Armani Nobu, Milan

I love Japanese food and I couldn’t think of a better place to spend my birthday than at Nobu and an Armani one, no less. Located in the middle of the fashion district in Montenapoleone, this stylish restaurant with its cool, dark interior decor and its jet-setting patrons is a worthy stop to make if you are in Milan and craving a break from all the great pasta and pizzas.

The orange hue of the whole restaurant is supported by natural wood furniture and oriental screens. There are bits of the Armani aesthetic but not as much as I was expecting. The menu is packed full of variety from seafood to meats to cocktails.

The food was great – the sashimi fresh and the tempura crisp and crunchy. The steaks were cooked to perfection and the accompanying Anti-Cucho Peruvian sauce is worth a mention. Tangy with a kick. This is one dish worth going back for. I was expecting more from the spicy tuna roll – it was mediocre and unremarkable but that was the only dish that disappointed. The lobster was succulent and the chicken tender.

Although the service was nothing to rave about (I don’t expect much when I am in Europe service-wise), my waiter understood that I needed fresh rounds of ice through the whole dinner for my 2 bottles of Choya which I brought along and made sure my drink was always fresh and cold.

All in all, Armani Nobu is a splendid place to be seen, people watch and calorie count. Armani Nobu.