Sash Japanese

The Verdict

Hold on to your chopsticks, Sydney. An NYC-style Japanese concept restaurant is opening in Surry Hill...and its specialty is sushi pizza.

Sash is popping up near Chin Chin, the spot in Surry that's quickly becoming little Melbourne (appropriate, since this one hails from our southern friends), where it's basically impossible to dodge all the epic eateries. The menu was designed by Executive Head Chef Raphael Santos from Nobu, Saké and Sea Salt and it'll feature a range of sashimi, sushi nigiri and their signature Japanese pizzas, tacos and tostadas. The fit-out is vastly different from their Melbourne outpost. Where that one is long and narrow, the Surry Hills spot will be wide, open and boast a casual 15-seats. 

Of course the real story at Sash is the food: an eye-searing cavalcade of beautiful, technicolour food art. There'll be a range of signature Japanese pizzas, with toppings like sashimi tuna, mango, strawberry, wasabi mayonnaise and ginger, served on blackened squid-ink dough. Crazy, unorthodox...and absolutely delicious.

Rice-based pizzas (AKA ‘Sushizzas’) are also on the cards, along with a selection of fried poké balls (a sort of Japanese Arancini, stuffed with salmon and wasabi green tea mayo), poké bowls, sushi tacos and even sushi burritos. For afters, we’d recommend either the Banoffi Nutella Pizza or the jewel-like macaron ice-cream sandwiches—a dessert that's as pretty as it is tasty.

In Melbourne, co-owners Kyle Stagoll and Dave Nelson have created something pretty special. An all-class fusion cocktail bar that’s actually pushing the Japanese envelope. Sushi pizza sceptics, take note. Sash is the real deal. And now it's coming to Syds (cue mass excitement).

Image credit: Jenna Fahey-White