About
Kumo Izakaya
An izakaya is not just a restaurant or bar: an izakaya is a place where eating and drinking take equal parts. But it is more than this: it’s a meeting place, somewhere to bond and forget the worries of the day. Izakayas started as local eating places, where people would go after work to have a couple of drinks and stay for an hour or 10. In Japan, izakayas are known for their ‘homeliness’ – everyone knows your name and you are welcome whether you are alone or with friends.
Izakayas have a great range of small and large dishes ordered as-you-like-it as the night unfolds. You don’t have to choose between sashimi, deep fried, meat, vegetarian or other copious choices of food with beer, sake or other drinks – just have a bit of everything and share. Izakayas are the perfect blend of bar and food.
Interesting stuff about Kumo:
Location
Kumo is Here
BOOKINGS: Book online or call us
ENQUIRIES: info@kumoizakaya.com.au or call 0409 130 587 or (03) 9388 1505
ADDRESS: 152 Lygon St Brunswick East
TRANSPORT: Alight at stop 122 take
Tram 1 (East Coburg—South Melbourne Beach)
Tram 8 (Moreland—Toorak)
The People
Chef de cuisine
Jack Beck
Chef de Cuisine
With more than 14 years chef experience, Jack has worked extensively with many different cuisines ranging from Asian (Japanese, Thai, Korean) to Western (Australian, French, Italian, Mediterranean), developing himself as a highly skilled, versatile and knowledgeable chef.
His deep understanding of Japanese cuisine came from his eight-year tenure at Australia’s first Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant. He enjoys demonstrating his abilities as a chef to plan and develop menus, prepare, handle and cook using various food ingredients to create impressive dishes. He is passionate about cooking and creating new menus and flavours for the satisfaction of his customers.
Design
Japanese Art
Kumo Izakaya and Sake Bar stands proud at the corner of Lygon and O’Connor streets in Brunswick East. The building is iconic to the area and was constructed in 1956 – we know this because the bricks are marked with Olympic rings in recognition of the Melbourne Olympics. It was originally a bank – it took us two days to cut through the vault to make our sake store!
This old bank was transformed into Kumo Izakaya by Richie Built Designer Builders who worked in collaboration with architect Victor Isobe (from Zen Design, known in Melbourne for Yu-U, Heirloom and Tempura Hajime).
The eclectic Japanese design style seamlessy blends industrial and Art Deco influences.
Every detail of the design at Kumo has been considered and reconsidered in an meticulous process of finding a whimsical yet true balance. On the one hand the beautiful bones of the historic building, which reflect the Japanese notes of its natural materials (stone, wood, concrete, steel and glass). On the other its simple, modernist proportions, which reveal the natural synergy between industrial Japanese and Art Deco style.
As the design evolved, we were inspired by the influence of Japanese art, primarily ukiyo-e woodblock prints on modernist architects (most notably Frank Lloyd Wright). The wood block prints that first arrived in Europe in the late 1880s were the seed of Art Nouveau – the new aesthetic that distinguished itself away from frilly Victorian detail and realism and towards flowing, natural, botanically-inspired shapes and simple flat 2D geometry. We saw the ‘borrowed’ patterns and shapes taken Japanese design and widely copied within Art Nouveau, then Art Deco, an extension of Art Nouveau that simplified it and moved toward a more machine-oriented and streamlined industrial aesthetic.
You’ll find many recycled ‘found objects’ from the original 1956 decor as well as great use of recycled Victorian Ash and Tassie Oak (in particular the eight metre communal table, which seats 26, and the 15 metre bar, seating 18). You’ll also find 1930s inspired, custom made bar stools and chairs (modelled on a traditional machinist’s chair) with hand-crafted iron frames, and dusky dark green and blue leather seats. Special care has been taken to source hand-painted lamp shades reminiscent of those found in the State Library Reading Room – which create pools of light that welcome intimate conversation. Many details have been hand made by local craftspeople and artisan builders, so we’re extremely proud of Kumo.
Whether your’re at the bar, the communal table, or huddled in a booth, there’s something for everyone – including a 10-seater tatami room for private dining.
