What makes ai tick is the deadly combination of spot-on authentic Japanese food with an overlay of pure fantasy, Nippon-style. In this stylish outpost that is characterized by stark Japanese design elements, you'll have a tasty meal with plenty for the vegetarians, followed up with an eclectic wine list that has been intelligently put together. It's not only sushi and sashimi. Their nabe is stylishly presented with a non-flammable paper on a fire at the table. There are Stone Baked Black Cod Miso and Pork Belly served with Mustard Miso. Their signature sushi consists of Black RiceCalifoia Roll and the innovative Rainbow Roll. Of all the Japanese restaurants in the NCR, this is the only one without an ethnic Japanese character. Rather, it radiates an international appeal.

Ai attempts to marry Olive’s casual Mediterranean glamour to a Japanese aesthetic with a hint of cabaret.A bar takes up most of the wall on one side of the dining room, opposite large glass windows and the terrace entry. The bar itself opens to the lounge (where smoking is permitted). Ai’s signature cocktail aibu (Rs 300) was a disappointment: more orange juice than vodka, and the faint whiff of chocolate sauce more off-putting than inventive. Try it if you like sweet drinks though. The Hayato Brothers cocktail (Rs 300) had much more character with the surprise ingredient of diluted nimono (simmered fish stock), rimmed with salt and shichimi – a seven-spice powdered mix, including red chilli, mandarin orange peel, black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, hemp seeds, nori (seaweed) and sansho pepper (similar to Schezuan). We ordered Canadian diver-caught scallops with black bean sauce (Rs 599) from this and an omakase sushi sampler from a page of nigiri, maki and sashimi options (expensive at Rs 1,999 for 13 pieces, but the speciality nigiri at an average of Rs 200 per piece was prohibitive). Our main courses though had consistently delicious glazes. A plate of large pork chops were glazed with barley miso – slightly sweet, served with miso mustard (Rs 799). The spicy tenderloin (Rs 599) was by far the best thing we tried – tender and permeated with sweet and spicy, sesame-tinged flavour. The teriyaki glaze on our bamboo shoots with water chestnuts, shishito peppers (like giant, mild green chillies) and lotus roots (Rs 499) was also incredibly warm, almost nutty tasting. Dessert was excellent as well. A sinfully well-done melting Valrhona chocolate fondant (Rs 399) with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and a layered green tea coconut Bavaroise topped with mini meringues with a scoop of home-churned fresh mango sorbet (Rs 349) rounded our meal off nicely. Though it will leave your pocket and perhaps your ego (there are lots and lots of pretty, skinny people) lighter, ai does have nice presentation and full-flavoured fare going for it.

Destination not to be missed if you are in Delhi, Awesome ambience, mind blowing music and delicious food. 5 out of 5

My first stint with Japanese food came some two months back when with some colleagues i visited Ai at the MGF metropolitan mall in Saket. i ordered the set lunch buffet since it was the safest bet for someone new to the world of Japanese cuisine but it did not dissapoint. The meal started with some MISO soup and Sushi.The sushi was brilliant, it tasted like an amazing light food ,the wasabi paste in soy sauce just added the spice it needed.This was then followed with some Japanese salad which i really enjoyed despite not being a very salad person. Finally the main course consisted of tepenyaki chicken which tasted amazing with the japanese style noodles.to wash it all down there was some jasmine tea. In all an amazing meal especially if you are ready to experiment though it might be a bit heavy on the pocket.

The food is delicious and the ambience is great but dont be surprised if youre left pennilesss when the bill comes. All in all - a must try but not when youre really hungry....