Asian cuisine is defined by distinct tastes, vibrant colours, and an unmistakable originality in every dish. Located in Gateway Theatre of Shopping, 9Sky Restaurant offers an elevated Asian dining experience, treating guests to delicious food and excitement. You can find them located next to the Gateway Hotel, underneath Virgin Active, and above the Padel courts. Access to the restaurant is via Parking Area A, Level P2, by taking Twilight Drive to reach the parking entrance.
Greeted by their friendly and welcoming team, we were led to the private dining room, separated from the rest of the restaurant by a frosted glass door and windows. The interior throughout the space is sleek and modern, with warm ambient mood lighting. The restaurant also has different seating options to choose from: open-style or semi-private sunken Japanese-style cushion seating, semi-private Chinese-style chairs, or the open-style classic seating options. The private room seats 22 people around a large table. It is great for intimate gatherings, celebrations, or corporate events.
Chattering excitedly as we settled in, Keshin, our lively waiter, guided us through the drinks menu, suggesting what would suit each person the best. With unique signature cocktails, the drink menu has been carefully curated to complement the food, and did not disappoint. The Twilight Sky sparkled like a starry night while the legendary Red Mango infused a hint of spice with its fruity flavour.
On the menu for us were a selection of their iconic and favourite dishes. Behind this innovative spread is the Culinary Director Jason Wu. Hailing from Taiwan, he brings decades of expertise, experience, and numerous international culinary awards, as well as honours. His vision for 9Sky is to redefine what a dining experience is, integrating more interactive and beautifully presented dishes, and our team got to see this first-hand. Starting us off, a sushi boat sailed in, with a selection of sushi on board. It was joined by tempura-coated vegetables, cumin lamb skewers, a vegetarian Thai green curry, and, the showstopper, their signature Peking duck. Made using the entire bird to minimise wastage, and lock in the flavour. Because of the process that goes into making it, you have to pre-order it, but it’s so worth the wait. The duck came with spring pancakes, celery, cucumber, and brown sugar to eat as an accompaniment.
The dynamic menu is crafted across three kitchens to cater to the varied preparations and processes: the sushi bar, the roast kitchen, and the main kitchen. This versatile approach to food suits the ever-changing characteristics of Umhlanga and the people who love bespoke creations and authenticity. The team has worked hard to recreate the same level of quality you would find in world-class Asian restaurants.
Part of the menu are pre-determined interactive set meals served in courses, and we were served Set Menu C. It comprises a beach garden salad, several cuts of Wagyu beef, lamb loin chops, sea tiger prawns, Wagyu braised rice, and a dessert, an adventure for your taste buds. It brings back the social element to enjoying a meal with other people, as you grill your food at your table together. The components were presented with dry ice in a book-style box, giving the whole experience an otherworldly effect. We gathered around to watch the demonstration on how to grill the meat. There are grills installed in all the tables, with no smoke and minimal odours thanks to the built-in suction system throughout the restaurant. Next, they showed us how to eat the meat once grilled. Taking a lettuce leaf, you add in the meat, topping it with kimchi, radish, and pickled cucumber to balance the flavours. It was eventually our turn to cook, starting from the thinnest piece of meat to the thickest, and tasting along the way.
9Sky is constantly evolving, keeping up with the eclectic Umhlanga lifestyle. They’ve been revamping their outdoor seating to take advantage of KZN’s sunny climate. Reflecting on the evening as dessert was, an impossibly light matcha cake and refreshing snow ice fruit, you could see the effort and attention to detail in every meal and interaction. The dedication poured into this restaurant makes it stand out and is present in every detail, from the hot pots to the gold-tipped chopsticks.
Words: Cristina Govender