SHUNSUI @ Hongkong Street - Merger of Kyuu by Shunsui and Kappo Shunsui Offering Affordable Kappo-style Japanese Cuisine

SHUNSUI, located at a secluded spot on Hongkong Street, is a new concept by the Shunsui Group, formed from the merger of Kyuu by Shunsui and 5-time Michelin Plate awardee Kappo Shunsui. It aims to offer authentic yet affordable Kappo-style Japanese cuisine with cutting-edge techniques coupled with a contemporary flair. In conjunction with its opening, Shunsui has launched a Grand Opening Dinner Special Course - the Kacho Course ($129++) consists of 10 seasonally-curated dishes made from fresh, premium ingredients from various parts of Japan (Ala Carte upgrade options available). Diners can also opt for the Shunsui Course ($179++) for additional premium delicacies.

Umeshu

We were offered a glass of Umeshu at the start to freshen up our senses.

Appetiser 4.5/5

The Appetiser teased my appetite with its sweet, savoury and creamy profile - In a martini glass, it contains aburi scallop, sweet persimmon and fig layered on top of mascarpone sauce.

Soup 4.5/5

For Soup, we had a comforting grounded long cabbage soup with deep fried kisu. The soup was sweet with a depth of savouriness. The deep-fried Kisu had a moist and tender flesh.

Sashimi Course (2 servings) 5/5

The Sashimi Course was rather spectacular, offering not just sashimi but also other elements of textures. Torched mackerel, seabream and chutoro are of different leanness and mouthfeel, and the touched mackerel stood out with its hint of smokiness. The Botan Ebi was creamy and succulent, and the Steamed Oyster with edamame and zingy apple vinegar puree provided another texture experience. I ended this course with a satisfying Pressed Anago sushi.

Uni Sashimi (2 servings)

The premium set allows you to enjoy Bafun Uni Sashimi.

Unagi and Eggplant tempura 4.8/5

For the Grill course, we were served a 'Japanese Burger', made with layering Unagi, Eggplant tempura and uni, finished with a douse of Japanese mountain pepper sauce to bind the elements together. The two crisp thin wafers were the right vehicle to deliver the rich flavours and mouthfilling texture all together in one bite.

Steamed Dish 4.5/5

Instead of Chawamushi with Snow Crab sauce, the Shunsui course offered an interesting dish made with Tiled Fish and Prawn steamed with turnip. The broth was light but flavorful, and both the fish and prawn were firm with a good bite, contrasted with steamed turnip, which had the consistency of a grated Chinese yam.

Negitoro, Shiro Ebi 4/5

The Sushi Course offers Hirame, Kinmedai, Nodoguro, Otoro and Negitoro. Shiro Ebi Sushi is offered instead of Negitoro for the Shunsui course. While the various ingredients delight with their freshness and flavours, I also appreciate the rice used for the sushi; it has a good bite, accompanied by a pleasant acidity that elevates the flavour of the sushi, balancing the richness of the fish and seafood.

Miyazaki A5 Sirloin Beef with Miso 4.5/5

The Main showcases Miyazaki A5 Sirloin Beef, with the right doneness to render the fats for its beautiful flavours. The miso is mixed with nuts and vegetables, hence it has a grainy texture that helps to spread over the sirloin, flavouring the meat evenly.

Rice 4/5

We had a bowl of overflowing Ikura Rice for the rice course, which the chef served with much gusto. There are 2 sizes to choose from - regular and small. I chose the regular bowl as the rice itself was really tasty!

Matcha, Sweet Bean Jelly with Chestnut 4.5/5

Desserts are of very different characters. On the one hand, we had a traditional Sweet Bean Jelly with Chestnut served with a cup of matcha brewed by the chef right before us. On the other hand, we had a homemade Mikan Sorbet crafted on the spot with liquid nitrogen, giving our meal a theatrical ending.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


SHUNSUI
17 Hong Kong Street
#01-01
Singapore 059660
Tel: +65 67237733
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Nearest MRT: Clark Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clark Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road using the overhead bridge. Turn left and walk down New Bridge Road. Turn left onto Hong Kong Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Joie @ Orchard Central - Restaurant with Modern Meatless Cuisine in Orchard Central’s Rooftop Garden

Tucked on the 12th floor of Orchard Central is Joie, a restaurant that prides itself on bringing diners a modern meatless menu with Japanese-European elements. It shares the top floor with one other restaurant and the mall's rooftop garden, with views overlooking the bustling Orchard Road.

Joie offers a 4 or 5-Course set for lunch and a 6-Course for dinner. The prices are as follows:

4-Course Lunch
$38++ on Mondays to Fridays, except Eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays

5 Course Lunch
$50++ Daily

6-Course Dinner
$78++ on Mondays to Thursdays
$88++ on Friday to Sunday, Eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays

For this visit, we had two sets of the 6-Course Dinner and hence could sample more dishes as indicated individually below. Beverages are not included, but Joie offers quite a comprehensive list of alcoholic drinks and a more straightforward non-alcoholic list containing mocktails, coffee, tea and soft drinks.

