Osaka Bar

We found ourselves lost in the alleyways trying to find Osaka Bar. Fortunately one of the locals noticed our aimless wandering and offered to help. "Oh Osaka Bar... I think that's that delicious Japanese place around the corner" the helpful stranger said as he pointed us in the right direction. Always a great start when people know a restaurant by it's quality.

So we started off with complimentary Pacific Oysters that were fresh from Batesman Bay. The dressing was a combination of a beautiful salty soy and a the sharp sourness of lemon. The oyster shot went down smoothly.

We ordered a sake from their massive range. Not only beautifully presented in a clear teapot but they also provide a booklet about all their sake for those who wish to educate themselves. A very nice touchas I always admire owners that want to share their love of the cuisine...

When I rocked up, they had a whole table full of food posing deliciously for a photoshoot. I was informed this will be their new banquet menus coming up for the festive season.

Tonpei-yaki is an Osaka style Pork Omelette. To be honest, this was the first time I've even tried something like this. The omelette was soft and fluffy, the meat was tender and the flavours balanced so well.

A definite must try is Chef Kazu's signature dish, the Grilled Duck Confit - around 200g of 65℃ confit duck breast seared and oven grilled served with blueberry miso sauce and honey mustard. The duck was beautifully tender with slight bits of fat that melts on your tongue. The blueberry burst of sweetness cuts through the savoury miso concoction which all tied into such a wonderful and creative dish.

If you're after some staples, try their Karaage chicken. Deep fried but not overly oily and fattening... and best of all succulent chicken on the inside.

As with all Washoku places, always serving well presented and beautifully plated fresh sashimi combining salmon, tuna and kingfish.

Another classic in Osaka Bar is their Okonomiyaki - Japanese savoury pancake. We opted for a mixed option which comprises of shrimp, squid and pork. If you want to know more about this dish at Osaka Bar, I highly recommend reading Yuri's blog entry 

Another classic has to be their Takoyaki balls - Small ball pancake cooked with diced cut octopus. The takoyaki balls were bite size explosions of fantastic flavours. Creamy, hot, and slightly chewy octopus bits.

One of the last dishes we manage to fit in, despite already readjusting my belt, was their Kushi Katsu - Deep Fried Food on Skewers coated in Bread Crumbs.

The unspoken rule in Osaka is to dip the sauce once with the skewers... not because of hygiene reasons but the saltiness will overpower your palette. Trust me on this one. So we chose a range of Salmon Belly, Meatballs, Potato Croquette and Cheese. I highly recommend the salmon belly... roll your eyes back deliciousness right there.

The overall experience was definitely enhanced by their service and friendliness. Chef Kazu has a passion for Japanese soul food. and it's reflected clearly in the menu and his love for his job. His constant smiling and humbling demeanour makes Osaka Bar feel like home.

WASHOKU LOVERS

My final thanks goes to Washoku Lovers and Osaka Bar for inviting me to do this review. If you love Japanese food, then there's no excuse not to sign up for a Washoku Lover's Membership Card... it's 100% FREE. Plus at all participating Washoku Lover restaurants (and there's plenty of them) you can get amazing deals.. like the one for Osaka Bar... Mixed Okonomiyaki (Shrimp, Squid and Pork) $10 (Normally $12) - Dinner Only

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