Matsuri is definitely in my top five favorite restaurants of all time. It's a creative fusion of…read morePeruvian and Japanese cuisine that once you experience it; you'll wonder how you got this far in life without having tried this incredible melding of flavors.
It's located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Santiago and features indoor as well as outdoor dining options. We chose to dine outside and take in the ambiance of the beautiful poolside views.
Let me just say- this meal was stellar in every way possible. The waitstaff were very friendly and attentive. Everything on the menu sounded so good, so we asked for suggestions to help us narrow down what to order. Ultimately, they steered us in the right direction. Everything we ate was magnificent.
I started my meal with a mocktail. This was the BEST mocktail I've ever had in my life. It was called "Corinthians" and consisted of Greek yogurt, Elderflower reduction, vanilla syrup and fresh lemon juice and zest. WOW! This was such a satisfying drink. The smooth creaminess was the perfect complement to the seafood dishes to come, and I still have yet to try another mocktail that even comes close to rivaling it.
For an appetizer, we had the Sake Tartar. This dish was out of this world delicious and creatively combines two of my favorite foods- raw salmon and passion fruit. The dish consisted of a finely chopped salmon tartar with a really vibrant, creamy sauce with some zing or as they call it "leche de tigre", ikura, passion fruit gel and vegetable chips. I am in love with this dish and would rank it as one of the top 3 best things I've ever eaten. It was just so good! We were also served a complementary Amuse Bouche that was a Peruvian Vegetable and meat hor d'ouvere
that was so delicious- It was earthy and the textures were delightful. It was like a miniature work of art that bursted with unique flavors.
For an entree, I decided to try this fish burger which was a an in house made minced fish and ginger patty served on a brioche bun with all the fixings. It too, was incredibly delicious.
Overall, I cannot say enough good things about Matsuri. Everything was perfect and I would come back in a heartbeat. The food, service and atmosphere were top notch. A MUST when visiting Santiago.