hôntô — Restaurant in Brisbane City

hôntô; nothing less than an experience.

From the unassuming door at the end of an otherwise dank and dirty street, to the long (long!) darkened hallway lit only sporadically with retro-styled filament globes. Suspense builds and sets a moody tone before finally giving way to the open-plan dining room. Lit only by with candles, dim chandeliers/filament globes and the occasional flash and flame from the central cooking area, the dining area itself has clearly been designed with a specific vibe in mind. Black walls, floor, tables and chairs - broken up only by the brushed chrome carafes and pops of white from the menus and plates. A spectacle, but hell for anyone who doesn’t favour lowlight conditions.

The food itself was fantastic - for the most part. Together we gorged ourselves on 9 different items, experiencing both highs and lows throughout the culinary journey.

Some dishes to note -

Coral Trout, Sweet Ginger, Avocado, Fresh Horseradish - With the inclusion of the ubiquitous Kingfish dish on every modern ‘trendy’ menu, opting for the Coral Trout instead seemed like a clear choice. With slightly more bite and creaminess, the raw trout was beautifully complemented by an acidic dressing, with dots of avocado purée peppering the plate.

Torched Salmon Nigiri, Kabayaki, Wasabi Salsa & Tuna Nigiri, Masago Arare, Wasabi - 6 wonderfully smoky Salmon Nigiri, seasoned with a brush of soy and topped with a freshly prepared Wasabi Root Salsa - an absolute treat. The spicy brightness of the salsa cut through the richness of the torched salmon like a knife. Arguably the closest we came to ‘traditional’ sushi that night, and well worth its spot on the menu. In contrast, the Tuna nigiri instead presented an unexpected twist on the traditional dish. Rather than the slice of Toro/Otoro Tuna upon seasoned rice one might expect, the Tuna was instead minced and combined with other flavours, before being re-formed on top of the seasoned rice and topped with smattering of crisp pearls for much needed textural contrast. While texturally interesting, perhaps a single high quality cut of Tuna would have been equally satisfying - without the unnecessary complexity.

Charred Snake Beans, Whipped Tofu, Crispy Chilli - The low point of the night. Despite the heaping plate of tangled snake beans being impressively dressed and topped with various sauces and accoutrement, sadly, that’s where the excitement ended - upon closer inspection, the beans were sitting in what can only be described as a shallow pool of oil, with no bean left un-coated. Attempting to de-tangle and eat the bean resulted in anything nearby being coated in the oil, whether it be the plate, cutlery, napkins - even the table itself falling victim to the oily onslaught. Flavour-wise, they were unremarkable, any semblance of flavour drowned out by the oppressive bitterness of the oil.

Shiitake Caramel & Chocolate Ice Cream Sando - Proposing an interesting flavour combination, these ultimately didn’t land. Any semblance of Shiitake flavour was drowned out by the overpowering salted caramel taste - in a way this made the dish memorable in itself, as with each bite we were were more focused on the search for the elusive Shiitake, moreso than actually enjoying the otherwise serviceable icecream sando.

As to be expected, the drinks list was extensive, featuring a variety of cocktails, spirits (especially Japanese whisky!), sake and wines. A fun note for Kill Bill fans - each cocktail is named after a line from the movie! ‘The Bride’ and ‘The Man from Okinawa’ both especially stood out and complemented the dishes perfectly.

Overall, a wonderfully curated experience; the service was attentive without being overbearing, the drinks were fantastic, and the food was delicious - though not without inconsistencies.

Mileage may vary over time, especially if the menu is changed seasonably and new items are introduced - but barring the snakebeans, I would happily recommend nearly every dish we had the pleasure of trying.

An easy 4-4.5 - leave the beans, stay...

5/5 Stars: A Culinary Masterpiece at Honto!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Honto, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. The $84 per person banquet menu was an absolute steal, considering the exceptional quality and quantity of the dishes.

Each course was expertly crafted, and the presentation was visually stunning. Here's a brief rundown of the dishes that left me in awe:

Cucumber Sunomono: A refreshing start to the meal, with thinly sliced cucumbers, perfectly balanced with a light, zesty dressing. Oyster, Red Rice Mignonette: Freshly shucked, briny, and succulent, these oysters were a delight to savor, paired with a rich and tangy red rice mignonette. Whitefish Ceviche, Yuzu, Rice Cracker: A masterclass in texture and flavor, with tender white fish marinated in a zesty, citrusy broth, paired with a crunchy rice cracker and a burst of yuzu flavor. Salmon Taco, Wasabi Cream, Cucumber: A surprising twist on traditional Japanese cuisine, this taco was a flavor bomb, with crispy salmon, spicy wasabi cream, and refreshing cucumber. Karaage Chicken, Gochujang, Pickled Fennel: Crispy, juicy, and addictive, these Japanese-style fried chicken bites were a highlight of the meal, paired with a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce and tangy pickled fennel. Steamed Pork Gyoza, Chilli Oil, Chives: Pan-seared to perfection, these dumplings were filled with a delicious mixture of pork, and served with a side of savory chilli oil and fresh chives. Wagyu Brisket, Tomato Soy, Green Onion, Pickled Daikon: Melt-in-your-mouth tender, this rich, flavorful brisket was slow-cooked to perfection, with a deep, satisfying flavor. (We opted for the upgrade to MBS5 Wagyu Striploin, Garlic Soy, BBQ Onion, which was an additional $25 per person, and it was well worth it!) Mixed Leaf Salad, Citrus Kombu Dressing, Sesame, Pickled Onion: A simple yet elegant mix of fresh leafy greens, paired with a zesty citrus kombu dressing, nutty sesame seeds, and tangy pickled onion. Matcha and Chicory Soft Serve Swirl: A sweet and satisfying conclusion to the meal, this unique soft serve ice cream was a delightful surprise, with a delicate, creamy texture and a subtle, herbal flavor.

