Japanese Sky Dive

The muted browns and gold in the lounge area add a touch of class,while the low lighting and bronze murals featuring Lord Buddha,set the mood for a tranquil evening. The showstopper,however,is the breathtaking view of the Yamuna Expressway,since the restaurant is located on the eight floor. In fact,it is for this reason that most people head to the window-side tables. The LED lighting above the tables is perhaps the only unconventional touch; the décor is the work of Mini Mathur.

Skipping the platters,we go straight for specialty dishes. The Sampan Roll (Rs 1,045) is Chef Rakesh Prasad’s attempt at fusion and it does not disappoint. The tandoori sole fish matched with artichoke and jalapeno salsa,wrapped in funkake rice,has a punch that awakes the taste buds. It is light,fresh and bite-sized and when dipped in wasabi and soy sauce,it’s a real winner. This is paired well with a white wine,the Redvale Revergum,Chardonnay (Rs 500 per glass; Rs 2,000 per bottle),which is light and has a hint of fruity notes and a gentle buzz — though Sake would have been ideal. If you are a cocktail person,the Cosmopolitan (Rs 595) with jalapenos floating in it will knock your socks off.

Next up,the Suryaa Roll (Rs 725),will appeal to vegetarians. The charmoula tandoori paneer is spiced just right and even though it’s not as appealing as fish,it delivers a kick. The Ebi Tempura (Rs 975),is a classical balance of fried shrimps,mushrooms and sesame seeds but it is not as exciting as the other two starters. The Kasumi Salmon (Rs 1,045) disappoints since it’s a bit chewy. The Har Gaw (Rs 625) steamed dumpling is perfectly stuffed with steamed shrimp. Thought the shape was a bit unusual,but it was fresh,light and hot. The Rou Wan (Rs 575) pork rice dumpling had a warm tummy filling feel to it,with meat broth poured over it giving it a lovely homely feel.

For the mains,we ordered Fennel Tossed Prawns (Rs 1,095) that was good and had that right amount of bite. The Black Cod (Rs 1,595),flamed and served with Korean ginseng and stewed vegetables on a bed of Jasmine rice,was succulent and very filling,even though the cod was a tad overdone. The evening ends on a perfect sweet note: Chen Pi (Rs 345),a delicious combine of tangerine peel and silky chocolaty mocha. Fortune cookie says adventure lies ahead.