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Thursday, 17 November 2011 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Nihonbashi was one of only two Sri Lankan restaurants selected to feature in the 2011/2012 edition of The Miele Guide, published earlier this week.
Known as Asia’s first independent restaurant guide the much respected Miele Guide ranks the top 500 restaurants in Asia. To be recognised by it as one of two restaurants in Sri Lanka worthy of a place within its pages is therefore a credit to Nihonbashi.
Nihonbashi, Sri Lanka’s top Japanese restaurant, was founded 16 years ago by Dharshan Munidasa. It is impressive in that it has maintained its high standards over the years, and this is due in large part to the founder, who is very hands on in his approach to running the restaurant.
Of mixed Japanese and Sri Lankan heritage Munidasa’s vision over the past 16 years has been to fuse top quality Sri Lankan ingredients with a Japanese mindset. This vision is reflected in the name of the restaurant: Nihonbashi, which literally means ‘Japan-bridge’. Nihonbashi’s position in The Miele Guide is clearly testament to the fact that this vision is one in which he has clearly been successful.
From the moment you step into Nihonbashi with its tranquil fountains and bamboo, you literally feel as if you have crossed a bridge to Japan. While the ambience of Nihonbashi is wonderfully Zen, it is its food above all else which has enabled the restaurant to maintain its coveted listing in the 2011/2012 Miele Guide.
The food at Nihonbashi is excellent, not only providing authentically prepared Japanese classics, but pushing the envelope and creating new and exciting dishes and combinations of flavours. The Tsukume Nabe (Collagen Soup), for example, comes recommended by The Miele Guide.
What is more, this unusual dish was also featured on a TV Tokyo programme which aired just a few months ago. Tsukume Nabe sees minced chicken and daikon (white radish) simmered in a broth made of crushed chicken bones, to make a wonderfully flavoursome soup- well worth trying.
On being asked how he felt to be featured once more in The Miele Guide, Munidasa said he was honoured to have received such an accolade for his restaurant and was excited to have garnered international attention for Sri Lanka in so doing.
Munidasa who is preparing to launch his new restaurant The Ministry of Crab, which he co-owns with Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, also said that next year he hopes to hold two spots in The Miele Guide. Certainly if he maintains the same high standards for which Nihonbashi has come to be recognised, The Ministry of Crab will be a restaurant to watch.
Nihonbashi’s flagship restaurant is located at 11 Galle Face Terrace, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka. There are also branches at ODEL and Hilton Colombo Residences.
Lunch time: Opening hours: 12 noon to 2:30 p.m.
Dinner time: Opening hours: 6 p.m.-11 p.m.