The culinary team at Honto, led by the talented Head Chef Ong, truly outdid themselves. Chef 👨🏼‍🍳Ong's expertise and creativity shone through in every dish, and his team's attention to detail and commitment to using only the freshest ingredients resulted in a dining experience that was nothing short of exceptional. The raw bar team, led by Ms. 🧑🏻‍🍳Bell and 👨🏼‍🍳Logan, also deserves special mention for their outstanding work in preparing the fresh seafood dishes.

Our server, Junko, was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly, happily answering our questions and making recommendations throughout the meal. Her exceptional service added to the overall dining experience, making us feel welcome and well taken care of.

We also had the pleasure of enjoying some expertly crafted cocktails at the bar, courtesy of bartender Eve. Her creativity and skill behind the bar were impressive, and her drinks were the perfect complement to our meal. Wine was amazing…

We would also like to extend our thanks to Manager Alex, who ensured that we had a wonderful table with a great view. It was a lovely touch to our already exceptional dining experience.

A special thank you 😊 to Nara, who recommended Honto to us for dinner. Your recommendation was spot on, and we're so grateful to have had the opportunity to experience this incredible restaurant. We can't wait to come back and try more of their delicious dishes!

In conclusion, the $84 per person banquet menu at Honto is an absolute must-try for any food enthusiast. With its exceptional value, impeccable service, and, most importantly, outstanding cuisine, this restaurant has earned a well-deserved spot on my list of favorite dining destinations. Don't miss out on this culinary masterpiece – book your table at...

Perhaps the Nicest Paper Napkins/Towels You'll Ever Come Across: 8.25/10 Overall

In 2022, a group of my friends and family went out to a restaurant that my father had heard good things about - Honto. We weren't expecting too much, and in fact, it was one of the few 'fine dining esque' restaurants we'd ever been to in Brisbane, so we didn't know what to expect.

Well, one $80pp banquet later, my partner and I had had the best meals of our lives - an opinion we retained up until very recently. It remains to this day, the best value banquet we've ever had, and one of the best uses we've ever found for $80.

I generally prefer not to visit restaurants twice, especially not those at which I've had a good time. There's always a risk that you'll spoil a memory. But my partner had been asking for some time for us to return, so sure enough, we did, on a Friday night.

Unfortunately, no, it didn't live up to the memory, as one might expect. But that doesn't mean we regretted the visit, or that we didn't have a good time.

At the recommendation of the waitress, this time we decided to go with the $130pp banquet, if nothing else just to try something new.

From the first lot of courses, we were off to a mixed start, which set the theme for the evening. The mahi mahi, and the wagyu tartare, for example, were standouts - but neither of these really blew us out of our seats the way we had been on our first visit, and we were let down by rather small oysters, and so-so cucumber sonomono.

On our second batch, we were impressed by the small buttery flavour explosion provided by the grilled tiger prawn, as well as the sesame crunch potato crisp, and wowed by our scallops (ordered separately) - but then underwhelmed by the pork gyozas, which were not much better than could be made from a packet at home.

The third batch was quite good, as the wagyu striploin and snake beans were made with excellent sauces - but unfortunately, due to the design of the plates, it was quite difficult to actually pair the food with said sauces, most of it remaining inaccessible on our shallow serving plates.

We were very pleased to finish with the caramel and chocolate ice cream sando, aka the ultimate Maxibon - and that was probably the highlight of the evening. But unfortunately, it was not enough to meet or exceed the high standards which our previous visit to honto had set.

I think it was just an accumulation of little things - last time, being sat in a private secluded corner to ourselves; this time, struggling to hear one another over anyday's frustrating joint-table design (which attempts to create a communal experience but inadvertently makes one feel "alone in a crowd" instead). Last time, impeccable service from start to finish; this time, having a dish brought to our table, only to be unexpectedly removed a couple of minutes later after it was revealed it had gone to us by mistake (a sacrilegious act in the hospitality sector, at least when I was working in it - once the plate touches the table, unless its poisoned, it remains).

And yet, Honto still delivered a great experience. A 4 star fine dining visit is nothing to sneeze at! It is just, not the best restaurant in Brisbane that we had once raved about.

All in all, I feel I am being too critical, so we'll finish on a positive detail - the paper towels. I don't know how much money honto spends on these, given how abundantly available they seem to be, but they have hands down the nicest paper towels we have come across anywhere in the world. You'd think they were cloth napkins!

So if you're looking for the nicest paper towels in the world, then come here, you will not be disappointed. And if you want a great dining experience, then you should come here too - you won't regret it. Just know, that you might not be getting the absolute best that Brisbane has to offer, as someone might have...