Tokyo Grills: Black Sheep Restaurants is at it again. This time, they’ve turned the prime LKF position formerly occupied by Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen into Crown Super Deluxe, which may just be the swankiest teppaniyaki experience in town.

Look & Feel: Sure, this is a teppanyaki restaurant, but at the hands of Black Sheep Restaurants – we all know they love a good theme – this is an elevated experience. Created by Sean Dix, Crown Super Deluxe is reminiscent of a theater, the windowless space envelopes diners in a regal world of purple and gold and invites them to sit back and enjoy the show. The centerpiece is a lavish bar setup where some 20 diners sit around four cooking stations; either side, there are two smaller, more intimate setups for five diners around one grill. The whole thing is supposed to convey a sense of ’60s Tokyo, albeit painted with an opulent brush that includes golden onyx counters, mustard velvet, plus purple carpets, and brushed gold chandeliers.

On the Menu: Teppanyaki is an interesting cuisine since it doesn’t adhere strictly to any national ideals – instead, it’s all about the cooking techniques and the drama of watching the chefs whip up a meal in front of your eyes. At Crown Super Deluxe, you can enjoy a bespoke performance made up of a la carte dishes, or settle in for a prescribed show that comes with a prix-fixe menu (there are three).

We sat down for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sampling of the Deluxe menu ($1,188). That was a mistake from the start, only because this is not a meal that should be rushed; if I’d been able, I’d known exactly what I was in for, I would’ve allocated more than an hour to properly enjoy the experience.

Instead, I only had a quick sampling of the menu’s first three dishes; but, each one was better than the last. The Toyosu Market Sashimi, bursting with freshness, was a great way to whet the appetite, while the Tokushima Fruit Tomato – seasoned simply with Japanese sea salt – was a revelation of what the humble tomato could be at its best.

The star of the show (at least as far as I was able to experience) was the Teppan Spiny Lobster in Coral Butter. Here, a simply lobster is thoroughly grilled to achieve a toothsome texture, then drowned in the most sublime sauce created by blending uncouth amounts of butter with lobster coral; the whole thing is paired with “garlic bread” (also grilled on the teppan) and is a truly transportive experience.

Unfortunately, I had to bow out at this point and rush on to my next appointment. But, a wistful glance at the menu revealed if I’d stayed, I would’ve enjoyed a% Kagoshima Wagyu Beef (it’s the restaurant’s specialty); Lobster Miso Soup, and finally, Wagyu & Garlic Fried Rice.

Meet the Chef(s): The grills at Crown Super Deluxe are helped by chef Toru Takano – a teppanyaki veteran from Niigata – and his wife, chef Ami Hamasaki.

Great For: A fun date night.

FYI: After your meal, repair to the hidden room in the back for dessert and whisky.

Check out Hong Kong’s newest restaurants and bars here.

This writeup is a news piece and was not based on a restaurant visit. The Loop HK will update this post once we’ve visited in person.