Kappo - Melbourne

Absolutely gorgeous meal and flawless service. We felt as though we were back in our old home in Tokyo. Every dish was technically superb and perfectly balanced, and matched with delicious sake. It was an absolute delight to spend 3 hours tasting our way through subtle Japanese flavours. It's difficult to to choose a favourite dish, but the opening course of vegetable and seafood delight set the scene of what was to come.Highly recommended.

Kappo is a omakase only restaurant with a choice of 5, 7 or 9 course. I am there by myself and opt for the 9 course with sake matching.It is a small dining room with 10 seats at the chef table with 2 extra small table. It is a weekday evening. That evening there is a total of 4 separate parties, a total of 7 diners including myself.I am lucky enough to have the table on my left ordering the 5 course dinner and the one on my right ordering 7 course so I know exactly the different between the 3.Everyone is welcomed with a baby king brown mushroom with a warm sake. Mine then start with a steamed oyster with some sides. The next course is the buckwheat tofu and the next one is a seafood tartar with some crunchy seaweed(?) .The highlight is the seafood tartar. The crunchy seaweed(?) really adds to the texture which makes the dish interesting. The oyster and tofu is good but not too special. If you are in the 5/7 course you don't get the oyster but instead you get a smaller seafood tartar with the sides that come with my oyster and the tofu.The next course is pearl meat wrapped which is not very memorable. Then you have the salad is which surprising good. At first I am surprised the salad has no meat/seafood which is kinda plain but it somehow worked and I can keep eating that. Maybe it is the vegetable or it is the mild dressing but it is surprising good. You got the salad if you are 7 course and none of that if you order 5 courses.The next one is the sushi with 3 nigiri. Depends on what you order you get different sushi. Everyone get toro. My other two is Uni and Scampi. The sushi is excellent and definitely the best sushi I get during this trip to Melbourne. If you are 5/7 course you get cheaper fish. Next is the chawanmushi with abalone. Like all high class japanese restaurant they made the chawanmushi well and the abalone is flavourful. The last main dish is wagyu. Not bad but again not very special. I am not a huge fan of wagyu as I think it is overpriced. If you opt for a 5/7 course dinner you get a different main - I think it is a fish dish. And then there is 2 dessert. A sorbet and a creme brulee. All good but again nothing to rave about. The atmosphere is quiet and pleasant. The service is good and polite. The taste is quite mild which I think some may find it bland however that is what . traditional japanese fine dining is about. Everything is above average at kappo. but at this ultra premium dining range I expect more than above average to be truly 5 stars.Bottom line:Pros: Easy to get a booking (no need to book 3 months ahead like some other restaurant in Melbourne)Above average, sincere japanese omakase dinner Quiet/pleasant atmosphere good for a table for 2. If you like sushi go for the 9 course. The premium sushi is worth the extra though technically you can just pay extra to get the premium sushi like the table next to me.Cons:Not enough standout dishes that I will rave about.Final verdict:Next time if I am in melbourne if I cannot find another japanese restaurant to go to Kappo is certainly an option. However with so many competitions in Melbourne I wouldn't be dream about going back. 4 stars5 stars: will make a special trip to go back4 stars: would like to go back if I am around.3 stars: won't mind going back2 stars: If my companion want to go I will try to suggest alternative but if they insist I will still go.1 star: I will just tell my companion I am not available for dinner if they insist on going

WE chose the 7 dishes option and each course was a unique and imaginative gastronomic experience. The slow-cooked abalone was the best we've ever eaten, even the salad with its shredded crisp parsnip was a dish to be savoured. The house sake was well-priced and the selection of Japanese beers included interesting craft options. Service was impeccable, the pace of service of each dish was just right. We'll definitely be back.

I went with my wife and had the 5 course menu before a show. Straight up, if you are looking for a loud buzzy izakaya this isn't the place. It is Japanese done beautifully, carefully, with very attentive service. It's omakatse done well. I'd advise to book early, we had a Tuesday 6pm booking and it was pretty full by the fine we left. Get around it kids - it's like Minamashima without the eye watering price tag.

Entrance to the restaurant is via a closed door in Flinders Lane only entered after pressing a doorbell then waiting for it to be opened. We were escorted down a very narrow corridor with 'private dining rooms' either side to a small area with only about 10 tables and a bar. The waiter, although not Japanese, seemed helpful offering a beautiful wooden box to choose our chop sticks from. We ordered cocktails, and although there is apparently a very good bar upstairs, took quite a while to get these. The menu was banquet style with choices of 5, 7 & 9 small courses. Each one of these was delicious and well presented. We chose the 7 course banquet which was enough for the luncheon that we had. I found this restaurant downstairs needing a little refurbishment and toilets opposite the kitchen a little off putting and needing a tidy up.