Contributor: Ms. Noey
Where: Sushi Kikuzawa
Location: 360 Orchard Road, #02-13, International Building
Ambience
This “restaurant” is actually a sushi bar, almost like those you would see in Japanese shows. The main bar seats about 12 customers, and they have a private room by the side which seats about 6-10 people. It is located at a rather “ulu” part of town (come on, how many people actually know that the building next to lido – no, not pacific plaza – is called International Building?!), but judging from their steady flow of customers, the food must be GOOODDD! Been there a few times, and there were always some native Japanese customers enjoying themselves there. Other than the native Japanese, the restaurant seems to attract a large crowd of Japanese speaking customers too (which kinda makes me, a non-Jap speaker, feel quite out of place. YA, cos they all speak to the Jap Chef/Owner in Japanese. -___-).
Service
I chose the sushi buffet, and it goes like that – you will be served some appetizers (edamame, radish soup etc), then the sashimi platter (one serving per buffet only) before various kinds of sushi is plonked onto the serving plate in front of you. The sushi is prepared freshly right in front of you, a steady flow of sushi will be served, with the chef paying attention to your eating speed before serving the next portion of sushi. The sushi will just keep coming unless you tell the chef to stop serving you. If you would rather choose the kinds of sushi that you would be served, you can let them know your choice of going ala carte buffet. The restaurant is run by the Japanese Chef/Owner, a Chinese apprentice and a Chinese waitress. The waitress takes care of all the customers’ requests in the restaurant, including refilling Green tea, collecting used plates, billing/payment and preparation of Chawanmushi steamed egg (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – it is only prepared when you order, takes about 15-20mins!). Since she has a lot on her hands, be prepared to have her serve you with a lag time of 5-10mins! Furthermore, if you’re a stickler for quick service, DO NOT EVER sit in the private room. Heard of the saying “Out of sight, out of mind”? Yeah, that applies to the customers sitting in the private room…
Food
The sashimi was great! Fresh and sweet (and they appealed to a non-sashimi fan like me)! They have the blow-torch to serve all their sushi in aburi style YUMYUM. If you’re not a raw food/sashimi fan, then this restaurant is not for you! And if you are not a seasoned sushi eater and choose to let the chefs serve you their spread of sushi, be prepared to eat all sorts of sushi that you’ve never seen… After stuffing yourself with rice, have some jelly for dessert! The jelly comes in various flavours (strawberry, apple, grape, mango, lychee and something else I forgot). All are yummy but not all are available always. While stocks last. My bf and I always manage to squeeze down at least 2 portions of jelly even after so much sushi!
Payment
Usual – ask waitress for bill, wait 5 mins (while she goes to clear other customers’ plates/refill their green tea) before she gets back to you, pay up and go off.
Overall: 0-10 (10 being the best)
Ambience: 6.5 (very normal Japanese fixtures)
Service: 6 (Average pulled down by the waitress. Chefs’ service was prompt and good.)
Food: 7.5 (Very good sushi and good range of Japanese wine – heard from other pple cos I don’t drink)
Damage: 8 (weekend lunch buffet - $39.90 / dinner - $49.90)
Return Value: 8 (I would keep going back if I had the money)
Toilet: N/A (no toilet in restaurant)
Hungry Go Where Review: http://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/sushi_kikuzawa/
P.S: Try to make a prior reservation if you are going on weekends, it tends to be full house…