Drama on a plate
81, Chef Takeshi Nagashima
The double doors in front of us open with a flourish, Chef Takeshi Nagashima, handsome enough to play the star, walks out into the empty space, takes a bow and we find ourselves applauding even before we've tasted a morsel. Behind him, an open kitchen and a pretty looking DJ are revealed. The fact that he is trained at the renowned El Bulli is almost incidental. A top notch restaurant in this culinary capital of Tokyo can no longer be just about food it needs drama, lighting, music, nearly extinct ingredients and the chef to be nothing less than a performing artist. 81 as this restaurant is called does not fall short on any of these counts.
From the moment we enter the nondescript apartment block, and gladly hand over much too much money, we know
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