Sake Bar Nippon

Great experience with attentive staff to food allergy. Fun place to share food with a group.

The Sakebar Nippon in Takapuna is where you go for maybe not the best Japanese but for the best entertainment and tentative staff. However its very popular and you must book on a Friday night. When you arrive a staff member asks you your name and then calls it out to the whole restaurant whilst banging a drum.
I had a bunch of small things like Pork skewers which were succulent, the Yum Yum Prawns came in an eggy cream that I found quite yuck yuck. Takoyaki (octopus) balls were ok and Salmon Won tons were good. The choices around the table by my 6 other friends were much the same, good and ok.
We were seated at low tables on cushions by a TV screen, conveniently booked by my friend so she could start up the Karaōke. Another group came and joined in also. One of the Japanese girls shook a tambourine and a guy danced around in a onesie. Very comical.

I’m a fan of this place, it’s not often you’re greeted by loud drumming and an over-​the-​top friendly welcome. We were seated in an area with low tables and cushions for a more authentic Japanese dining experience. The food was pretty good, but it’s the atmosphere that makes this place. We had fresh fish dumplings, karaage chicken, teppanyaki chicken, a noodle dish, green beans, mussels and my surprise dish of the night — their version of deep fried Camembert with sour lemon jelly (apparently popular in Japan and delicious). Best of all, I spotted something down the back that made my night, yes folks, a karaōke machine… On my side of the bridge!!!

Where is the sushi list? This was the phrase of the day when I dined at this (non-​authentic) Japanese restaurant. There were perhaps 6 Sushi and Sashimi options, primarily with Salmon or Tuna. Oh the adventure!
My friends and I ordered a few items to share, as you do at Sushi places. Among them were the Spicy tuna role — there was no spice. It was swathed in sliced carrots, green onion and a mayo blend. The mayo was not like the mayo served in roles, which usually has a thick consistency and a hint of spice. This was like regular mayo. No, no, no! The vegetable tempura could have had a better batter then fried a bit longer. It’s accompanying sauce was more akin to colored water lacking any flavor. The miso soup had potatoes or maybe they were parsnips, along with big slices of onion without a hint of flavor. The Gyoza — bland.
What keeps this place afloat (surely it’s not the food), is the prompt service and fun environment. It has over the top stereotypical, Western ideas of Japanese décor. Think Benihana and multiply by 10.

Having long been a patron of Sake Bar Nippon in Epsom, imagine my excitement to find out they were opening a branch right on my own doorstep in Takapuna!
The location, right under the Berkely has not fared well in the past. The last restaurant that was in this location, Onion Johnny’s, was popular for a while but died a slow death, possibly as not everyone likes onion.
I am more hopeful for Sake Bar Nippon, as Takapuna desperately needs an amazing Japanese restaurant. However, so far, the place has not lived up to expectations set by Epsom. The staff need a bit of pep and perhaps the exec chef needs to come check the place over too. Hopefully just teething problems and this place will get better.