Kushi-ya brings charcoal-grilled skewers to a new home on Low Pavement

The name says it all. Kushi-ya means skewer shop, and this independent Japanese-inspired restaurant has spent years winning over Nottingham with plates of charcoal-grilled skewers, inventive small plates and one of the best collections of Japanese whisky in the city.

In 2024 the restaurant moved to a new home at 14a Low Pavement, reached along a gated walkway off a side street in the city centre. The Good Food Guide describes a light space with blond wood, dark-blue tiles, large windows and an outdoor terrace. There is a large main dining area, a private dining room for larger groups and a bar, and the team always keeps tables free for walk-ins.

At the heart of it all is the open kitchen, where diners can watch the chefs grilling meat, fish and vegetables over charcoal on a specially imported Japanese grill. The ever-changing menu runs from snacks and small plates to skewers and desserts. Chicken tsukune with egg yolk and beef with black garlic mustard are typical of the skewers, while specials might include mackerel crudo with shiso and wasabi.

Then there are the prawn toasts. The Good Food Guide calls them the dish not to miss, adding simply: "You'll never forget them." Desserts are just as playful, with a black-sugar parfait with charred sesame crisp and a matcha cheesecake with lime meringue.

Drinks are a serious part of the experience. Alongside Japanese beers, sake and cocktails such as a gochujang Old Fashioned, the bar holds a selection of hard to find and rare Japanese whisky. The team opened a sister bar, Yokocho, in 2020 to share their love of Japanese spirits and sake. Its name refers to the narrow alleys lined with small bars found in Tokyo.

Kushi-ya has earned plenty of admirers along the way, including Jay Rayner, who described it in The Observer as "a blissfully good place", as well as a listing in the Michelin Guide and a place in SquareMeal's UK top 100.

Kushi-ya opens for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday, and there is a good-value lunch offer for walk-ins. Menus and reservations are on the Kushi-ya website.