Gurgaon has a
burgeoning set of Japanese restaurants. The newest one to join the pack is
Nagai. Named after Chef Reina Nagai, this is the second outpost; the first one
is in Ibiza. Located in sector 29, Gurgaon, and open only for dinner, Nagai is
in a standalone building, away from the bustling market.
Split over two
spacious floors, the ground floor features a large dining space done in
Japanese minimalistic style and large contemporary art adorning the walls. The
basement has a well stocked bar, and a performance area which is put to good
use on Friday evenings with an assortment of live music performances. The
seating arrangement here is more casual with plenty of high tables and comfy
bar stools, as well as lower chairs and tables. The crowd is eclectic on the
Friday that we visit, with a few couples enjoying their date night, a bunch of
girlfriends, some Jap suits as well as a large family group.
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| Nagai: Food, Sake and Decor. |
What’s Hot
The food has plenty
of choice for non-vegetarians as well as vegetarians. Although the fare is
primarily Japanese, there are influences from Thailand, Spain, Mexico and Italy,
where Chef Reina and her partner Eleonora have spent a lot of time pursuing
adventure sports ranging from snow-boarding and sky-diving to surfing and deep-sea
diving. Prior to Ibiza, the duo had restaurants in Thailand and two in Rome as
well. Hence the menu includes Japanese inspired tapas from classic steamed
edamame to crispy pork and aubergine skewers. Starters feature salmon and tuna
tartar and vegan choices such as caramelized lotus root with soya and sesame. The highlight of our
meal includes ceviche with prawns and seabass zinged up with lemongrass and
ginger. The scallop nigiri is another fabulous offering on the menu.
The bar is rather
impressive with some seasonal and Japanese inspired cocktails, using fresh
fruits and sake respectively. The choice of Sake is good and the waitstaff is
well trained in helping guests pick the right tipple too from a junmai to
shenjyu. We’re asked about our preference for dry or sweet sake and suggested
accordingly. Both, the Hana Kizakura Junmai and Kubota Senjyu that we try are
premium quality.
What’s Not
Maybe we chose a
wrong day, but refrigeration seems to be a problem. We’re sure that this
technical glitch can easily be handled, because maintaining the right cooling
temperature is critical for Japanese cuisine due to the abundant use of raw
seafood. While the Nagai black cod turns out to be a waste of the Alaskan fish
due to its excessive saltiness, we also think that the sushi can be rolled
better considering the prices that one is paying for this meal. Teething
troubles, maybe, but once sorted, Nagai definitely has the potential to be a
great restaurant.
It will be worth
going back for a hearty bowl of Japanese curry chicken as well as their
selection of house made gelatos and semifreddos.
Details:
Nagai, SCO #305, HUDA
Gymkhana Road, Sector 29, Gurgaon.
nagairestaurant.com
This article first
appeared on travelandleisureindia.in on May 5, 2017.
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