It was past three in the afternoon and still, we had to wait for a table. We did not mind at all because the maitre d' was amiable enough to keep us entertained (no...he did not sing, nor dance, but made light banter instead). A few minutes later, a table was ready and our server handed us the very informative menu. A few minutes later, we were ready to order.
As the table was being set for the culinary adventure to begin, I was beginning to feel the tell-tale signs of semi-panic, like being a fish slowly taken out of the water. If I haven't read blog posts I would not know what to do with the pudgy stick - it was too short to be sharpened as a stake to stab a vampire through the heart with - that was placed inside a dish that seemed a cross between a saucer and a bowl filled with about a tablespoon of white (not so white literally) and black sesame seeds.
But before intimidation could totally set in, another very friendly staff, walked over to our table and asked if this was our first time to experience katsu. Wait...was there a sign on my forehead that read katsu virgin, or katsu ignorant? Anyways, I was more relieved than perplexed to linger on the matter so I just paid attention to the staff as he showed us what to do with the aforementioned items. He was like the interactive version of Katsu for Dummies, if ever there was one.
I made no pretense of knowing how to handle the wooden sticks for fear of one of them breaking or, worse yet, flying off and landing on another customer's meal. I asked for two sets of the ever reliable spoon and fork. It turned out that we only needed one.
Daughter ordered the Mango Shake. Dada had the refillable House Blend Iced Tea. Mine was the Watermelon Shake. Fruit shakes were quite affordable for the serving size. But I liked the iced tea more.
The appetizers arrived shortly after the crash course in how to enjoy katsu. Choosing the appetizer was not rocket science. I just needed to eliminate the choices that I was less likely to eat. Wakame or edible seaweed, no. Edamame or soybeans in the pod, no. Potato salad (strange to be on the menu), yes. The simple ingredients, embraced by the flavorful dressing (I think it is a combination of mayonnaise and mustard only, plus a little salt to taste) and a sprinkling of chopped chives were good enough to stand up to the chicken potato salad Mom lovingly prepares on special occasions that I have grown accustomed to since I was a child.
At first glance, the prices seem expensive for a single serve dish. But when the wooden tray is placed before you, you'll know why. You may need to have the appetite of a sumo wrestler to be able to consume all the food and to take advantage of the refillables/unlimited servings (Japanese white rice, shredded organic cabbage, miso soup, pickled vegetables, fruit slices) as well.
A note on the unlimited servings: you do not need to ask them for refills because just about any staff member, even anyone from the senior staff, when they see a bowl or glass nearing empty, he or she will very politely ask you if you want another serving. I had three servings of the organic cabbage. I drizzled some sauce, a mixture of Japanese mayonnaise and sesame. I had fun with my last bowl, I used all of the three, the shoyu, the goma and the wasabi. Only when I was finished with the bowl did I feel the heat from the wasabi that I needed to wash down with what was left of my shake.
Daughter opted for the chicken katsu instead of the more popular tonkatsu while hubby ordered the Deluxe Seafood Mix Set. You need to have time to leisurely savor the flavors in the dish, because speeding up the dining process, sort of, takes away the enjoyment of the gastronomic experience and you are likely to feel bloated with all that food eaten in a hurry. Maybe, eating with the chopsticks is the right way to go since you cannot load up that thin piece of stick with mouthfuls of rice and katsu unlike with the use of a spoon. I like the crunch from every bite, the perfect seasoning, the tender and sweet prawns, the hint of the sea in the oyster.
The pieces of pineapple round up the meal perfectly, the sweet and tart flavor cleansing the palate.
I was too full with the appetizer, all that cabbage (and some of hubby's food) so I had my dish, Katsu Chicken Curry, for take-out. It may not have been as crisp hours before but when we ate it for dinner it was still good. How they could make chicken breast taste that good escapes me. And if you are not a huge fan of curry, better skip this dish because the flavor is not as mild as the usual chicken curry that our mothers cook for Sunday dinner. It is bold, strong curry.
All in all, great food. Place was packed so a little cramped. Service was very friendly and accommodating.
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