Rooftop Japanese restaurant Joji, perched atop the fifth floor of the Cartier building on George Street in Sydney’s CBD with standout panoramic city views, has unveiled a new menu and live entertainment offer.
The six-month-old restaurant promises an expanded a la carte menu, new sushi direction, live entertainment throughout the week and bottomless lunch every Saturday.
Part of the Esca Group, which also includes Henrietta (which recently expanded from Surry Hills to Parramatta), Aalia, Nour and Lilymu, the group’s Co-Founder Ibrahim Moubadder notes that Joji has been at full capacity since opening, with a regular crowd of return customers.
“Watching how people moved through the space made me want to build something even more immersive,” says Moubadder. “So six months in, we’re evolving the menu, adding elegant, delicious dishes including sushi and more, determined to making JŌJI one of the best Japanese dining experiences in Sydney, a place where you can come for the best drinks, the music, a dance or an unforgettable meal, all in one electric setting,”
The new sushi offering is led by Head Chef Kihoon Kim, whose career includes omakase restaurants across Korea, Japan and Sydney, including Bay Nine, Besuto, and Sake.
Kim is targeting a quiet precision and deep respect for traditional technique in signature sushi dishes including Joji nigiri and king salmon maki layered with midori salsa, cucumber and avocado.
Kim will work alongside Executive Chef Erik Ortolani of Ito, another Esca Group venue, who leads Joji’s updated à la carte menu, which has been designed with larger-format, and shareable dishes
Ortolani’s menu highlights will include miso murray cod with dashi butter; and thick-cut duck katsu sandos. Joji will also debut Social Saturdays, a new take on classic bottomless lunch. A shared chef’s menu and 90 minutes of free-flowing French rosé or beer, will be amplified with live DJs and musicians. Prices are $130pp, with a cocktail upgrade available for $25pp.
Weekdays will see the introduction of the Shibui Lunch – a midweek menu available Wednesday to Friday from 12pm to 3pm for $65pp, as well as the addition of live music sets every Wednesday night.
Joji opened at the end of October 2024 with a deep interest in quality cocktails that eases diners through daytime into late nights. The decor, designed by architect Matt Darwon, combines bold metallics, deep burgundy tones, and Tasmanian blackwood.
Greg Sunning
