I usually like to reserve restaurants near and around my work place for business lunches so I can try them at business expense. But I had no luck with Inagiku because of their exorbitant prices; even the lunch sets busted our pathetic corporate budget! I found out a good friend had some priviledge card with 50% discount and that makes a good enough a reason to let loose my own pursestrings and have lunch there. Unfortunately, like a virgin, the first time experience never really met the expecations from all the hype leading up to the real thing and my disappointment for Inagiku started to accumulate right from the point past the short cloth curtain.
My first thought stepping behind the reverred curtain was that the decor screamed 80s and badly needs a revamp. But I let that slide since I was there for the food right? Then, on first glance through the lunch menu, I noticed the prices were about 2 times more than the usual upscale restaurants. Finally, I settled on the lady's set (S$48), which had items I loved.
To start, there is a choice between the requisite chawanmushi or salad. This was not a difficult decision at all; I knew I was not paying for grass greens that day. It turned out to be a miniature version served in chinese teacup and holder. I thought, "kawaii!" but tastewise, it was just okay. There was the usual piece of chicken meat and gingko nut at the bottom and a couple pieces of chopped shiitake with chinese parsley on the top. I found it too mild, failing to meet minimum eggy quota, and I am speaking as a person who does not like food that is overwhelmingly too eggy (think: bread & butter pudding, creme brulee).
Look at CC's order of teppanyaki seafood set (S$60). The portions were generous but it was way too much food even for a man! I felt it was not right for any restaurant to justify its prices with quantity. Anyway, there was teppan veggies on one side and any remaining space on the oblong plate was filled with fruit of the sea - jumbo scallops, a rather tough piece of tuna, cod, crunchy big prawns stuck in a creamy cheesy sauce and a piece of juicy salmon steak. As wonderful as the platter of seafood looked, the chef committed the top pet peeve in my books - abuse of sauce. Almost all of them were slathered on with a pasty brown (miso-based?) sauce but I like my food clean. CC was so kind to share a whole scallop and portion of his cod and I thought the seafood was fresh-tasting and that was it really; they did not possess that burst of briney flavour.
Included in the ladies' set (I wonder if a man can order it?) was this assortment of sashimi. I thought the offerings and quality were both run of the mill. You get the usual salmon, tuna and one more fish I could not quite identify (let me know if you can). Anyway, I was not impressed, especially after the awesome version from Sushi Yoshida. There was not one bit of that creamy texture I so desire in my sashimi. Having said that, the chef's knifeskills were definitely up there, as each slice of sashimi yielded to my bite without resistance.
Also included was this lovely assortment of steamed vegetables. The sauce was slightly more sweet than salty but nonetheless helped add life to the veggies. I especially loved the stickyish steamed baby taro, and, in contrast, the very crunchy bamboo shoots. There was a little rectangular block of firm tofu that had a texture and quality of sponge which soaked up the sauce so each bite was just bursting with the sweet sauce. Very amusing to eat on top of being tasty.
The unagi kobayaki was above average. The fillet was thick and the flesh, sufficiently fatty. I enjoyed it and boy, it was a rice-loading machine! But I must conclude it was not particularly outstanding.
Much to my surprise, the highlight of the bento was this little cube of tofu. I think it tasted homemade as it was more dense than the packaged ones from the supermarket. It was soft yet firm and yield a strong soy flavour, further enhanced with a drizzle of soy, a dab of wasabi and grated ginger. Once I had my first bite, I tried to eat the remainder really slowly, so to prolong the enjoyment. Alas, it lasted all but 3 bites.
With the set, there were standard pickles, miso soup (with little cute japanese mushroms) and fruit for dessert. So, the food is acceptable; presentation and service were both great. It was worth one visit, just to experience for myself, this seemingly "unaffordable" restaurant but honestly, this is like a one-night-stand; I will be finding myself a new lover.
Inagiku
6431 6156
Level 3, Raffles The Plaza
Lunch Daily - 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm
Dinner Daily - 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm
3 comments:
Your third sashimi fish looks like yellowtail.
heya mia! are you free anytime next week for lunch?
hey, will next thurs be good for you?
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