LUX Autumn 2018

36 Oshibori: Japanese Dining at Its Finest Designed to provide guests with a beautiful yet traditional experience, Oshibori is the majestic bastion of classical Japanese food, culture and service. Having recently recognised the establishment in our 2018 Leaders in Luxury, we invited Founder Usman Malik to share an insight into this innovative eatery and how it works to provide its guests with a unique dining experience. Founded in 2014 as the first Japanese Sushi and ramen restaurant in Tayside and Dundee, Oshibori draws on Usman’s creative nature and experience learning traditional cooking techniques in Japan. In his opening comments, we invited Royal Scottish academy award winning artist Usman to explore how he came to start the business and create an establishment like no other. “During my time at Duncan of Jordanstone, University of Dundee, where I studied fine arts, I felt that, in Dundee, there was many ding options missing in terms of dining experiences compared to other cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow. “Being an artist and chef, I always loved created food and dishes which are not only full of flavours and delicious but visually appealing as well. Sushi making itself is a form of art, as you sculpt the ingredients into something beautiful and delicious. I travelled to Tokyo and learned traditional recipes for sushi and ramen, as I wanted my restaurant to be as traditional as possible.” Following on from this, the restaurant has achieved incredible success, as Usman is proud to highlight. “Today, we have clients from different backgrounds, cultures and age groups, which is due to Oshibori’s location which is right in-front of Dundee University. We also have clients from St Andrews, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Pitlochry, Montrose, Inverness, or even London. Recently, Oshibori has been endorsed and recommended by Tourism board of Japan where it is the only Japanese restaurant in Scotland which is recommended to visiting Japanese tourists. “Catering to such a wide array of clients, I am very proud to say that our extensive menu caters all dietary requirements including gluten free, lactose free, halal, kosher, and we also have the most extensive vegan and vegetarian menu which is full of flavour. I strongly believe Oshibori is the only Japanese restaurant with such a menu: we offer a vast array Japanese dishes under one roof. Typically, in Japan and other countries, sushi, ramen, tempura, bento and izakaya restaurants are always offered in separate eateries, but Oshibori offers everything under one roof. This menu is always changing, and we always communicate with our customers for feedback and we always listen to genuine and constructive feedback and suggestions. This allows us to improve our products and service accordingly. We feel communication is the key to success, and helps us to remain competitive in this dynamic market.” Combining traditional Japanese meals and culture with exceptional hospitality means having a strong team of committed employees. Usman showcases how his eatery’s customer focused, supportive internal culture helps drive excellence for both diners and team members alike. “As part of our focus on providing a traditional Japanese experience, at Oshibori we have an excellent team including Japanese staff members, and all of us work as a team to deliver the excellent product and service possible in a very professional manner. We always make sure not to compromise on quality, and as such we provide excellent customer service. The production of our dishes is of very high standards and we always make sure that we make all of our customers very comfortable whist dining.” Further to the success of Oshibori in Dundee, over the coming months Usman has big plans to grow the restaurant into a global chain, as he is excited to share in his concluding comments. “It is with great pride and excitement that I will soon be opening franchises of Oshibori around the world, with establishments in New York, Toronto and Dubai scheduled to open throughout 2018 and 2019. These developments offer myself and my team the chance to build upon the success of this renowned brand and create a global empire founded on tradition, hospitality and quality.” Company: Oshibori Contact: Usman Malik Address: 162 Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4EE, UK Phone: 01382 690 370 Website: https://oshiborirestaurants.co.uk/ 1807LU37