Belgrade-based Ebisu restaurant presents unique world of Japanese cuisine - What is the secret to good sushi?

The seventh floor of Square Nine Hotel features the Japanese restaurant Ebisu with the view of the most beautiful rooftops of Belgrade.

Although skillfully prepared sushi accounts for half of its menu, Ebisu is unique because it is not a common sushi bar - cooks here pay equal attention to the selection of classical Japanese dishes.

Unusual mini desserts and original Japanese drinks add another exotic note to this restaurant that is named after the Japanese god of fishermen.

What is the secret to good sushi, what are specific features of Japanese cuisine, how to use chopsticks, where does Ebisu purchase ingredients, what should the guests order when visiting this restaurant for the first time... These are only some of the questions that eKapija has asked Ebisu's chef Goran Kovacevic.

- Guests like the fact that Ebisu is not only a sushi bar, but also a restaurant with a diverse range of Japanese dishes. For those reluctant or those coming here for the first time and having no clue what to order, there is a degustation menu including sushi, maki and sashimi, 7 different specialties from the menu and, at the end, a mix of traditional sweets - our interlocutor says, adding that this is only a small portion of what this restaurant has to offer.

Aside from fish and meat specialties, guests can also order various vegeterian dishes at this restaurant.

The Ebisu team purchases ingredients from Japanese markets across Europe, while fresh fish for sushi is supplied twice a week.

When it comes to drinks, there are several types of sake, three kinds of Japanese beer, few types of Japanese single malt whiskey, and sake cocktails that our interlocutor say people in Belgrade like the most. Of course, there are also drinks from the regular menu of Square Nine as well as wine list including a diverse selection of wines from the hotel's wine cellar.

Secret to good sushi

Fresh, healthy, with interesting and balanced flavors, Japanese cuisine has experience the greatest boom around the world over the last twenty years or so. Today, almost every large city on the planet has at least one small Japanese restaurant.

The biggest credit for this definitely goes to traditional Japanese cuisine, which is primarily healthy and always focused on seasonal groceries only.

We've also asked our interlocutor - what is the secret to the most popular Japanese specialty?

- The most important thing about sushi, apart from fresh fish, is rice cooking and spicing. This is where sushi masters make a difference and ofte selfishly keep their marinade recipes to themselves. Also, the sauces they make, such as wasabi mayonnaise, tonkatsu sauce, teriaki sauce, ponzu dressing, contribute to the greater balance of flavors. We at Ebisu make all traditional sauces by ourselves, which I believe is another detail that our guests appreciate.

Ebisu restaurant in Square Nine Hotel is opene between 6 PM and 1 AM every working day except Monday.

M.S.