Review

Ikigai, the art of fulfillment, focusses on global cuisine from the five blue zones, namely Italian, Greek, Japanese, Californian and Costa Rican, all noted for their inhabitants’ longevity. Chef proprietor James Noble takes this philosophy to heart presenting inspired combinations as healthy balanced dishes, with gastronomic notes, whilst packed with flavour. Stylish house-made Hiyayakko tofu is silky smooth, arriving perfectly chilled with edamame emulsion, rose apple pickled ginger, wasabi leaf, and dusted seaweed. The sauce, combining soya, mirin, ginger and fermented garlic, partners perfectly, enabling the dish to shine ensuring it remains a mainstay of the seasonally changing menus. Beet kohlrabi tartare is elegantly presented with pickled daikon radish and feta crumb. Breaking the cured egg yolk over the crunchy, refreshing mixed veggies applies a winning touch. Meat plates include daring buffalo tongue reuben and duck bulgogi schnitzel. For fish, roasted king mackerel stands out, accompanied by lemon-dressed mixed green salad, complemented with a delicious scoop of tasty homemade taramasalata drizzled with vibrant dill oil. ‘Uncle Bob’ mulberry crumble, a treasured family recipe, is a classic home-comfort dessert, with tangy, sour fruit bake paired with custard, ice cream, and a side of full cream to complete. Ikigai is a unique addition to the city’s foody hotspots. If culinary fulfillment is the goal, this meticulously crafted menu more than delivers.