Izakaya Den
Address:
114 Russell Street
3000 Melbourne, Australia
Phone:
(03) 9654 2977
Description:
Just as some Melbourne bars are hidden away, oblivious also are a few excellent restaurants. Izakaya Den might be relatively new on the scene, but after finding it down a flight of stairs, behind a big door that screams this is not a restaurant, an underground odyssey of taste begins. The room is one narrow tube, with Japanese motif style tables and stools to the right and an efficient open kitchen on the left. Menus are wrapped with string as if what's inside might be a present. The food is small and dainty and consists of dishes such as cubes of pork belly or eel in sweet sauce, but it is extremely fresh and executed with precision. The lunch set menu is much better value if on a budget and you will have more chance of getting a table without waiting, as there are no bookings. Naturally there is a range of saki and a few interesting Japanese lagers.
Map:
