Yu-u
137 Flinders Ln
Melbourne CBD
(off Olivier Lane, behind Flinders Lane Gallery)
The front door of this much lauded Japanese restaurant looks like the entrance to a drug den or a 1970s squat. But give the heavily graffitied door a jolly good shove and it gives way to an elegant and sophisticated basement restaurant that feels a little ‘other-worldly’.
Feel smug as you swan down the sleek staircase to a stylish and minimalist dining room in the knowledge that the masses will never find their way here. GPS or no GPS. Yu-u is a classic example of what Melbourne does best – reward for persevering with slightly obscure addresses.
The greeting at the bottom of the stairs is warm and welcoming and worlds away from a drug den-cum-squat. The ‘set menu only’ lunchtime box may feel a bit restrictive, but at $18 with the choice of 6 mains it’s a steal. A bento box with an ensemble of rice, soup, side, pickled vegetables and the main of your choice, it’s delicious, generous and well balanced. Dinner is a la carte and steps up a notch in sophistication and execution.
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