Complimentary Snack - Spaghetti Sticks

We were first served with a complimentary crunchy snack of Spaghetti Sticks in two flavours, spiced and non-spiced.

Palate Cleanser - Passionfruit Sorbet

After that, we were treated to Passionfruit Sorbet, which was intended to cleanse our palates before beginning the course properly. However, it could have been less icy and a lot less sweet to provide a lighter and more refreshing start.

Starter - Chef’s Selection of Assorted Platter 3/5

However, we were uncertain if it was intentional, but the capsicum kebab was made with a mix of vegetables in their raw form, and the raspberry sphere was overly sweet with a flat burst of flavour.

However, we were uncertain if it was intentional, but the capsicum kebab seemed to be just made with a mix of vegetables in their raw form, and the raspberry sphere was overly sweet with a flat burst of flavour.

Side Dish - Bailing Mushroom on Paper Hot Pot 2.8/5

Our first side dish was the Bailing Mushroom on Paper Hot Pot. We appreciated the chunky yet soft-texted mushrooms here, but the accompanying soup was overly sweet, making it challenging to savour fully. A more balanced base would have enhanced the overall enjoyment.

Side Dish - Gratinated Champignon with Mozzarella 2.8/5

For our second side dish, we had the Gratinated Champignon with Mozzarella. I looked forward to it when I saw the copious amount of cheese and golden-brown crust, but I was disappointed with the meagre portion of button mushrooms. The bread meant to pair with the Belgian endives was, unfortunately, a bit stale.

Cold Dish - Tuna Cold Steak 1/5

We ordered the Tuna Cold Steak as our first cold dish, which had marinated watermelon with dill mustard dressing and a topping of pine nuts. The texture of the 'steak' was soft, but flavour-wise, it was cloyingly sweet.

Cold Dish - Vegetable Sashimi On Ice with Oyster-Leaf Shooter Glass 2/5

We've had vegetarian sashimi a couple of times before this and were excited to try Joie's carefully plated rendition - Vegetable Sashimi On Ice with Oyster-Leaf Shooter Glass.

Instead of the usual konjac for the sashimi, they've ventured to use other elements, such as coconut, huai shan and aloe vera. The platter featured 'salmon, octopus, jellyfish and abalone', arranged from left to right. It was served with soy sauce and an oyster-leaf shooter glass. Unfortunately, like the previous dishes, most of these items leaned towards the sweeter side. We would have preferred a better balance with more savoury elements.

Soup - Japanese Kunbu Broth with Hand Carved Tofu 1/5

Our first choice of soup was the Japanese Kunbu Broth with Hand Carved Tofu. We understand from the menu that it was meant to be a double-boiled Japanese seaweed consomme, but what we had was regrettably bland.

Soup - Infusion of Cepes & Truffle 3/5

The Infusion of Cepes & Truffle was a better bowl. The mushroom soup here had delightful bits of mushroom and carried a mild truffle fragrance.

Main - Truffle Risotto 2.8/5

There are 5 mains to choose from for the dinner course. The Truffle Risotto with a croquette on top, mascarpone cream, greens, and black truffle didn't quite meet our expectations. The risotto had a thick porridge-like texture, lacking the desirable al dente bite. Additionally, we would have appreciated the croquette more if it had been served hotter and crunchier to provide better textural contrast.

Main - Grilled Summer Mushroom Steak on "Pu Ye" Hot Stone 3/5

Our second main, the Grilled Summer Mushroom Steak on "Pu Ye" Hot Stone, fared better. Beyond the visual presentation, the "Pu Ye" hot stone was intended to keep the dish hot. The mushroom steak here highlights a well-grilled monkey head mushroom with a mild smokiness. While the deep-fried spaghetti was too oily, I would have liked more of the truffle mashed potato as it was smooth and carried a good amount of flavour.

Dessert - Yoghurt Pudding 2.5/5

The Yogurt Pudding dessert had a watery texture, lacked the expected tangy yoghurt notes and leaned towards the sweeter side.

Dessert - Homemade Cheesecake with Oreo 2.8/5

Our last dessert was their Homemade Cheesecake with Oreo. It was average, with a decent amount of cheese flavour.

Unfortunately, our visit to Joie fell short of expectations. While we valued the warm service, the food quality needed to align with what we anticipated from a casual fine dining establishment. Many dishes lacked flavour or erred on the side of excessive sweetness. We hope this was an isolated occurrence and hope to experience better in the future.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Joie
Orchard Central
#12-01
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 9663 0901
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Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit C or D. Walk to Orchard Central. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

SENSHI Sushi & Grill @ Dorsett Singapore - All-You-Can-Eat A La Carte Japanese Buffet with Newly Expanded Menu

SENSHI Sushi & Grill sits in the corner of Dorsett Singapore, a stone's throw away from Outram Park MRT Station. The Japanese restaurant offers both a la carte dishes and an all-you-can-eat buffet that has recently introduced a refreshed selection. Diners can expect new dishes that include Aburi dishes, Kaki Fry, Kani Gratin, Niku Jaga Braised Beef, Buta Kakuni Braised Pork and Japanese Mochi.

