LOCATIONA short walk north of the Victoria Markets on Peel Street.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAFly-by-night culinary cowboys have come and gone, but Akita has not wavered and remains a loved member of North Melbourne’s restaurant scene. This is no doubt due to the stoic performance of owner Toshio Furuhashi, who moved to Australia from Japan in 1975 and maintains that the key to success is upholding the fundamentals of his cuisine: quality of produce, variety, authenticity and value.
Akita offers traditional Japanese fare, focusing on the formal dishes found in restaurants in Japan, rather than those found in Japanese home cooking. However, the wide variety of dishes available on the menu means that less formal Japanese dining, in which several plates are shared, is also an option. The extensive specials menu, which outshines the more modest standard menu, changes daily and includes a delightfully delicate and simple masu-amu (grilled trout). From the regular menu, the boneless chicken breast flavoured with ginger and soy is definitely a highlight. If you’re unsure of what to choose, Toshio and his delightful staff are always happy to help. There is also a range of tofu and vegetarian dishes available. Akita’s decor is true to the Japanese style, complete with lanterns and a rather large Maneki Neko, Japan’s lucky cat, which perches on the edge of the bar, beckoning customers.
Frank Trimboli