Whilst I start my assessment of the most effective eating experiences of 2024, a latecomer enters the sport: HARU Omakase!
HARU Omakase is dropped at us by Jeff Tsao, proprietor of Fukuryu Ramen. (Learn my Profile about him in 2019 Columbus Month-to-month!). Jeff and his spouse Yenny, each co-founders of the corporate, took the Fukuryu location on Polaris Parkway and remodeled it into a contemporary omakase expertise underneath chef Yudi Makassau.
“Omakase” is a Japanese time period that mainly means “I am going to depart it as much as you.” Like a tasting menu, you let the chef put together the menu for you. It is divided into 5 “excursions” or programs: a salad, three entrees, and a dessert, all of which deal with seafood (besides dessert).
The omakase bar has six reserved seats that offer you a front-row seat, though there’s a full eating room the place clients can order omakase and a la carte objects.
They very generously invited us to sit down on the omakase bar and it was a pleasant expertise to see the 4 cooks working intently collectively and interacting with them as they deliberate the meal.
Along with chef Makassau, three cooks introduced completely different experiences.
One of many youngest, they mentioned, was nonetheless in highschool however was quickly on his approach to the Culinary Institute of America!
HARU has a full drinks menu that features wine, sake, cocktails, Japanese whiskey and beer, and matcha.
One of many suggestions we obtained – and I additionally extremely advocate it – is sake pairings. HARU options four-course pairings with each sake and wine designed to enrich the primary 4 stops of the omakase tour.
I am not a lot of a sake connoisseur, however I appreciated the style of every and the way every cease assorted a lot from the following, yuzu-tinted model to unfiltered, all hitting taste profiles starting from citrusy to floral. nearly salty.
Chef Makassau mentioned the menu rotates about each six weeks, however at all times makes use of conventional Japanese methods with worldwide inspiration.
The chef himself is from Indonesia, and he talked about his travels in Latin America. So our first tour, the salad tour for instance, featured amberjack yuzu in Chipotle dressing.
The second tour had three bites: scallops, striped bass and flounder.
On the third tour, we acquired to know Spanish mackerel, goldeneye and king salmon.
The fourth tour featured a hand roll manufactured from yellowtail (proper), tuna and eel. Eel was considered one of my favorites of the night; it was frivolously seared to offer it good, crispy edges.
The ultimate tour was a luscious matcha creme brulee.
The Omakase menu is $89 per individual, with sake pairings including one other $45 per individual.
Along with omakase, clients can order premium A5 waygua, fatty tuna, sea urchin, caviar and different small plates.
We advocate a go to to HARU, particularly the omakase bar. The entire staff was splendidly hospitable, and it is fascinating to observe the culinary staff at work.
HARU Omakase is presently open Thursday-Saturday from 17:00 to 21:00. Reservations are really helpful and required for the omakase bar.
HARU Omakase
2027 Polaris Pkwy.
Columbus, OH 43240
(614) 696-9882
Web site: haruomakase.com
FB: HARU Omakase
IG: @haru.omakase