The buffet rates are as follows:

Lunch (11.30am to 3pm)
Weekday: $40+/pax
Weekend: $48+/pax

Dinner (6pm to 10.30pm)
Weekday: $50+/pax
Weekend: $55+/pax

The buffet includes free-flow drinks of house tea, soda and juice. With an add-on of $38/pax, you can also enjoy free-flow alcohol.

Included in the buffet are free flow drinks of house tea, soda and juice. With an add on of $38/pax, you can also enjoy free flow alcohol.

We tried the Weekend Dinner menu here, which differs slightly from their Weekday and Lunch menus. The range includes appetisers, sashimi, maki sushi, nigiri sushi, aburi nigiri sushi, handrolls, grilled dishes, hot dishes, deep-fried dishes, rice and noodles, and shabu shabu.

Assorted Sashimi

It's not a Japanese buffet without sashimi! We started with an Assorted Sashimi platter with salmon, tuna, swordfish, yellowtail and octopus. Their quality was decent, though some of the cuts could be improved. You can order these individually too.

Hot Appetisers - Truffle Chawanmushi

There is a selection of both hot and cold appetisers. From the Hot Appetisers range, you can choose from dishes such as Truffle Chawanmushi, Mentaiko Fries, and Asari Tofu Soup.

Cold Appetisers - Pidan Tofu

There are Pidan Tofu, Wafu Seafood Salad, Cold Spinach, Edamame, and more from the Cold Appetisers. The Pidan Tofu was a little disappointing, as I hoped the Pidan sauce would be more distinct.

Sushi

We ordered a mix of different items from the extensive range of Sushi items, consisting of maki, aburi sushi and nigiri sushi. Our favourites from here were the salmon dishes, such as the Aburi Salmon Mentaiko, Aburi Salmon Cheese and Salmon Mentaiko Maki.

Other non-salmon dishes include Chicken Floss Maki, Tuna Truffle Sushi and Aburi Ebi Mentaiko.

Handrolls

There are six types of Handrolls. We had the Softshell Crab Handroll but did not like it as the crab filling came lukewarm and needed a crunch. I suggest skipping this and trying the others instead.

Grilled Dishes - Baked Half Shell Scallop

From the Grilled Dishes section, we tried the Baked Half Shell Scallop, Baked Half Shell Oyster and Kani Gratin. These were generously topped with torched cheese! While the Kani Gratin had little crab meat, the scallops and oysters were plump and fresh.

Hot Dishes - Niku Jaga (Braised Beef)

My dining companion had the Braised Beef, one of the newest items in the Hot Dishes section. While she appreciated the flavourful sauce, the beef slices were a tad tough.

Hot Dishes - Sea Clam Butter Monte

Other Hot Dishes include the garlicky Sea Clam Butter Monte, Beef Cubes, Eggplant in Miso, Pork Yakiniku and more.

Deep Fried - Kaki Fry

My dining companion and I recommend getting their Kaki Fry from the Deep Fried selection. The oysters were creamy and fried to a crunch, faring much better than we expected.

Shabu Shabu

Their Shabu Shabu comes in a sharing portion with the choice to add on Pork Slices, Beef Slices and Sea Clams. The base broth leans towards the bland side. Hence, I suggest adding meats and clams to provide better flavour.

Beverages

For Beverages, we had their Slushies from the a la carte menu - Strawberry Yuzu ($6) and Lychee Grapefruit ($6). Unfortunately, both of them were too sweet for my liking.

If you prefer alcohol, they have quite a range of alcoholic drinks, from wines, beers and sake to soju, umeshu and Japanese whisky. Non-alcoholic options include juices, coffee, tea, soft drinks and water.

Hokkaido Cheesecake with Soft Serve Ice Cream

Desserts are not included in the buffet. We picked two from the a la carte menu, the first being the Hokkaido Cheesecake with Soft Serve Ice Cream ($9). While the cheesecake was creamy and soft, the soft serve had quite an icy texture.

Fresh Melon

The second dessert we chose to end the night was the crunchy and sweet Fresh Melon ($6).

Overall, we appreciated SENSHI’s fast and warm service in serving orders, but the buffet dishes were a mix of hits and misses.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


SENSHI Sushi & Grill
Dorsett Singapore
#01-01
333 New Bridge Road
Singapore 088765
Tel: +65 8518 8616
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Nearest MRT: Outram Park MRT (EW, NE, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1. Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]