Gallery: For One Night Only, Robata and Tamura Joined Forces for a Japanese Feast

Robata, the CBD restaurant known for its yakitori and a playful Tokyo-inspired fit-out, is no stranger to putting its own spin on Japanese dining. But last week, the dials were turned up to 11 for a special dinner service.

Broadsheet and Asahi Super Dry invited husband-and-wife team Fumi and Takako Tamura – of Fitzroy’s Tamura Sake Bar and Izakaya by Tamura – into the Robata kitchen for a one-night-only dinner that brought together two distinct approaches to Japanese food.

Guests were welcomed with a whisky-based cocktail layered with pineapple and blackcurrant, while Fumi got behind the decks as DJ, spinning a vinyl selection spanning jazz, reggae and beyond.

The first dishes showcased several of Takako’s signatures: steamed eggplant transformed into a silky cream and served with tosazu, a sweet and sour jelly; prawn balls studded with nutty toasted buckwheat for crunch; and tako wasa, a pile of thinly sliced octopus marinated in wasabi. They’re the sort of dishes designed to accompany a drink – thankfully, crisp pours of Asahi Super Dry followed.

Next came mackerel brightened with vinegar and curry, served atop slender fingers of toast – another Tamura favourite.

For the main course, Robata chef Lily McGrath took the lead with chicken Maryland stuffed and served with an Asahi beurre blanc, bringing together Japanese flavours and French technique. On the side were fried Jerusalem artichokes with artichoke miso and a shaved brussels sprout salad dressed with an Asahi vinegar fermented by McGrath in the weeks leading up to the event.

Dessert came courtesy of Robata pastry chef Sayaka Otsu: a plump, fresh mochi filled with tiramisu-inspired cream and coffee syrup, alongside two mochi doughnuts skewered in the style of dango, the popular Japanese street snack.

Though held on a Tuesday night, the atmosphere had the frenetic energy of a weekend. Between the perfect pours of Asahi Super Dry, vinyl DJ sets and collaboration between two beloved venues, the dinner offered a different perspective on Japanese dining in Melbourne – shaped as much by community as the menu.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Asahi Super Dry, for audiences 18+ only. Please drink responsibly.