JC C.
Google
Dined in for the late autumn kaiseki. Although the menu was an overall disappointment for our anniversary celebration, I will commend the service. Our server was attentive and professional; even offering to move us mid-meal away from a louder party.
Cocktails to start were a letdown. The matcha punch tasted like the last sip of an iced matcha latte watered down by its ice. The hamaki was a disappointment; boasting homemade hojicha liqueur, it was unbalanced and the citrus was too high. Next round was safer with an Asahi and highball.
The amuse was a great start with a great punch. Texture was great and got me excited for the meal ahead.
The sashimi was regretfully dressed with overpowering accompaniments. There was no justice done to the fish, just butchered with overexerting toppings.
The appetizer trio was a rollercoaster on loose tracks. The lobster in squash soup was fine and set a fair incline. The scallop was the apex of the trio — beautifully cooked, plump, and paired with complementary additions. The tomato medley and burrata is where the nuts, bolts, and tracks came loose — uninspired, misplaced.
The sea dish was great. The salmon was cooked beautifully but the tomato sauce was confusing. Mark was missed by not pairing this with an udon or ramen noodle. This dish required a carb and rice was ordered halfway through to compensate.
The sushi felt like a coin toss with some bites outshining the others. The uni sushi was beautiful and its specific highlight was the roasted nori. Overall, the sushi falls into the same trap as the sashimi — beautiful fish being treated as otherwise and putting toppings that should have been 1/4 of the amount, if at all. The quality of the fish should speak for itself, though I do applaud the variety of flavours of the toppings achieved.
The land course was fine. The wagyu was great, the jus was beautiful (though I wish they were apart). The onion puree was unnecessary. Surprisingly, the mushroom was the highlight of this dish.
The dessert was phenomenal. Think a creamsicle cheesecake — playful, refreshing, and a pick-me-up after two hours of a palate let down plate after plate.
For a fall menu, I wish I saw some chestnuts and persimmons, maybe even an warm soup or shinmai (or any rice/noodle in general, aside from the sushi).
TLDR: Late autumn fixed menu was disappointing, disjointed, and a whirlwind. Top bites: Salmon (order rice with it), maitake, uni and roasted nori. Come for great service, leave with an appetite for Church’s Chicken across the street.