Hi there
Okay, here is always the problem, sometimes when a restaurant got so hyped up and you see media’s reporting, you will tend to have high expectations right? And if the food was not as what you expect, then your expectation will just drop way below what you normally thinks is okay.
And my visit to Seki is just exactly a re run of this experience. After seeing so much media attention placed on Seki, I was really all pumped up and looking forward to dining there. So of course, since its pay day 🙂 several of us decided to visit there.
Seki is located at Hotel Rendezvous, Hotel Rendezvous has just refurbished and I must say it looks so chic now! Every part of the building exudes elegance with modern decor. Love it.
Okay back to Seki restaurant, all the hype was around Chef Seki who has worked in many famous restaurant globally and also his entertaining chops and challenges he gladly accepts from customers to give you that unique dining experience.
We actually was a little apprehensive about visiting them because on this particular Monday they were closed, so we wonder if we can get quality sashimi given it is a Tuesday lunch, however we decided to give it a try.
Located just right at ground floor, This really chic looking Japanese restaurant does not look like any ordinary izakaya or Japanese restaurant, look like a fine dining place with comtemporary elements but of course definitely with a hint of Japanese in it. This place can sit around 70 pax and have counter, table and private room seatings which can sit around 10 people and the decor shows off many exquisite japanese flower prints with an impressive chandelier in it.
Once seated, we were immediately being offered some sake but we politely decline as it is a weekday lunch.
Their lunch menu comprises lunch sets price from $25 to $100 menus. Extensive drinks menu, but green tea was charged at $3 per pax for a very run down version, although it gets replenish very often. I was hoping for something better given the price tag. Of course, you can order from their ala carte menu too and I am very sure you will have a very good time with the sake they offer.
For all of us on that day, the order of the day was Chirashi set, which comes with an appetizer, main course and pickles, miso soup and a dessert.
Other cheaper sets include grilled salmon and tempura set, nigiri sushi set and Japanese curry set, prize ranging from $25 to $35.
Back to the Chirashi set, potato salad is a bit too run down for me, and also they have mixed in sesame dressing, it tasted okay, but I will prefer to stick to the good old mayo dressing rather adding sesame dressing. But the tomato was really good thou, very sweet and juicy, not bad for salad.
Next came our Chirashi sushi, which includes cubes of sashimi, I spotted egg omelette, chuutoro (tuna) sashimi, mackereal sashimi, hotate, ikura, cucumbers and ginger with a sprinkle of seaweed, placed so beautifully in a red bowl, just like a piece of art.
Honestly speaking, normal Chirashi sushi usually comes in chunkier sashimi, but here, they have cut into exquisite small cubes which make it looks really appertizing. Just mixed in some wasabi and soy sauce and you are ready to tuck in to this piece of art.
However, to all of us, several pieces of the sashimi tasted really fishy, and all of us thought it was a bit of a let down since it look so pretty!!
It also comes with a gobo miso soup which was nothing to shout about. Pickles was couple slices of radish pickles and couple of celery pickles. I think the radish pickles was instant ones, but the celery was home made, I like the celery pickles, because I have never tried anything like this before.
Next and last, it is the dessert, we were being offered green tea ice cream or black sesame ice cream. Dessert was excellent!! I must say the black sesame ice cream was done very well! Good way to end the lunch. The ice cream is not overly sweet, and with very fragrant roasted black sesame aroma in it, perfect to pair with the sweet strawberry and small mint leave that comes with it.
Actually I think Seki is pretty good with their dessert, because I heard they were quite good with the cakes too and of course I believe with Chef Seki, it should not disappoint either.
The day I went there, there was a group of office people who booked the private room, they ordered quite a lot of items, and I saw the waitresses were not very well trained to serve. Some of them wasn’t sure how to hold the plates and bring into the private room, but their attentiveness deserve a kudos. The one that served us kept on refilling our green tea, which is a nice gesture, but the frequent interruption can become a nuisance to some thou.
The food that was served actually looked okay, I think perhaps it will look better in the evening, with the lightings. But during lunch, they just look okay to me, although they all were plated really nicely, a feast to the eyes.
Okay true enough, Chef Seki is very good in the entertainment part of the whole dining experience, I saw him talking to the diners sitting over the counter, and chatting with them. However given the price we pay, we can definitely go somewhere where the food has a larger wow factor. But all in all, all we have tried is the Chirashi sushi set, so perhaps the ala carte items will fair much better and of course the price too. 🙂
Seki Japanese restaurant is definitely a place good for entertaining your clients, not for traditional Japanese experience, but will definitely impress your date or late business dinner. And as for me, perhaps next time I go back there, I will make sure they are not closed the previous day.
RESTAURANT REVIEW : SEKI JAPANESE RESTAURANT AT HOTEL RENDEZVOUS
Locations : 9 Brash Basah Road #01-02 Rendezvous Hotel Gallery, Singapore 189559
Opening hours : 11.30am to 3.00pm (last order 2.30pm) to 6.00pm to 11.00pm (last order 10.30pm).
Tel: 6336 3806 / 6336 3807
Email: reservation@seki.com.sg
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Cheers,
Dawn