Kenzan Ph: 9654 8933 ; Collins Place, 45 Collins St, MELBOURNE 3000 www.kenzan.com.au Japanese, $$, ** for Food & Ambience Open Lunch Mon-Fri noon-2.15pm dinner Mon-Sat 6pm-10pm, Closed Xmas and Easter; Licensed; AE DC MC V EFT Chef Kaname Komatsu (21-9-11) Owner Kaz Murayama, Boeing Cho & Yuki Munehiro (11-10-10)

Photo: Tony Knox

Mietta's Review
Watch a real master prepare your sushi at the bar or sit back and enjoy excellent table service or the seclusion of one of the private rooms. Very popular with tourists and locals alike. A good selection of Yarra Valley wines available as well. All in all, a very pleasant and well run place.

Other published opinions

Gourmet Traveller 2012 Australian Restaurant Guide "Dining at Kenzan is like listening to the Australian Chamber Orchestra play Pachelbel's Canon: the notes are familiar, but they're played with a grace and precision worthy of respect"

Age Good Food Guide 2012 Score: 14.5/20

Age Good Food Guide 2011 Score: 15/20, One Hat

Gourmet Traveller 2011 Australian Restaurant Guide "What's not broke s"

Age Good Food Guide 2010 Score: 15/20

Gourmet Traveller 2010 Australian Restaurant Guide "After more than two decades, Age has begun to weary Kenzan's pine and cream fit-out. What once seemed sleek and serene is now merely serene. Yet the lack of visual distraction does focus attention on the food, which remains as steadfast as ever"

Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 15/20

Gourmet Traveller 2009 Australian Restaurant Guide "It isn't the dated fit-out that continues to draw business people, tourists and expats to one of Melbourne's oldest Japanese restaurants. Nor is it the pricey wine list, a dessert menu offering little more than ice-cream, or the seating lottery where walk-ups get prime location over those who booked weeks in advance"

Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 15/20

Gourmet Traveller 2008 Australian Restaurant Guide "Pine furniture, neutral carpet, slatted screens - superficially, Kenzan sticks to the classic template of Japanese restaurants, seemingly afraid to offend by risking a more outre statement"

Herald Sun Bob Hart, 14-04-07 "JAPANESE food was the tiniest blip in a remote corner of the nation's radar when Kenzan opened its doors some 25 years ago. ... But there is no doubt that our enthusiasm, and their efforts, have been part of a parallel process that has changed the eating habits of a nation. And when I made, with a mate, one of my regular visits to Kenzan last week, the place was as inspiring as on my first visit, almost 20 years ago."

Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 15/20

Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide "Little has changed at Kenzan in over 20 years and that is a very good thing. Fortunately, the combination of excellent sushi and sashimi, swift service, a welcoming room and decent wine and sake list never goes out of fashion."

Age Good Food Guide 2005

Gourmet Traveller 2005 Restaurant Guide "Now aged 21, it has lost some of its early lustre, but retains a well-deserved reputation for good food, fine wine and welcoming service in a setting of understated elegance."

Age Good Food Guide 2004 1 hat, score 15/20

Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Australia 2004, Good vegetarian options,'Kenzan is a Japanese food-lovers' treat...There is also a selection of set menus and chef's banquets that allows diners to sample a range of dishes...a good range of sake.'

Age, 3/10/2003, Epicure, Unexplored Territory, Matt Preston

Age, Sunday Life, Eat Streets, 28/7/02

Herald Sun, Weekend, Eat, Bob Hart, 19/1/02

Age, SundayLife, eatstreets, 9/7/2000 Jane Faulkner