On a weekday, I went into Raku at the Canberra Centre to celebrate a friend’s birthday for lunch. The décor is a sleek and modern version of a Japanese restaurant with dim lighting inside to provide a sense of intimacy. There were 5 of us that ordered the $40 express set lunch while the other half of the table ordered separately. The first course to arrive was sashimi with three variations – salmon, kingfish and scallops. I loved the thick slices of high quality sashimi which were a lot better than other Japanese restaurants I’ve been to in Canberra.
The second course was the Chef’s selection maki roll – that day they were kingfish maki rolls with avocado, topped with dollop of kewpie mayo and delicate slice of green chilli. We received three pieces per person. I loved the sprinkling of black and white sesame seeds on the rice giving a nutty flavour to the maki. Perfect small portions. I could have easily eaten more.
Next came tempura vegetables served on two thin platters. The first two courses had been split evenly for the 5 of us but we found the tempura vegetables difficult to share as they weren’t split evenly. However, the tempura was perfectly crispy and light.
White miso dashi soup was provided with tofu and spring onion which was warming.
The baked salmon was my favourite dish of the day. It was coated in a dark almost caramelised soy which gave it a nice charred flavour. The salmon itself must have been poached/sous vide beforehand as it was absolutely soft and succulent. Natural salmon flavour with a hint of soy and charcoal. Perfection. This came served with some steamed rice.
I had to leave to go back to work and missed out on ordering some dessert (not part of the express lunch) but I hear it’s pretty good. Staff clad in black uniforms hovered nearby ready to take our orders. It didn’t seem too difficult to get someone’s attention. It wasn’t noisy inside, keeping in mind that the restaurant wasn’t packed full, and we were probably the noisiest table during that period. The tables for two along the windows seem to be packed in tightly but the larger tables have quite a bit of space. I wouldn’t mind sitting up at the counter to watch the chefs work.
The express lunch took about 45 minutes from the first dish arriving to finishing the last dish. You should put aside an hour just to be safe. It’s available weekdays only with a minimum of 2 people. The upmarket restaurant doesn’t have your cheap lunch deals but it does have high quality Japanese food if you’re willing to pay for it. I wouldn’t mind trying the $80 banquet on a weekend.
Raku
148 Bunda Street, Canberra City
Opening hours:
Everyday lunch: 11am – 3pm
Everyday dinner: 6pm – late
Foodgasm 8/10
Value for money 8/10
Service 8/10
FPJ score 24/30
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