Japanese fine dining arrives in the Algarve, including authentic robata-grilled food
The new Japanese restaurant, Mizu, at Vila Vita Parc opened in February, following a brief closure for some fine-tuning after a soft opening in December. And, if the initial reaction from hotel guests and outside visitors is anything to go by, this is set to become another top spot at Vila Vita Parc for serious foodies.
Having sampled a few of the dishes during the soft opening, I met up with restaurant manager Catarina Borges, a local Algarvean who has spent the last seven years working on the cutting edge of the London food scene. One of her positions was assistant manager at Roka, the award-winning Robatayaki restaurant on Canary Wharf, providing her with a good idea of what today’s customers expect from a premium Japanese restaurant.
Skilled chefs have been recruited and no expense has been spared on kitting the restaurant out with a state-of-the-art Teppan bar and a Josper Robata grill in the kitchen, fired with Japanese white charcoal. Sushi and sashimi are, of course, an important part of the menu, as are tempura dishes, a variety of Japanese salads and other staples such as a seriously good white Miso soup with Shimeji mushrooms, but it is the Algarve’s first Robata grill that is expected to win over customers the most.
Here, prime cuts such as wild salmon or black cod fillets and Wagyu beef are quickly grilled to perfection, sealing in the flavours. Fish and meat dishes are complemented with others from the Robata grill such as Konasu (baby aubergine with miso and soy) or Shitaki mushroom skewers with citrus and chilli.
The menu is intentionally not extensive, focusing on a relatively small selection of prime fresh ingredients, backed up with a small but carefully chosen selection of 12 Sakes, including a sweet and a sparkling option.
