There’s something je ne sais quoi about this place which makes you feel like you’d want to steal away forever to this oasis of calm. For sustenance or respite, it was however not the intended place for grazing on this lazy Sunday lunch. We only happened, I repeat Happened to decide on this location only bcoz that dam*ed place over at Robertson Walk wasn’t opened for lunch. (HGW Admin. Please kindly update your data. Thanks!)

It may well be lucky for us me. Keke. Coz an initial plan for lunch with a girlfriend last week fell through as she had some last minute commitment, *sob* and so I needed to nurse a broken heart. What could be a better way than to spoil myself today? :)

I thought the set lunch prices here are quite tolerable, bearing in mind the costs stated are Nett prices, plus I found almost no slipups in my Chirashizushi set ($38) today. I mentioned Almost. The complimentary/ compulsory otoshi came in the form of the onsen tamago. The name may sound fancy (Phwah onsen tamogo wo) but it’s really just an overcooked poached egg. The egg has a semi-solidified yolk and runny silky tofu-like egg white, quivering in a mix of dashi and soy. Its flavors accentuated with a smattering of yuzu zest and a small pat of wasabi. I thought I really did enjoy this thoughtful little change from the usual vinegared appetizers.

My Chirashizushi came replete with good things to eat. The bento was bejeweled with sweet amaebi, a slippery piece of anago, kanpachi wedge and a whole portion of juicy hotategai. Peculiar finds are the kisu (smelt) and kohada (marinated shad) which though are remarkable discoveries but certainly not the freshest here. There are also kani kamaboko (read: fake crabsticks !@$#% ~ really atypical!), ika (eew... >.<), cushiony and soft tamago pads, plump ikura pearls, pickled daikon, kappa, gari, seasoned mushrooms, marinated renkon, pink sakura denbu (floss), nori, and a whole lot of kampyo bits atop the flowerbed of sushi rice. Hojiso, akajiso and chrysanthemum petals were also thrown in to perfume the shoyu, for they lend a delicate scent to the dip. My bento was adorned with such a symphony of colors it was almost a crime to eat.

Oh! Did I mention the Oh!-toro? Oh-toro! I worship thee. I’m willing to forgive the $38 price tag just for this…Who cares about the blasphemous pseudo crab and rubbery ika when this piece of fatty (ok not so fatty lar) otoro makes up for everything else that falls short... Though definitely not the finest I’ve eaten, but I thought it was certainly a generous inclusion to this lunch bento. My only grievance about this lunch, and (oh my!) what a Big One it was…was that the sushi rice was wayyyy….tooooo sweet for sushi rice I really couldn’t bring myself to finish it to the very last grain. :(

I chose the prawny suimono clear soup over the miso one. Luckily the soup wasn’t as fishy and prawny as it looked, unlike the Aoki’s version, which reminded me very much of hae-mee soup hehe. The meal ended with the very predictable watermelon slices (what else? =P).

Waitresses there are funky alright coz I’m most certain they are Filipino lasses (heh does this give the guys some incentive to at least check out this place once?) Their very chatty and friendly nature is a natural giveaway.

The Maestro behind my bento today Chef Dennis was also very kind to inform upon my inquiring that fresh supplies are flown in from Japan everyday except Sundays (%#@$!), so chances are if you go on any day of the week you are (quite) guaranteed fish at their optimum freshness.

And so you are right. I finally made it here. But I don’t think this is one place that is quite up there on my radar…at least for now.