Address: At the Kempinski Hotel Zografski
Telephone: 969 24 20, 962 09 99

WHEN people want to eat out, it's not just for the food. For many, it's about getting together with friends in a great atmosphere, realising the imagination or experiencing something that you can't normally have.

Restaurant visiting is often more than the necessity of appeasing the hunger pangs.

The Hotel Kempinski Zografski's Sakura Japanese restaurant takes you away from Sofia into the world of Japanese culture. As I walked into Sakura, I felt an instant synergy with the film The Last Samurai. Uniquely, Sakura is housed on a small pond in the tranquil gardens of the hotel. During daylight hours it is common to see schools of fish swimming under the windows, the ducks chattering, or to admire one of the turtles sunbathing on a rock.

I recommend booking one of the three private rooms for your dining experience. It is true Japanese style; you are required to take off your shoes before entering the rice-paper-walled room. If you are not with familiar company, make sure your socks match! Japanese style is to sit on the floor around the table; however, Sakura has Westernised this tradition with some legless cushioned chairs, with a well under the table for your feet.

Our waitress was dressed in a Kimono and kneeled each time she came to take our order or serve food. I have been a lover of sushi almost since my journey on this earth began. Great sushi has two very important components. Most focus on the raw fish, which undoubtedly is important, but every sushi chef I have spoken with has told me that the secret to great sushi is the rice. Sakura had done a great job at bringing in good fresh fish, but both the sushi rice and the rice served with the hot meals was disappointing.

I started with a green salad (six leva for 210g) that was fantastically fresh and the Japanese dressing was delectably tasty. I tried both the Miso and the Nameko (mushroom) Jiru soups, both very typical soybean paste soups. They were not the greatest Miso styled soups I have ever had, but nevertheless served the purpose. I might add I haven't had any better in Sofia, though.

Each sushi dish is served as two pieces; my entree was Ebi Sushi (prawn) eight leva, Ikura Sushi (Salmon caviar) 10 leva, and Suzuki Sushi (white fish) eight leva.

My main course was Japanese-style curry pork with rice, 13 leva for 460 g. 

Honouring tradition, I drank tea throughout my dining experience. The tea arrived in an ornate teapot and cup.

The service is excellent, and the atmosphere incredibly relaxing and worth the experience. If you go for that, and not necessarily the food, you'll have a great time.

Lunch, with no alcohol, cost 61.60 leva for two, including a 10 per cent service charge.