Yauza: Asian cuisine for magical settings - review

• Published date: 23 September 2021
• Author: NERIA BARR
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Investing a staggering sum of NIS 15 million, Kabir was inspired by world institutes such as Novikov London, Catch New York, Annabelle London, The Arts Club and others. The lower space in the culinary house below Serafina is now home to Yauza, a new restaurant that offers sophisticated Asian fusion dishes influenced by classical cuisines such as Japan, China, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Yauza is a river in Moscow, where a group of immigrants from Asia settled many years ago, bringing oriental flavors to Moscow and creating many east-west fusion dishes.

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We parked our car in the new parking lot located next door to the restaurant, which seems to offer free parking during the evening hours (at least for now).

Entering Serafina, the hostess checked our reservation, called downstairs to let them know we arrived and escorted us downstairs, where another hostess punched a code into a pad and the door to the magical cave opened, revealing a space commanded by video art projected on huge screens, a live DJ station and a large bar.

The décor is magical – designed by Rian Lev Ari, the concept behind the design was jazz and cabaret clubs in the 1930s, yet reminiscing the urban, sexy chic of Asian cities of today. The dark space is furnished with plush and leather sofas, black marble floors with gold details, and a flowering "cherry tree", handcrafted by an artist for Yauza, that dominates the center of the space. Other ornaments include a Japanese swan pattern wallpaper and authentic ancient Okina face masks.

We were seated on a curvy sofa next to the cherry tree and surrounded by mirrors. It is more of a late-night place and we got here early, so the place was still quiet and we had the attention of our waitress all to ourselves.

The menu, she explained, is divided into sections offering both sushi and Japanese dishes, as well as Thai, Vietnamese and other Asian delights, most created with the idea of sharing – which is the popular trend these days.

Opening dishes (NIS 58-NIS 68) include an amazing snow-mushroom salad, with snow and wood mushrooms, carrots, ginger chili and white soy, a very tasty dish that opened our appetite. There are a few green salad...