PUBLISHED May 10th, 2012 11:38 am | UPDATED May 9th, 2018 03:13 am
There seems to be no end of tip-top Japanese eateries to frequent in Singapore, and a recent addition to that seemingly never-ending choice is Seki. Housed in the recently renovated Rendezvous Gallery beside the Rendezvous Hotel, the interior is sleek, stylish and coordinated in a black, red and white theme.
Choose to sit up at counter…or in semi-private, partly partitioned-off tables.
The menu here is pretty extensive, ranging from whole day meal and bento sets (priced from $15 upwards) to appetizers, Yakimono (grilled), Tempura & Agemono (fried), Noodles, Sushi and Sashimi. PHEW!
But on this particular occasion we were here mainly for a sushi and sashimi fix. Of course no Japanese evening meal is complete without some Sake – and Seki has a good selection of more interesting varieties so if you’re into something a bit different, you can for example try the Kodakara yoghurt sake. This is a delicious, smooth, creamy and potentially dangerous variety because it feels like you’re only drinking Yakult until the blurriness starts creeping up on you! Priced at $35 for a carafe….
We started off with the Sashimi Moriwasi (3 kinds for $42). Perfect for sharing between two people as part of your meal, this was a healthy serving size of salmon, tuna and snapper. The sashimi was all beautifully fresh and sweet just like it should be, and thoughtfully presented.
The Salmon and Ikura Roll ($18 for 8 pieces) was just beautiful. A perfect combination of salmon and salmon roe, expertly rolled into one bundle of sushi squidge-tasticness! I would highly recommend this dish.
The grilled Gindaro in Misozuke ($18) – otherwise known as silver cod in miso marinade – was fantastic and for me stood out from others I have tried in the past. It was cooked to extra perfection bringing both crisp and soft textures together under the capsule of miso marinade. It’s a simple dish but somehow Seki managed to give it a little something extra.
Though not on the menu, we had to stick to tradition and sample the Agadashi Tofu – lovely plump pieces of tofu which were fabulously light, with a beguilingly velvet-smooth interior and fluffy-batter exterior.
If you’re a fan of Japanese, make sure Seki is on your hit list of place to try. In such a central location – only a short walk from Dhoby Ghaut or Bras Basah MRT stations – and with so many different options to suit different tastes and budgets there is really no excuse not to. And while you’re there, you can take in the rather magnificent inner courtyard, which is quite grand and some might say a little breathtaking.
Written by Ms Demeanour