Stickman Tribe have been successfully shortlisted in the International Hotel & Property Awards 2015. Inakaya, which is located within the Venetian Village at the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, will compete for the Restaurant within a Hotel Award (Gulf States).
Having an authentic Japanese robata grill in the heart of Abu Dhabi is a strong enough concept to draw people in, now all the design has to do is create an inviting, interesting yet simple atmosphere to match the mouth-watering food served. To do so, the overall palette was composed of only 3 main finishes: Black stained oak, pine wood cladding and slate inspired porcelain flooring.
As you walk in, you are greeted by an up-lit Samurai warrior framed by beautiful black stained timber screens. As your eyes are lifted, you notice the hanging folded paper feature in the ceiling inspired by the Omikuji tree; the tradition originates from hanging random fortunes written on strips of paper at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan.
The main feature of Inakaya is of course its famous long dining counter, where fresh ingredients are cooked on an open flame in close proximity of the guests’ own eyes. The counter is set at dining height so the guests can enjoy the dynamic and casual vibe of the live kitchen and be part of the overall experience. When the dish is ready, the chef hands it over using a large timber paddle, which is another Inakaya signature.
Drawing you in is the flirtatious lighting feature peering through the screens of the private dining room. This room offers an experience like no other, with 2000 original sake bottles hanging using rope from the ceiling and a bold tiger etched in timber as your backdrop. The design brings aspects of the region into the restaurant, always perfectly complementing the cuisine on offer. The colours, lighting and design aspects are all synced to add to the impact the cuisine and culture have on the guest.