Hibachi grill and wine bar Moonlight opens in Byron Bay

The new venture from popular Byron restaurateurs promises a new take on traditional Japanese cooking, biodynamic wines and even saké from breweries over 500 years old.

A new Japanese restaurant has opened in Byron, focusing on traditional cooking, modern flavours and even wines picked by the Moon.

The new hibachi grill and wine bar Moonlight is the new baby of restaurateurs Kim Stephen, James Sutherland and Robbie Oijvall.

The dream team comes across from their successful Lawson St modern Asian venture Light Years. 

Moonlight is a departure from the robust menu of Light Years, instead offering a small and concentrated menu with head chef Vaughn Williams.

“It was important to create a menu that heroes the hibachi grill, one of Japan’s oldest cooking traditions,” Mr Oijvall said.

“We want to fuse this traditional cooking method with modern and unique flavour combinations to excite our modern tastebuds.”

Moonlight in Byron Bay is offering a new take on one of Japan’s oldest cooking traditions. Picture: Supplied

Highlights from the unexpected menu include a raw bar, featuring seafood classics like tuna and kingfish, watermelon with ponzu and shiso; Hibachi with yakitori and scallops with cafe de nippo, tobiko and more.

Complementing the region, the beverage list will also feature a selection of biodynamic wines picked according to the lunar cycle.

“Moonlight brings a unique offering to Byron Bay with its modern and bold take on traditional hibachi,” Mr Stephen said.

“We want diners to immerse themselves – from the moody interiors and intimate setting, to the perfectly paired drinks and food menus, Moonlight offers an unparalleled Japanese dining experience in Byron.”

The moody interior and intimate setting is the perfect way for foodies to immerse themselves, says Kim Stephen, co-founder of Moonlight. Picture: Supplied.

If your tastes stretch beyond a wine list governed by the Moon, an envious cocktail list by Jason Lindsay is also on display as well as saké from some of the oldest breweries in the world, dating back to 1505.

The grill and wine bar is open Wednesdays to Sundays from 5pm at Bay Lane.

Booking are made online here.