Restaurant Sasa brings a dedicated Japanese dining room to Riverside Hotel on Nelson Street, with public table bookings rather than an in-house service reserved for hotel guests. Diners can settle inside or use the covered deck beside the pool, giving the restaurant two quite different settings for an evening meal. Its kitchen works with locally sourced produce where possible, while the menu changes enough to keep this compact Blenheim venue from feeling tied to a single fixed formula.
The opening plates invite the table to order across several small dishes. Agedashi tofu or eggplant offers a lighter start, while chicken karaage, takoyaki and pork gyoza bring fried, griddled and dumpling textures to the table. Crispy duck bao and salmon rolls add another direction, and diners looking for a more classic Japanese progression can move toward tempura or sashimi. The breadth of these smaller dishes suits a group that would rather taste several preparations than commit immediately to one main.
Larger plates range from familiar katsu and mild Japanese curry to dishes with a wider East Asian reach. Okinawan tofu champroo combines pork, tofu and vegetables, miso teriyaki chicken keeps a savoury glaze at the centre, and chicken nanban adds a fried option with its own distinct seasoning. Udon soup provides a broth-based meal, while hot bibimbap bowls, sizzling noodles and rice dishes give the menu enough weight for diners seeking something more substantial.
A dedicated vegan selection and clearly considered dietary choices make Sasa workable for tables with different needs. The drinks list is grounded in Marlborough wine, supported by local and international beers, so the bar side feels connected to the region without competing with the food. Between the poolside deck, shareable starters and varied mains, the restaurant can handle anything from a relaxed hotel dinner to a longer meal built around several courses.
Address: Inside Riverside Hotel, 20A Nelson Street, Mayfield, Blenheim 7201, New Zealand
Been to Restaurant Sasa? Be one of the first to rate it.
+ Log your visit
