Some months ago, Mr FPJ and I had a lovely dinner banquet at Chairman & Yip. The dinner included sushi from a new sushi chef which we thought was a little odd given we were in a Chinese restaurant. Our waiter informed us that the Chairman Group were opening up a new Japanese restaurant in Canberra and the sushi chef would be working there. Well, Mu Omakase by the Chairman Group has now opened at the new Constitution Place precinct. Omakase means everything is left up to the chef so you won’t know what you’re eating until you get there. Mu Omakase is a 12-seater restaurant (where the seats are wrapped around the counter) so bookings are essential some weeks in advance.

The online booking form shows that there are two options for dinner:

  • 12 – 14 courses for the 6.00pm sitting for $165 (must vacate by 7.50pm)
  • 17 – 20 courses for the 8.00pm sitting for $185.

I booked the 8.00pm sitting with a friend. When I walk in, the place looks like a bar and I realise the restaurant is to the left with Cicada Bar and its plush lounge area to the right. I mention my 8.00pm reservation and am led to the lounge area to wait with my friend who had already arrived. The large bonsai catches my eye and I love the deep red plush chairs. A very snazzy place for a drink. A drinks menu is provided listing wines and beers, and I’m glad to see a ‘low zero’ section with mocktails, even though there are only 4 options available.

We’re soon called into the restaurant and seated. The decor is minimalist and dark with some back lighting underneath the shelves holding the various bowls, plates and other serving ware. The set menu is printed in front of us and lists the 18 courses we are about to receive.

Mu Omakase dinner menu July 2021

One of the chefs is effortlessly slicing through a piece of tuna as if it were butter. A waiter asks us if there are any drinks we would like to order, and we both ask for something sweet. The host gets everyone’s attention, introduces herself and the two chefs from Kyoto and Osaka, and announces that the dinner will begin.

Mu Omakase Canberra chefs

I’m not going to go through every course but here are some photos below.

Mu Omakase Canberra dinner 1

It was fun to watch the sushi masters at work. One of the courses was a sea eel hand roll which is rolled in nori after the nori had been lightly grilled.

The highlights were all the nigiri where the sashimi is so creamy, silky smooth and fresh. I loved the scampi with the trio of caviar, as well as the scallop nigiri.

Mu Omakase Canberra scampi nigiri caviar
Mu Omakase Canberra scallop

The grilled Australian toothfish with corn puree is another favourite with the perfect balance of sweetness and the fish had been cooked perfectly. The black truffle chawanmushi is silky and light with prawn and sweet potato at the bottom. The binchotan grilled wagyu beef comes with a 9+ marbling score with two types of toppings.

Mu Omakase Canberra truffle chawanmushi
Mu Omakase wagyu beef

The great thing about Japanese food is it’s so clean. Even though it was 18 courses, each course is small e.g. one nigiri is counted as a course. We left feeling full and satisfied, but not sickly over stuffed. The omakase is a great option if you can eat anything, aren’t too much of a control freak, and just want to relax and watch everything being prepared, cooked and served for 2 hours.

Mu Omakase Canberra torch

Note: Be sure to read the dining policies on the Mu Omakase website. Some dietary requirements may not be able to be catered for. No children under 12 years allowed.

Mu Omakase
1 Constitution Ave, Canberra

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