Geisha

Situated on The Broadway in the Lace Market, Geisha is Nottingham's hottest arrival and the latest enterprise by leading bar and restaurant entrepreneur Ashley Walter. Walter, also behind Nottingham's award-winning World Service, together with head chef Anthony De Sousa is set to win critical acclaim with the outstanding cuisine available at Geisha.

De Sousa, Walter's new business partner, has a wealth of experience having previously worked as sous chef to Mark Edwards at Nobu from 1998 to 2001 as well as head chef at Tsunami and a spell at Hakkasan. Designed for sharing, diners are encouraged to order a selection of 'small' and 'large' dishes from the exciting and spicy pan-Asian menu. With more than 30 dishes to choose from, there's something to suit a variety of tastes and appetites.

Must try 'small' dishes start from only £6, choices include carpaccio of salmon served with pickled fennel; tuna tataki with a spicy kiwi dressing; yellowtail sashimi with a ginger vinaigrette; prawn filo with chilli papaya; and sweet shrimp tartare and kochu dressing. Geisha's menu also features a selection of new style sushi dishes including unagi nigiri with foie gras sauce; yellowtail maki with chilli tomato salsa; sweet shrimp nigiri with caviar; and shiso and lime maki with creamy yuzu sauce.

Mouth watering 'large' dishes are reasonably priced from just £8 and feature black cod served with a spicy miso; sliced fillet of beef served with oriental mushrooms and szechuan teriyaki sauce; grilled tiger prawn with pomelo and chilli coriander dressing; monkfish tempura served with a truffle sauce; and grilled salmon served with lychee, cucumber, mint and a palm sugar sauce.

The vegetarian dishes are comprehensive and well thought out proving vegetarian food can be both innovative and tasty. Guaranteed to convert even staunch carnivores, signature dishes include spinach and mushroom parcels with truffle sauce; seaweed salad with ginger vinaigrette; stir fried bean curd with five spice and shitake mushrooms; vegetarian gunkan; sweetcorn croquette with a creamy spicy sauce; and asparagus and aubergine tempura with a coriander and carrot sauce.

Make sure you leave room for dessert, among the indulgent choices are pineapple harumaki with pandan sauce; layered banana cake (with a staggering 20 layers of banana) with a vanilla and sultana ice cream; white cheesecake fondant; and citrus salad with sesame tuille.

Geisha's wine list has been chosen especially to complement the food and is reasonably priced with the house selection only £12.95 and many in the mid price range between £20 and £30. Wine connoisseurs will appreciate fine wines such as the Chateauneuf Du Pape 1985 Beaucastel at £110 as well as the extensive range of vintage champagnes, including Dom Perignon 1996 at £110. Geisha also offers a choice of classic dessert wines from around the world, complete with tasting notes and all served by the glass.

Walter and De Sousa have fashioned Geisha for Nottingham's more discerning crowd - for those that know their sake from their shochu and know their yuzu from their pomelo. Inspired by modern 21st century Japan, Geisha's influences include Kyoto's temples, the neon streets of Shinjuku, Yakuza tailoring and Shinkansen - Japan's high speed bullet train, all combined to create a modern interpretation of a Japanese restaurant, bar and club.

Geisha's restaurant is dark and intimate, complemented by gold blossom patterned wallpaper and the splashes of colour from bespoke fuchsia pink and dusty gold kimono fabric cushions - a unique environment where diners can enjoy outstanding food, whilst relaxing in chic surroundings.

Service is professional and friendly courtesy of Geisha's waitresses, dressed in bespoke Susie Wong style uniforms complete with sensational magenta coloured quilted silk corsets, pencil black skirts and mandarin collared tops to add a touch of tradition to what is otherwise a thoroughly modern and contemporary restaurant and bar.

As well as the 60-cover restaurant, Geisha also boasts Nottingham's sexiest cocktail lounge bar where bento boxes are available alongside Asian inspired cocktails and spirits are sold by the bottle from a custom designed trolley. The luxurious lower ground floor club reveals Geisha's dance area, where bamboo partitions create a birdcage effect around the dance floor allowing dancers to shake their feathers to the dirty disco beats, funky hip hop breaks and smooth R'n'B grooves.

Oozing elegance and panache with its exotic menus, chic design and excellent service - Geisha is already taking Nottingham by storm and attracting an ultra glam crowd. Fast becoming the northwest's hottest restaurant and with its vision of being more trend setting than traditional, Geisha is poised to become a destination restaurant in the heart of Nottingham.