Accra’s Santoku Goes Head-to-Head with New York, London and Paris

Smart Japanese dining arrives in the booming Ghanaian capital Accra this summer with the opening of fusion restaurant and bar Santoku.

Developed by concept specialists Gorgeous Group and with interior design by Hubert de Givenchy, this is a first for Ghana, which according to the CIA World Factbook for 2011 has the world’s third-fastest growing economy.

“Santoku has set an extremely high standard for guest food and drink experience in West Africa” says Gorgeous Group founder Robbie Bargh. “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work with  entrepreneur Nabil Moukarzel on this project.” Input has also come from ex-Nobu head chef Scott Hallsworth and sound system from CGA Integration Consultancy.

Santoku in Accra, Ghana

Santoku is a luxurious, contemporary Japanese restaurant that takes classic oriental techniques, skills and designs and fuses them with modern elements and international ingredients. The restaurant isn’t competing against other West African capitals – it’s going directly head to head with the likes of New York, London and Paris.

The team at Santoku are an international blend who bring a wealth of experience and help to ensure flawless guest service. The head chef is Craig Grover, who trained with Marco Pierre White in London, while head Japanese chef Daisuke Yoshizaki mastered his skills in the Kansai region near Kyoto, perfecting the seasonal kaiseki style of cooking.

The interior has been designed by Hubert de Givenchy, the nephew of the internationally-respected fashion designer. “I’d never been to Ghana before but I love both African and Japanese art, specifically African sculpture and painting and Japan’s rich heritage of craftsmanship” says de Givenchy. “So I wanted to reflect distinctive elements of each in the design of Santoku”

The calm, soothing space houses a sushi bar and sake bar where guests can relax while enjoying one of the eleven signature cocktails designed especially for Santoku. There is interior seating for 60 next to an exclusive private dining room, while from Autumn an outside terrace will accommodate a further 100 people, around the same time that a private members’ club is set to open on the roof of the building.

Black cod with den miso,  soft pork belly grilled skewers with spicy miso and green apple, and lobster ceviche with tomato and coriander are set to be firm favourites. Mushroom “chopsticks” with creamy wasabi are one of the many small-plate dishes for sharing washed down with choice of wines, champagnes and fine sake.

Santoku at the Villaggio Vista in Accra, Ghana. For information please contact info@santoku-restaurant.com

Read about another Gorgeous Group Project – Apero at The Ampersand Hotel, London.