Edomae Sushi Matsuki is a Japanese restaurant that attracts guests even from abroad. On a street full of tourist establishments, it is a well-hidden gem. You ring the bell and are admitted into an old bourgeois cellar, where a whole new world unfolds in front of you. The awe of a first visit is impossible to put into words. Once a wine tavern, it is now a Zen Garden in the heart of Bratislava, as if it were cut out straight from Kyoto or Tokyo. The warm welcome and equally heartfelt farewell from the smiling, attentive team add to the sense of exclusivity. The interior must have been a challenge for the architects, yet it is handled with sensitivity so that every detail serves the business perfectly. The cloakroom, the long corridor, and the Noreen, the fabric hanging above the entrance, invite a small bow of respect. You may have to wait for a few weeks for a seat at the seven-person sushi counter, but you will not regret it. Edomae refers to the traditional Tokyo-style preparation and techniques, and the menu is omakase. Starters showcase a variety of techniques and textures, highlighting the incredible attention to ingredients, freshness, and quality, matched only by the Chef’s skill, honed through seven years of study at a Japanese university. The rest of the team ensures a flawless guest experience allowing the master to focus entirely on presenting each dish directly before the guest. If you are fortunate enough to be offered wagyu nigiri before the soup, do not refuse. A slice of beef atop perfectly cooked, seasoned rice melts in the mouth. The combination of fatness, sweetness, saltiness, and warmth is a memory that lingers long after the meal. Edomae Sushi Matsuki is the perfect destination for lovers of Japanese cuisine who appreciate watching a master at work for several hours while exchanging only a few words with fellow diners sharing the same experience.
