2023 Good Food Guide Awards

Precise fine dining delivered with prowess...

Run by couple Aaron Schembri (chef) and Risa Kadota (manager), who are on hand to guide you through every detail, Kadota is a sanctuary of subtle Japanese sophistication, backed by an eye for exceptional produce. The seasonal set menu, served in a room lined with burnt pine panels and local artworks, draws from near and far. The sashimi course, for example, sees delicate Hokkaido scallops and juicy NZ clams spurred on by a tangy tamenegi soy and Tasmanian wasabi. Fatty Murray cod fillet with Geraldton wax oil sings with sweetness from cod roe, while a pristine bed of high-grade Akita rice is the launchpad for super-sour tsukemono plums, velvety pork dumplings in broth, and punchy house-made XO sauce. Dessert sees Schembri's creativity at play in an autumnal forest bowl complete with moss and leaves made from mushroom and pumpkin. Heighten the transportive experience with a sake pairing that makes use of namesake Kadota's deep knowledge.