Matsumoto is a great little neighbourhood Japanese with a fairly traditional selection of Japanese dishes at reasonable prices. If you feel like a good vegetable fix, some nice fresh sushi or just something a little different this is a really handy option for those near East Brunswick.
The restaurant itself is very simply furnished on the corner of Lygon and Barkly streets with tall wooden tables and Japanese crockery. It is clean and the service is very quick. They serve a complimentary appetiser of beanshoot salad which I consider a must at any Japanese restaurant.
Chloe was by herself Friday night having just returned from a potato filled trip to Ireland. Nick and I rescued her from her house which had been attacked by falling trees and 12 SES workers with chainsaws and we decided a good cheap night out was in order.
We trecked to the bottle shop attached to the pub up the road to pick up a bottle of riesling and and a Rongopai sauvignon blanc and now we are ready for the eating to begin.
We started with fresh oysters in ponzu sauce, agedashi tofu and beef tataki. The oysters beautifully fresh and full of flavour inspired a weekend long craving for seafood. The agedashi tofu was generous and flavourful and Nick, to my surprise, discovered the joys of beef tataki (a barely seared, raw beef dish served with a raw egg) for the first time.
Instead of ordering a main each we ordered an entree serve of seafood and vegetable tempura which was plenty for the 3 of us and the pork katsu curry to share. The tempura batter was a bit thick, then I have never really liked tempura and the pork katsu curry was another great winter warmer, thus probably the most unhealthy thing on the menu, but well worth it!
The total bill came to $59 for the three of us which is probably the cheapest Friday night out I have had in a very long time. We walked away very happy customers.
Nick and I returned to Matsumoto with our friends Heather and Ben and their four year old daughter Hunter who were down visiting from Noosa last night. Heather ordered a beautifully flavoured vegetable and udon ramen whilst Ben ordered the Seafood hot plate which I didn't get to taste but looked like excellent value at $22. Hunter entertained the lovely staff with a few chopstick tricks a water show and a photo shoot!
I would reccomend this restaurant as a good place to take kids and get great attentive service, maybe a little too attentive if they try and rush you on a Friday night... Twice in a week though I would say Matsumoto is another good option on this side of town.
Address: 48 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Bookings: Yes
Phone: 03 9380 9288
Licensed and BYO wine
Open: 7 days to late
This was my local Japanese restaurant. I hope you have been to Peko peko also.
ReplyDeletemiss you x
This place is amazing! The gyoza are outstanding and the banquets are really great value, exciting selections!
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