Kakizeki Sushi Bar (South Yarra) 12/2018

This quite simple Japanese sushi bar, formerly the home of Hibari, a similar establishment without the finesse, is marked by delicacy, with a Japanese emphasis in every aspect.  

Even the draped front door. The restaurant is very plain and functional. Setting are simple 

and minimal. 

There are about 12 seats around the preparation area 

and a couple of tables. 

There is the days menu,, this is a sample, which varies a little according to what was available that day. It's largely sushi, sushi and sushi. The choice is take it or leave it, the chef organises what he will serve and in what order. That's really the definition of an omikase Japanese meal.
There were a couple of small dishes before the sushi

Chef Yuji Matsuzaki came out 

and immediately started slicing fish, 

and butterflying prawns

laying it out on his work table 

and rolling balls of rice 

to construct the sushi. 
King Prawns, 

Ocean Trout

Snapper 

Kingfish, 

delicately decorated
followed by soup with silken tofu. 

Calamari were scored 

and seared, 

as were several other sushi to bring out their flavour. Some are wrapped in nori. 

The last piece was O-Toro. 

this is the fattest part of the tuna belly, the most delicate part it almost melts in the mouth and also, of course, is the most expensive pat of the fish. It was a beaut end to 12 very different sushi's. There was a green tea ice cream dessert 

to end the meal. An extremely fine dinner for which booking is essential. Best by far is to sit at the chef's table on bar stools. If you like sushi Kakizaki compares well with the best you can get. 
Score: 17/20

Da Noi (South Yarra) 12/2018

Hard to believe that it is 12 years since we last ate here and it has remained fundamentally unchanged. At that time we had a five course Sardinian style meal with no menu. See https://1001dinners.blogspot.com/search?q=Da+Noi

That's what you get today. Indeed there is so much variation that dishes might even vary from table to table. The narrow two story terrace, home of Da Noi, remains the same 

with a bit of odd decor.

The food used to be excellent and it still is. It had two AGFG hats at that time and only has one now but it's as good as it ever was with most of the ingredients sourced from their own farm.  

The just baked olive bread is too good - we have to be careful not to fill up on it! Wines are a bit expensive 

and almost all Italian.

Every dish was extremely good and left me wishing for more from the oysters.

Well only one, the mini salad, 

the seafood salad,

to the remarkable pasta, 

a feature of every meal. 

My apologies for the horrible photo's. I did not notice the camera was on the wrong setting.

The main course was Saddleback pork cutlet 

which was quite spicy so Sandra could not eat it. The happily and quickly replaced it with a serve of suckling pig 

which was superb.
The meal ended with a pleasant not too sweet dessert. 

It's a happy, noisy place. The wait staff were helpful, friendly and efficient. The food was very good and I'd recommend it anytime. 

Score 16.5/20

Rump and Ribs (Townsville and Rockhampton) 12/2018

This franchise restaurant has about half a dozen venues, almost all in Queensland. Almost by accident I tried two of them on two successive days, the first in Rockhampton and the second, apparently the most successful one, in Townsville. They have some variations but work to a pretty good formula.They both offer inside and outside dining.

 

They both have bars 

and minimal decoration.

I had a half side of lamb ribs at Rockhampton. It was late in the evening and I suspect they gave me a bit extra because they were closing soon. Anyway it was a handsome serve and I loved every bit of it. 

Tender, succulent and sweet it was as promised with a choice of potatoes - mash, wedges or roast with herbs, a little coleslaw and a creamy sauce.
At Townsville I had the beef ribs. A much smaller serve

They were also tender and tasty. The accoutrements were a bit fancier here. I was offered a plastic bib,

a branded serviette,

and slightly more attractive table settings.

They do have a full menu. 

Score: 14/20