What started in New York as a hangout for Manhattan’s rich and glamorous is now the world’s most recognised and acclaimed Japanese restaurant. The Nobu brand has become an empire of Japanese culinary excellence, spanning across the globe from Beijing to Budapest. And, in 2007, at Melbourne’s Crown Casino, we got one.

Known as the ‘it’ restaurant in capital cities around the world and with Robert De Niro as a business partner, it is no surprise that Nobu’s inception into the Melbourne restaurant scene was warmly welcomed.

Here, Peruvian flavours are married with Japanese cuisine resulting in interesting and exciting food. You can also expect fresh local Australian seafood, prepared with Nobu expertise. Tiradito is among the signature dishes, a Peruvian dish of marinated white fish or scallops sliced paper-thin. Other famous dishes are the jalapeno-spiked yellowtail sashimi and the black cod with miso.

With such high renown comes the obvious: high costs. But for lovers of quality Japanese food, and to experience what all the fuss is about, Nobu is worth it.