Ebisu

Ebisu is up there with the best of Tāmaki Makaurau’s wide selection of Japanese food.

The elegant restaurant is part of Savor Group’s stable; the hospitality company also has Amano, Bivacco, Movida and several other respected Auckland venues.

Seek it out in Britomart for a business lunch or polished dinner; the dining room is moody and textural, with the building’s heritage visible in the exposed brick, high stud, and huge curved-top windows that face out to the ports on Quay Street.

Ebisu’s approach has long centred on a harmonious combination of Japanese and European techniques. Executive chef Darren Johnson joined the company in late 2022, bringing head chef experience from Sky City’s Masu and London’s Zuma and Roka restaurants. His aim is to highlight classical Japanese flavours with contemporary finesse.

The menu is a seafood-lover’s dream. Go for impeccably fresh sashimi and sushi, as well as tataki and marinated, cooked fish. Seared duck breast with kina mayo and five spices glaze incorporates Aotearoa and Chinese flavours. The agedashi tofu, miso-glazed eggplant and tempura are all menu stalwarts, as is the signature ebi roll with compressed rock melon, black tiger prawn, avocado, red tobiko, mayo, chives and a tempura crunch on top.

There’s also a $50 per-person express lunch menu between 12pm and 2pm, Tuesday to Friday.

To drink, there are extensive Japanese whisky, Scotch, shochu and sake menus, as well as wines from New Zealand and abroad. Try an on-theme non-alcoholic beverage such as the milky, sweet Calpico.