Nagomi Restaurant

LOCATION
Eagle St Pier, in the Brisbane CBD

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
Sono Japanese restaurant is well known for being a fantastic place to eat. But inevitably, with a fine-dining institution, overheads are high. The drive to offer superb food at Sono's high standards, but at a prices that the corporate lunch crowd could afford each day, has led William Liu of the Sono group to open a new venture — Nagomi.

The location, it has to be said, is perfect. From Saké to Il Centro to Aria, great food abounds on Eagle St Pier, but not in a budget price range. Nagomi's minimalist design and simple counter service means that it can serve up sushi and bento boxes at the same prices as a high-street takeaway. But the workers of the CBD needn't fear – the quality is on a par with the best. All the ingredients used here are the same as those on the Sono menu making this lunch-to-go several dozen rungs up the dining ladder. That high-cuisine attention to detail can also be seen in Nagomi's impressive eco-credentials. All the bento boxes are made from 100% biodegradable sugarcane, and the LED-lit kitchen is as environmentally friendly as they come.

And then, by night, Nagomi transforms. The cute café-style tables are replaced by long cocktail tables as it becomes a stylish setting for socialites. Up to 120 partygoers can mingle here, bustling happily or listening to a keynote speaker. The added secret pleasure of the organiser is that the cocktails, wine and nibbles are being enjoyed at incredibly competitive prices.

It's an interesting move by Sono, to add such an aggressively low-cost restaurant on to their business. But when the food and the location are of such high standards, it's hard to envision Nagomi will be anything but a roaring success.

Aran Ward Sell