Gold Coast dining: new Mermaid Waters restaurant offers diners a taste to Tokyo

Anyone who’s been to Japan will tell you of its futuristic cityscapes, breathtaking natural wonders and unforgettable food. This new Gold Coast new restaurant offers a taste of Tokyo.

ANYONE who’s been to Japan will tell you of its magic. Its cityscapes are futuristic, its natural wonders are breathtaking, and its food is unforgettable.

Mermaid Waters’ new restaurant Project Tokyo is hoping to emulate that allure, executing the same care and attention to hospitality the Japanese have become renowned for.

Project Tokyo manager Josh McArthur says the new diner offers an intimate izakaya experience with an Australian flavour.

“We wanted to bring all the uniqueness and freshness of Japanese dining with a really simple, affordable, funky dining concept,” Josh says.

“The owner Franz, he’s basically obsessed with Japanese culture and food. They thought there was a gap in the market in Mermaid Maters for a Japanese restaurant.

FIRST LOOK AT NEW BURLEIGH JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Project Tokyo is now open in Mermaid Waters.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS

“(Project Tokyo) is a little modern take on izakaya. There’s only 37 seats, but it’s a bit more modernised with all the fresh and traditional tastes of Tokyo.

“We want to make it a fun atmosphere with music for people to enjoy and experience what the Gold Coast has to offer.”

Josh says Project Tokyo emulates the pride of food and drink vendors in Japan’s city centres, where there’s a new culinary experience on every corner.

OTHER NEWS:

Why FSG creditors are still waiting to be paid

Missing piece in doctor’s drowning death

Nurse carjacking: ‘Please don’t steal my car’

“In Tokyo and any of the urban centres there’s a lot of love put into the food,” Josh says.

“Tokyo is such a mammoth city, no matter where you go there there’s this amazing culture of food that is very unique.

“We’re trying really hard to reflect that — the attentiveness and kind demeanour they all have, and giving it a modern twist with the little additions to the menu, a Peruvian influence, a little dash of Australian influence in there as well.”

On the menu is tempura, rice bowls, sushi, sashimi and more.

THE GOLD COAST’S FIVE BEST WINTER WARMER DISHES

On the menu is classic Japanese fare at reasonable prices, with sushi, seafood and tempura featuring heavily.

“The chicken karaage bowl is a really good recipe that’s been passed down through one of the chef’s families,” Josh says.

“We have a full sushi and sashimi bar. We specialise in the fresh aspect of things, it’s all made to order. We also have a huge tempura section, donburis or rice bowls, all the little smaller plates.

“You can’t go passed fried chicken with wasabi mayonnaise as well. Everything’s made in house, as much as possible.

Project Tokyo’s fit out was completed by OJ Thompson, who also did Etsu, Iku and Ally Chow.

NINE OF THE BEST PLACES TO EAT IN BROADBEACH

“The prices are realistic, you can order lots of share plates without spending too much.”

The fit-out was completed by OJ Thompson, the man some of the Gold Coast’s slickest restaurants including Iku Yakatori Bar, Etsu Izakaya and Ally Chow.

“The owners gave him complete creative freedom to initialise it and he nailed it,” Josh says.

“All the stylings are very quintessentially Japanese — there’s sliding paper wooden doors out the front, imported slate tiles, timber detailing.”

For now the restaurant is BYO while the owners wait on liquor licence approval, however Josh is working on a drinks menu featuring Japanese cocktails, sake and Asian beer on tap.

Dessert at Project Tokyo.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS

Josh says the experience will leave diners inspired to book a holiday — but in the meantime they can escape to Mermaid Waters for a taste of the island state.

“I love everything about Japan — I’m going back in the next month with my tax return,” Josh says.

Project Tokyo is open Wednesday to Monday for dinner and lunch on weekends at 10a/90 Markeri St, Mermaid Waters.