Pass through El Ayoun’s famous red-carpeted entrance, move beyond the eclectic chic décor of its fine dining rooms, and glide through the glitz and glamour of cocktail bar Privado and you’ll discover an intimate dining space where east meets west in the form of the finest Asian fusion cuisine this side of the orient.
Club Sushi is a flattering candlelight affair, with a warm ruby hue emanating from the under floor lighting, and a glow coming from tiny TV screens embedded into the glossy black walls, flickering with rotating imagery from around the globe. Modern Japanese art adorns the adjacent walls, while high black marble tables peppered with rose petals dot the floor.
Sole sushi chef, Brazilian Malcolm Velasques expertly presides over the sophisticated rectangular space, serving up sushi with an exquisite twist and so fresh it arrives on your table just seconds after he has sliced, diced and dressed it with the flair of a true maestro.
Commence with crisp tempura vegetables, savoury miso soup, crisp gyoza or spring rolls before sampling proficiently rolled maki favourites, such as Philadelphia and California and experimental variations like ‘the bomb’, an incredulous explosion of flavour, combining spicy tuna, cream cheese, salmon and a coconut coating which is fried, then sliced into traditional pieces.
Gambas flambeadas is a sight to behold, prawn rolls wrapped in salmon and spicy sauce, drizzled in honey and Cointreau then lit into a dazzling blue flame by a miniature blowtorch and carried to your table. For those who can’t decide what to order, never fear – combination and degustation platters of featuring the chef’s personal favourites are available.
Seating a maximum of only 24 privileged diners at any one time, restaurant reservations at Club Sushi are essential… and echoed again, and again, and again…
Published article updated on June 21, 2010