The Japanese restaurant combines simple ingredients and exceptional cooking techniques.
The Red Sea is home to exciting restaurants, from celebrity concepts to homegrown venues. It has recently welcomed the Japanese restaurant, Ricci San, located in a quaint spot on the corner of Jeddah Promenade.
As you step into Ricci San, the interiors catch your eye. A mix of deep red sofas, wooden tables, and Japanese-style white umbrellas, known as wagasa, hang from the ceiling. Elsewhere, the restaurant features wooden features and Great Wave Off Kanagawa-inspired paintings on the wall. Plush seating, including booths and smaller tables for couples, create an intimate dining experience. A semi-open kitchen adorned with Japanese decorative elements like kettles offers a glimpse into the culinary magic behind the scenes.
We find a spot at one of the booths, and a memorable meal begins with the Baby Spinach Salad. While the name might sound insignificant, the dish itself was a revelation. The fresh baby spinach, paired with a mix of caramelised nuts, offered a perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavours.
The Salmon Tataki followed, featuring tender and flavourful salmon topped with truffle dressing and onion wafu. The freshness of the salmon and the blend of flavours made for a delicious bite. Next up were the Wagyu Tacos. Despite our initial concern that the tacos might have turned soggy since we took our time to pick one, they remained crisp and crunchy. The wagyu beef was juicy, well-seasoned, and complemented by avocado and chilli slices for an extra kick of spice.
If one salad wasn’t enough, we also tried the intriguingly named The Unusual Tomato Salad. With its burst of different-coloured cherry tomatoes, this salad was tangy, fresh, and a delightful palate cleanser.
Next, we indulged in Ricci San’s Sushi Platter. With a touch of theatrics from its nitrogen ice presentation, this platter featured the Spicy Salmon Maki. Topped with a generous portion of salmon, this was moderately spicy and could have done with a bit more kick. Traversing the platter, we delved into the Tempura Shrimp Maki, which combined the perfect tempura crunch with tender shrimp. The Salmon Nigiri was simple and well-executed, adding a touch of familiarity to proceedings.
For the main course, we were presented with Angus Tenderloin, sliced into bite-sized pieces to ensure we didn’t have to fight to cut it. The meat struck the ideal balance between tenderness and chewiness, with each bite bursting with rich, juicy flavours.
Accompanying the tenderloin was a side of Truffle Hotpot rice. The aromatic fragrance was enough to whisk us away, as soon as the waiter opened the pot. The rice boasted a beautiful nutty texture that paired well with the meat.
For dessert, we indulged in the Churros & Toffee, a dish we’d admired on Instagram. Unlike traditional Spanish churros, these Japanese-style churros were round and drizzled with toffee syrup and cream cheese. To our surprise, these churros were not overly sweet, making for a delightful end to our meal.
While the food makes Ricci San stand out, the service also deserves applause. The staff was prompt, courteous, and well-informed about the dishes.
In Japanese, ricci is commonly used as a suffix meaning dear, mr and mrs. So the name translates to Dear Ricci. With an expert take on the simplest of dishes, combining techniques and making the utmost use of ingredients, Ricci San is well worth a visit.
GO: Follow @ricci.san on Instagram for more information.
