Inside Yakisan, North Adelaide’s new luxury rooftop restaurant in the Eighty Eight O’Connell St development
Take a look around the new rooftop restaurant inside the Eighty Eight O’Connell development which is set to open this week.
A luxurious new “dining icon” for Adelaide will finally open its doors in the $300 million Eighty Eight O’Connell St development this week.
Yakisan is a Japanese-influenced rooftop restaurant from top chef Adam Liston, showcasing raw fish and fire-focused dishes from its stunning open kitchen.
Fashion designer and style guru Nadia Bartel will be among the special guests as the venue officially launches with a VIP dinner on Saturday night.
The 180-seat restaurant features a raw/sushi bar, yaki grill and wok kitchen inside, and outside, there’s a gorgeous skydeck with terrace seating overlooking Adelaide.
Formerly at restaurants such as Shobosho and SORA, Liston said he’s worked all over the world but this latest venture was akin to his “grand final”.
“This is the most exciting venue I’ve cooked in because it’s so unique,” said Liston, who’s partnered with Nate Scutter for the project.
“It’s a completely new style, we’ve tried to steer away from anything we’ve done before.”
Yakisan will also house a new sister bakehouse called SANI, from leading pastry chef Lux Hoang, the brains behind Hindley Street patisserie Love, Stephy. This will operate seven days a week from 7am and also supply the eatery.
Commercial & General executive chairman Jamie McClurg, developer of Eighty Eight O’Connell St, said the “world class” restaurant would attract locals and tourists alike.
“Yakisan is positioned as a new dining icon for Adelaide, combining Japanese craft with French flair,” he said.
“For me, this is about more than food. It’s about bravery in business, creating experiences that inspire, and setting a new standard for what Adelaide has to offer.”
Liston described his sushi menu, which includes a bluefin tuna nigiri with shiitake soy and smoked roe offering, as “ambitious”.
“I can’t think of another restaurant in SA that’s doing this … it takes time to learn how to do sushi properly in a restaurant format,” he said.
“We’ve tried to pull things back off the plate rather than put things on it. There’s no fluff to the food. It’s just executed with finesse, class and respect.”
Scutter said Yakisan, and the $300m development, will help make North Adelaide a top dining destination once again.
“It’s a special experience for the diners to get up close to the chefs. We’ve taken elements from everywhere we’ve travelled overseas and incorporated them here,” he said.
“This includes the tables to the chairs to kitchen to the lighting and the audio. It’s all about the attention to detail and it’s really come together.”
Other food tenants in the development include a second SA store for cult ice cream brand Gelato Messina, plus another outlet for their sister project, Shadow Bakery.
Family-run food retailer Mercato will also open a new flagship store, wine bar and restaurant in coming months.
Yakisan will open its doors to the public for the first time on Tuesday.
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