Taki (Japanese)

Welcome to Taki, one of the most sophisticated Japanese restaurants in the Eternal City. Forget your typical take-away joint: Taki proves to be all about elegance, with dark wood furniture, a fountain, and its very own zen garden. Food is served on intricately painted trays and dishes are composed of strictly high-quality ingredients. The menu features well- known classics from the Land of the Rising Sun’s culinary repertoire, like tempura, udon noodles, miso soup, marinated salmon, soba (buckwheat noodles) in a hot wakame seaweed broth, teriyaki chicken, grilled prawns, grilled beef, and fried calamari. Conclude your meal with a dessert of ginger, sesame, or green tea gelato, or a cozy rice pudding with red bean paste. Japanese beers or Italian wines are on tap, too. For a more informal meal, there’s also the kaiten, where plates of sashimi, maki, and nigiri-style sushi revolve around the restaurant on a conveyor belt. Particularly loved by little ones for its playful nature, the kaiten option is also ideal for those who are short on time but still seek a satisfying lunch or dinner. Or, use it as an Eastern-inspired alternative to the classic Italian aperitif. In the afternoon, Taki becomes a matcha tea room (the city’s first), inspired by one of Japan’s most ancient traditions. Matcha tea has been around for centuries, as far back as the Tang Dynasty in China, and is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Here, guests are invited to indulge in over 15 infusions of matcha tea in a refined and traditional sitting room. Expect a kind and attentive staff, particularly adept in explaining the menu’s offerings.

Via Marianna Dionigi, 56. Tel 063201750. taki.it