I veer towards the lure of Tsukiji fishes on Tuesdays and Fridays. But I sure did steer in the wrong direction that day. Lunch started on a dire note when we were so ordered to ‘hurry up eat’ and leave by 1pm. Ok I didn’t make a reservation, but this certainly wasn’t the first time here I encountered such condescending behavior.

Lunch was partaken alongside an ethereal hourglass sand timer (tick tock). With that ominous time constraint, and a looming threat of getting chased out, I certainly didn’t have the liberty to mull over the ala carte options, but have to deliberately fall prey to the set lunches (aka yesterday’s leftovers).

I chose the Sashimi Unajyo Bento ($30.90) (tick tock) just because Mr. Manager said it comprises a bit of everything. You bet it did. Coz it might as well be called the Ja-Ba-Lan Bento. The chawanmushi seemed reminiscent of the home-cooked steamed egg I had for dinner just the night before, no dashi broth spied. There wasn’t even a fragment of mushroom or Kamoboko, the mandatory ingredients in any Japanese steam egg custard dish. And the only reason why I finish up the chawanmushi was coz I was trying in vain to search for the lacking elements. :p

I’ve eaten tempura at Tenshin. And once eaten, there is no turning back, coz the tempura here just CMI. I’m sorry I really can’t think of any other word to describe this. (tick tock) The tempura batter just tasted and smelt weirdly raw. I have to keep jolting myself and repeat: This is not Tenshin tempura. The tempura weren’t light as air. (This is not Tenshin tempura.) The tempura were cold and clammy. (This is really Not Tenshin tempura.) Except that this is tempura from one of the most highly acclaimed Japanese restaurants in Singapore. =P Haiz. There wasn’t a minute of focused eating with that temporal clock ticking away.

I’m sure I’ve eaten enough sashimi to know what construes as Fresh. The hamachi (I swapped the Mekajiki) didn’t melt in my mouth, but it did however disintegrate before my very own eyes (omg) when I tried lifting it up with my chopsticks. THE Biggest Felony any Japanese restaurant can commit is to compromise on the freshness of its sashimi, be it set lunch or not. The maguro and sake slices looked sadly anemic too.

Unajyo? I’m so sorry again to make this comparison. But I think Sushi T** across the road can do a similar rendition. If not, a better interpretation with a more affordable price-tag to boot. (tick tock)

It was totally appalling that I wasn’t even given a new cup of hot tea to end my meal or a new warm towel oshiburi for refreshment.

Maybe I shouldn’t write off this place just because of a disastrous set lunch but I’ve had better. Maybe quality will rocket if I go omakase. But at $180 a pop? I’ve had more superlative ones at $70. Maybe service won’t be so snooty if I was a regular, but I’ve experienced a lot more affable treatment elsewhere. Maybe maybe…I really hate to berate any establishments especially Japanese ones coz I simply love the sea. Besides, it’s always welcoming to have more dining alternatives for more imaginative days. I can tolerate shoddy service if quality delivers, but today’s episode simply cannot warrant any future visits, at least in a very long time. For one, I have other places in mind if I want a decent set lunch at a very reasonable price, with added joviality.

Chop chop eat. Chop chop leave. Chop radish price also. This place didn’t blow me away, but it certainly did blow my money away.

Oh no am I being too Picky?