IASAI — Restaurant in Bratislava

Bratislava culinary scene is not honestly among the most exciting. While you can easily find standard good food, when we talk upscale or fancy there is not much choice and with the permanent closing of Foo Zoo and Zazasu, the options have been further reduced. Between pandemic and forced closures of restaurants I still didn't have the chance to try Iasai and I faced the experience with hope and some concerns also due to read reviews on Tripadvisor.

The place: the restaurant presents itself as a modern contemporary venue, with a certain attention to design and vibe, but too many details feel cheap (among others the use of paper placemat with printed menu that are really ugly and cheap paper napkins). We had dinner in the veranda and while it tuned down along the dinner with the departure of customers, at the beginning the noise was a bit overwhelming forcing myself and my friend to raise our voice pitch to hear each other. Overall the ambience (veranda) does not reflect the price range of the place nor convey the sense of upscale experience.

The service: while the service didn't start very well, it improved along the evening and reached normal standards. Our order was taken by a waiter obviously in a rush without making us feel welcome nor giving much information about the dishes, but more like we were a burden. Along the dinner the attitude re-adjusted and we felt more at ease.

The food: in general the food is pricey for Bratislava scene. Appetizers, while good, are way overpriced. Main dishes were remarkable and fairly priced for what we got. Dessert was good but missed a wow factor (price though was fair). Funny note, the portion of plain Jasmin rice was lower than in a Chinese takeaway (a mystery to me). Soft drinks are the most expensive I ever experienced in the city. More attention should be put on plating. The Bao burger Nippon was sadly seating in the plate while the Korean beef was a bit messy (btw, the empty plate was left on the table until end of dinner).

Overall I would recommend Iasai for people that don't mind spending 40 to 60 euro for a good dinner, experiencing something new and good but without being rewarded by any particular wow factor, nor in service nor in environment. Considering Bratislava restaurant scene, the place is a nice addition that should catch the opportunity to improve in order to stand out (especially at that range of price relatively to the local scene). As said, we ate in the veranda. We will try the sushi counter next time for a different vibe.

Personally I may return to try some other dishes I'm curious about and to have a sushi night. But being aware that I will focus on the culinary experience without...

IASAI presents a charming rendition of Japanese cuisine with a sprinkle of modern flair. As someone who has savored the authentic tastes of Japan for a decade, I approached this dining experience with a palate steeped in anticipation for a nostalgic journey, accented with contemporary touches.

My wife opted for the Beef Ramen bowl, a dish that danced gracefully between tradition and innovation. The beef was tender to the point of poetry, while the broth—a mysterious blend that whispered hints of miso and perhaps beef—was a delightful enigma we couldn't quite decipher. However, the noodle bounty seemed scant, especially given the dish's €20 price tag, an amount that left me pondering the economics of nostalgia.

For myself, the Valentine's Day bento beckoned—a whimsical reinterpretation of the classic bento box. The disparity between the culinary artistry promised by Instagram and the reality served was notable, yet the flavors within the box painted a pleasing palette.

The salmon tartare sushi roll was a symphony of flavors, perfectly balanced to my taste, though my wife found it teased the edge of her spice tolerance.

Do not miss the asparagus, a dish that demands each bite be accompanied by its sauce for the full experience.

My wife's venture into the modernized Salmon Nigiri was met with applause for the taste, though the cheese chip texture proved a discordant note in an otherwise harmonious composition. And at €7 for a single piece of Nigiri, the price seemed to cast a long shadow over the delight of the dish.

The sake, served untraditionally in a wine glass, proved less exciting than a lecture on sedimentary stones, while the Jasmine green tea was a redeeming brew of subtle excellence.

The staff navigated the fine line between attentiveness and intrusion with commendable grace, ensuring a relaxed dining atmosphere.

IASAI, then, is a tableau for a special date, albeit one where the scales of value and culinary adventure are in delicate balance. Drawing from the well of Japanese tradition and infusing it with Slovak innovation has yielded a dining experience that is both memorable and slightly extravagant. For those drawn to a taste of Japan through a Slovak lens, IASAI offers an intriguing encounter with every bite savored. May this reflection guide your gastronomic choices, and should you venture there, may your meal be as enriching as it...

We were in need of some Asian food after eating mediocre Asian food for the past couple of days through our Europe adventure and Iasai made our bellies very very happy.

We ordered: Some cocktails (A Quiet Place and Mrs Mystery) they were ok but not mind-blowing

Beef Bao - the base was crunchy and the meat was well marinated Salmon Tartare Wasabi prawns - we ordered this based off some google reviews and it was indeed delightful. Prawns were properly cleaned and wasabi sauce had enough flavor without being too overpowering Pork Belly - juicy and the sauce was delicious with some jasmine rice Chestnut parfait - I didn’t expect this to be so large but the parfait was light and airy. The miso ice cream complimented the dish so well due to the salty flavor.

The portion of the main dishes weren’t huge. I don’t have a very big appetite and the list of food above were just enough for 2 people without feeling stuffed.

Highly...