Turning Japanese — Local Paddo

The two Oxford St storefronts that housed Josh Niland’s twin seafood outlets have reopened in new guises, both small, independent Japanese venues. The two restaurants are not connected.

In the old Saint Peter site, chef Darren Templeman has launched Izy.Aki, an omakase-style venue where diners are fed a handcrafted dinner, delivered without a menu. The restaurant will seat only 16 at the counter plus two at the window, with two menu options: a $105 five-course, and a $195 10-course dinner.

Meanwhile, in the old Fish Butchery site, Nori Table has opened — a venture from first-time restaurateurs Kate Moon and Ray Park, who are offering an elevated sushi train experience.

Templeman, well known to many in Sydney for his former Glebe restaurant Atelier, says he is thrilled to be opening in such an esteemed restaurant space. “I couldn’t believe it when we discovered the building had not been taken by someone else,” he tells Local Paddo. “It’s perfect for what we are doing.”

It is not the first home for Izy.Aki, which initially opened to success in The Rocks last year. But renovation works on the heritage building housing the venue forced Templeman and his team to look for a new home.

“We had a year in The Rocks and it was fantastic. We were really looking to stay there, but unfortunately with heritage buildings, when they have to be repaired, they have to be repaired. But Paddington is a great fit for us and the space was set up perfectly for what we are doing.”

Templeman says diners are highly responsive to the no-menu arrangement, as it offers a different dining experience to the norm: “People want something that is good value and unique, which this is.”

Meanwhile, at Nori Table, Moon, on front of house, and Park, in the kitchen, are a jovial team who bring style and restaurant craft into a casual space. Park’s previous position was at Sushi Hotaru at the Galeries in Sydney, whereas Moon has been a stylist for film and fashion for two decades.

“We wanted to get this place exactly right before we opened it, so we spent a lot of time on it,” says Moon, referring to the glamorous fit out. “We want people to come and really enjoy the food and the experience.”

The restaurant has a beautiful selection of fresh sushi and other speciality Japanese dishes.

Izy.Aki, 362 Oxford St

Nori Table, 388 Oxford St