Saké Restaurant & Bar

Prolific restaurateur Neil Perry brought his Midas touch to Saké several years ago, and the Flinders Lane outpost of the Saké network – led by Head Chef Yosuke Hatanaka – is a great addition to one of Melbourne’s best dining strips.

In a huge two-storey venue, busy waiters rush between small booths, group tables and a long bar for walk-ins. The kitchen is open for all to see, with the talented chefs working over steaming hotpots, delicately preparing sashimi or creating artistic desserts.

There are some classics here that make ordering easy, such as the excellent miso soup, or creative takes on the much-loved dumpling. The sashimi is fresh and made with great attention to detail. For those after a casual meal, the fried chicken karaage comes as a generous serving with delicate dipping sauces perfect for reaching across the table with chopsticks. There are a number of hotpots on offer, with the spicy miso pork version coming in a ceramic bowl and bursting with vegetables and mushrooms swimming in a complex broth.

PSST! In true Neil Perry style, desserts are excellent and well worth checking out.

Reviewed for the 2019 Guide