Kuzu Izakaya, Japanese Dining, Macedon Ranges — Restaurant in Victoria

I don’t know where to start - Kuzu is and will always be one of our favourite places to eat.

From the very moment you arrive and are welcomed you’ll feel like you’ve come home. Gareth and the team are sensational at ensuring your comfort ahead of your meal.

My common problem, every time we arrive, is deciding what to order. The menu is brimming with delights. Overflowing is probably a better term. On this visit, I let my group order as I just couldn’t decide.

We started with our feast (for a better term) nibbling on the Edamame (regular and spicy) as one of our party were running late. Perfection. I couldn’t help but order a Cherry Blossom Mocktail to kick off the meal. It complimented the starting grid.

Kuzu Oyster Shooters arrived once our party was full. Today's oyster, tosazu, tobiko, green apple and wasabi granita. This is my dad’s favourite and I am certain had I ordered a couple of dozen he would have been satisfied with just this for the entirety of our sitting. He was speechless after his shots, reveling in the flavour explosion. Order these if you love oysters.

Next up, Sashimi moriawase. We ordered the largest plate aptly called “Godzilla” for our group - no one wanted to go without. Melt in your mouth sashimi is what we expected and Kuzu delivered. The plate consisted of salmon (belly, I think), tuna, prawn, the most incredible scallops, white fish and more. It was spectacular and met every expectation.

Japanese isn’t Japanese without Gyoza on the menu, right? We ordered two platters. They were delicious as expected and had no yucky, floury after taste. Made well. Cooked just righ.

With two teens at the table, JFC was ordered with a side of fries. It is close to Christmas after all! Succulent. Tasty. Crispy. It was finger licking good!

Soft shell crispy sushi was brought to the table. Nom nom! Whilst I was feeling quite full already, I had to tuck into this. Exquisite. I will order again (well, maybe. I want to eventually get through the menu!)

We ordered a Daikon Salad to freshen up. This is the only dish that I think needs improvement. Whilst delicious, the white radish was cut too long making it very tricky to eat with any grace. Cut a little shorter will allow it to flow into ones mouth from the chopsticks. Unlike noodles, it doesn’t bend easily so I found it difficult to consume without looking like a messy toddler. As such, I didn’t eat my fill.

Miso cream scallops were next on our list of delights. I think the shimeji mushrooms elevated them from yummy to exquisite (have I used that word to often already?). The scallops were like butter, melting onto my tongue. A feast of flavours. I could have eaten these all night and would have been satisfied.

Char sui pork was ordered, two plates. My goodness! Just when I thought the flavours couldn’t get better, this arrived. I don’t think I have ever had such luscious pork before. It was moist, rich in flavour and I found myself wishing to lick the plates when it was all consumed just to hang on to the flavour a little more. I resisted. I regret that now as I’m sure it would have been yummy.

I wish the the Wagyu yakiniku beef bao had arrived with the JFC for the teen, with it brought out once everyone else had had their full. Despite this, and to my disbelief, she ate this with murmurs of delight. Our youngest teen is hard to cater for, but this was a sure winner.

Dessert was the Goma Mousse. Black sesame mousse wraps around green tea mousse at the centre. It sits on a sesame chocolate tile and somewhere in it all is Azuki beans and chocolate crunch. Super sweet. This was the perfect conclusion to our meal.

I sipped on a decadent Pav Mocktail. Messy but absolutely delicious. So delicious, in fact, that those around me kept stealing spoon fulls of the top!

Kuzu is worth the evening trek to Woodend. The food is sensational, the service perfect. Add it to your list! Despite being from Sydney we try to get here at least once a year. It’s not a good year without a...

Went here Saturday night for a birthday dinner and can really understand why the place is so highly reviewed.

The weather was cold and windy and we had an outdoor table which we thought might be pretty miserable, but the garden area is so well protected from the elements, we weren't bothered at all. There were plenty of gas heaters for all the tables and we were also offered blankets. The big table umbrellas also kept us totally dry and we didn't even notice the wind.

The outdoor area is very tranquil with a trickling water feature and so many trees and plants, while indoors seemed cozy and lively, so there are different vibes to suit everyone.

The food was amazing - we appreciated the sharing-style portions as you get to try so much more. We ordered a bunch of unique things I'd never had before. We ordered 6 dishes between 2 people, including desserts, and ate every morsel. My favourite things were the Tomorokoshi tempura (sweet corn) and tofu doughnuts. If you're not a fan of tofu, don't let it put you off trying them. It just makes them super light and fluffy inside, with a perfectly crunchy cinnamon sugar coat, and gives you the magical ability to eat a million of them. Last shout out to the "KFC" tempura cauliflower. Most places just cover their cauli bites in a thick dry batter but Kuzu's take was sweet, sticky and delicious without needing to hide the vegetable underneath.

The staff were so nice. Our waiter Rowan was friendly and the perfect level of attentive. Without us asking, he moved a heater closer to us after a nearby party left. It might seem small but thoughtful gestures like that can really make a difference. Our desserts were delivered with a candle on top by the owner Gareth, along with his bugle-assisted rendition of Happy Birthday. As typical introverts, this would normally terrify us, but he was so genuine and kind, and the place so comfortable, it was actually really nice. Their authentic warmth makes you feel at home.

I am already dreaming of the tempura again and know this place will become a regular treat for us. We're lucky to have such top tier food and service so close to home. Also, if you're driving out of Woodend at dusk, it's better than a visit to the zoo for all the wildlife you'll see! Just be careful...

The experience was just mmm... after mmmmm... after mmmmm...

We kicked things off with some not-so-spicy edamame, which is a nice twist from the usual salted version. The sauce really elevates this simple dish to a whole new level.

Next up was an Okonomiyaki on a stick! What a genius idea, making it easy to share. The egg just melts in your mouth, and remember that sauce from the edamame? We drizzled some of that on the okonomiyaki, and let me tell you – it was delicious!

Then came a real standout: Wagyu Beef Tataki! If you’re hesitant about raw beef, don’t worry – this is beyond just raw meat. The slight charring on the edges combined with the tenderness of the raw meat makes you completely forget it’s half cooked!

Following that, we enjoyed softshell crabs that were as soft as butter, and then had JFC paired with a refreshing Daikon Salad. Talk about balance diet, right? :D And we can’t forget the tempura; the batter is light, just enough to coat the vegetables, and it comes with Curry and Green Tea salt. Such an innovative touch!

We saved two of the best dishes for last. First up is the Ika Mentai udon, which I heard is the carbonara of Japan. Seriously, I could eat this forever! The creamy, salty, eggy sauce combined with the thick udon noodles is simply a perfect match.

Last but certainly not least, we had the Wagyu Yakiniku Beef Bao. The beef mixed with a sweet, salty sauce in a soft, fluffy bun is what you’d call comfort food.

And let's not forget about the ambience and the lovely people there. It truly adds to the whole experience.

Would I recommend this place? Honestly, I might be tempted to keep it all to myself! But definitely give it a try if you find yourself in...