Ari Hashi

Address: 258 Swan Street, Richmond  VIC

Well the first time I came here was a good four years ago and back then it was definitely not a Japanese restaurant. It was very much French and called Aux Batifolles. I have no idea if their Fitzroy restaurant is still open, but I digress!

Ok, Ari Hashi, a great addition to the ever changing street front of Swan Street in Richmond. Being a warm day, they had all windows and doors open, giving it a lovely airy feel. Each table had colourful little flowers in ceramic vases and the decor was very homely and cute.

Service was fantastic. Bubsy was given a little plastic green cup, mini wooden spoon and ducky plate as soon as we sat down, which kept him entertained for the rest of the meal.

The food came out  quickly and the chef even popped over to see how we were going (quiet new years period!). Everything was yummo. Hubby’s sashimi and sushi bento box had four sushi, six decently sized sashimi (three tuna, three salmon), a panko prawn, a potato croquette, a gyoza and some fresh veg and a miso soup on the side – the most I’ve seen in a bento box in awhile. The sashimi was fresh and I think slightly better than what we had tried at Chiba. My panko prawn curry with rice was very, very tasty (although in hindsight perhaps a little MSG-tasty, I”m currently very thirsty!), filled me up and it also came on a rustic style ceramic plate. Total bill came to $36.

We did also asked for a potato croquette for bubsy, which never came (I don’t think the waitress heard me), but we had plenty to give him from our own meals.

Overall it was very satisfying. I think if we were locals we’d come here quite often.

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Next day update!

We’ve had to downgrade Ari Hashi’s rating from “Two Mochi” to “One Mochi”. All the above still holds true, but we were so thirsty last night and this morning, pretty sure it’s from the effects of msg. Still an enjoyable and yummy meal, just be prepared for the after effects!

Maybe the rating will change again (for the better) if we try dinner there another time.

Rating: One mochi

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