Sushi with a French accent
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Nomiya Gastro Bar on Thonglor blends Japanese and European cuisine and shakes it up with DJ sets
THE LATEST arrival to Soi Thonglor bustling Japanese restaurant scene, Nomiya Gastro Bar is already making waves by offering an interesting fusion of Japanese and French cuisine.
Opened five months ago by Yuttapong Sereedeeloet and Siriorn Mamanee, a food critic with a penchant for sushi and sashimi, the 150-seat restaurant boasts a futuristic decor and space to eat both al fresco and in air-conditioned luxury.
Almost startling in its sheer whiteness, it boasts an open kitchen where diners can observe their food being prepared as well as a full bar. There are also three private rooms, each of them equipped with the karaoke equipment that makes for a good party.
“The restaurants around us are mostly traditional Japanese but we wanted to offer a more relaxed ambience where customers can enjoy premium Japanese food and drinks while chilling to DJ sets,” Yuttapong says.
That’s not to say Nomiya doesn’t offer any traditional favourites. The Taraba crab, scallops, seasonal fish and beef are flown in from Japan three times a week for the sushi, sashimi, salad, appetisers, maki and hot pot.
The signature dish is also traditional – Unagi Yo Kombu (Bt450) – grilled Japanese eel with rice wrapped in seaweed and served on charcoal brazier.
The French touch is found in the sauces, toppings and fillings. The amusingly named Tipple Roll (Bt690), for example, features five pieces of nigiri sushi stuffed with cucumber, cheese and avocado topped with chu toro and is served with spicy tuna on a bed of crispy breadcrumbs.
Other must-tries are the San Kyo Dai (Bt650) – slices of browned white toro topped with caviar in a special sauce, fried scallops in avocado sauce with salmon roe and grilled Japanese eel twinned with foie gras steak.
Hotate Lover (Bt650) – a scallop and spicy salmon creation – has a topping of sliced ginger and caviar while the scallop and spicy tuna is dressed with bacon and salmon roe and comes in a spicy sauce.
The Kurobuta Kimchi Nabe (Bt520) comes with a choice of shouyu, shiroi miso and miso soup as well as mashed chicken balls, kimchi and vegetables. The hotpot is made for sharing and can easily feed three or four friends.
Dessert takes its inspiration from Japanese sweet treats of a small bowl of Warabi Mochi (Bt150) – jelly-like clear mochi in black syrup – topped with soya and matcha powder.
The drinks list offers a range of interesting cocktails including the Yamazaki Cave, which blends Japanese sake with grapes and Nomiya, sake mixed with orange. Both are priced at Bt270.
LOVE THAT HOTATE
>>Nomiya Gastro Bar is at 9 Soi Thonglor 23. It’s open from 5pm to midnight as well as for lunch on weekends.
>>Book a table at (02) 712 9519 or visit Facebook.com/nomiyagastrobar.
