In Japanese, the word "omakase" comes from the verb "to trust." And trust is what you can now place in the hands of the sushi chefs at Yakuza Cascais, which has a new menu featuring the best of the house. You won't need to browse the menu to decide among Olivier da Costa's signature dishes, as he collaborates with Alexandre Hatano here, but it's not a completely blind dinner either: you know from the start that the Omakase menu (€50/person) includes three appetizers, sashimi, nigiri, sushi rolls, and dessert. From there, it's a surprise. Or rather, trust.
Let's start at the beginning, as it should be: the snack-sized edamame can be normal, spicy, or truffled; next, the customer must choose between a salmon temaki, with or without cream cheese, and a sakana taco, with white fish and guacamole; and finally, a hot appetizer is served, with a choice between chicken and vegetable gyoza, vegetable-only gyoza, or Crispy Ika (fried small squids with spicy mayonnaise).
The sashimi, nigiri, and sushi rolls (each with six pieces per person) make up the next three courses – and can vary depending on the available fish and the creativity of the sushi chefs behind the bar.
Dessert also rotates among the four options on the Cascais menu, with possibilities like the "guaranteed success" Kit Kat, jasmine-infused crème brûlée with guava ice cream, green tea fondant with sesame ice cream, or banana and matcha cake.
At the counter
The Omakase menu is not the only novelty around here. Yakuza Cascais has a new entrance independent of the Sheraton hotel, instead of the one in the lobby, and a new U-shaped counter with high chairs for having a drink before or after going to the table.
Olivier's Japanese restaurant in Cascais is the third of a brand that already has locations in Lisbon, Porto, and Paris. A new opening is planned for the end of the year, this time in Tenerife.
Rua das Palmeiras 5, Sheraton Cascais. Mon-Thu 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM. Fri-Sat until midnight.