Food as couture, that’s what my fellow foodie and star fashion executive guest called the food experience at Matsuyoi, besides saying how delicious it all was. Then there’s the minimalist décor made with luxe materials and a lovely color scheme of sea moss and green and a departing gift, a slice of house baked sesame banana bread. I totally agreed, taking it one step further by saying it’s the best Japanese restaurant in Miami. The talent behind this is Chef-Partner Takahiro Sakaeda, alongside his two partners Jihan Lee and Lisa Limb who went out on their own after ten years at three star Michelin restaurant Masa in New York City. And good news, they’re offering Miami Spice!

Fittingly, Matsuyoi is in the Design District, upstairs from sister restaurant Nami Nori whose a la carte restaurant specializes in open style temaki. Matsuyoi has two rooms, both intimate. You enter through a lounge area and bar seating 18, but more on this first room later.

The main event, an eight course tasting menu, takes place at an exclusive ten seat bar behind which much of the chef action happens, much like what happens in an omakase.  The menu rotates seasonally. When you sit down, a green envelope sealed with red sealing wax greets you. Open it and voila, the menu. All of the dishes are gluten free.

We began with five small courses followed by a palate cleanser of beef soup osuimono with black truffle, then five bites in the temaki course and finally dessert. Every dish was beautifully made, a work of art, with high quality ingredients, and lots of caviar.

It was obvious a lot of care went into the curation of each dish at Matsuyoi, as there were ingredients used that one seldom if ever finds in Miami, from cerignola olives from Puglia and sea perch, the king of whitefish, to  Hokkaido milk ice cream.

Service was highly professional and friendly and we were able to have a chat with Chef Sakaeda as well because it wasn’t so busy at the early seating (6:30 pm).  We chose to accompany the meal with wine, and my friend had a glass of sake, but an optional beverage pairing is offered with sake and wine and a cocktail program that highlights Japanese ingredients and fine spirits.

And back to the lounge area and bar. The lounge has several cocktail tables and chairs and adjacent bar. Cocktails are complemented by an array of small snacks by Chef Sakaeda, including a Pork Katsu Sando, cubano style, made with mojo verde pork katsu, maille dijon, kewpie and ossau-iraty on homemade bread; Shitake Katsu Slider with mushroom puree, truffle, white balsamic and cabbage on pan de bono, Colombian cheese bread, and caviar service.

 Matsuyoi is open Wednesday through Saturday from 6:30 – 10pm. The price is $245 per person plus tax and gratuity. Miami Spice is offered Wednesday through Friday at a 6;30 and 9p m seating for $60 per person plus tax and tip.

Valet parking is offered for $4 and in nearby garages. Nam Nori, located on the first floor, is open for lunch and dinner (watch for my upcoming review).