Cheung delivers the service – and the sake list – this evergreen special-occasion restaurant deserves.

Price Guide

$$$$$

Bookings

Essential

Wheelchair Access

Yes

Opening Hours

Dinner Tue-Sat

The Gourmet Traveller Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking, dining, travelling and shopping. Our critics bring the expertise of years of critical eating, drinking and writing to the table. Plus, as the country’s leading title in the luxury sector, Gourmet Traveller works closely with Australia’s leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to give our readers exclusive access. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.

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