Aoki @ Shaw Center

Aoki is hard to book for one and walk-ins are hardly entertained. It’s a luck thing I suppose. It could be the size of this restaurant that makes it a duel of luck and time. Even with two seatings during lunch, one’s luck is put to test. Yes, I have done a walk in and a failed phone reservation too.



Cold towels to clean the hands.



Loving the little details that Japanese pay to meals.



Ready for the sushi. 

I like Aoki because there are appetizers and desserts served. It was a tussle between seasonal salad greens and stewed beancurd with cabbage as favourite as I found both light and refreshing.



The amuse bouche of stewed beancurd was accorded according to per pax rather than every other of set lunch.



The original sushi set without replacements. 

Nigiri Sushi Jyo-sen ($30)

Seven types of sushi, one sushi roll, salad, miso soup, dessert

I had my octopus replaced with horse mackerel. The sushi spread was hearty and adequately fresh. Particularly loved their grated wasabi which adds that touch of Japan to this meal greatly.



Seasonal greens.

Mazechirashi ($35)

Mixed sashimi, salad, miso soup, dessert

Only 12 sets available daily, this is undoubtedly a hot seller. The colours are vibrant, too vibrant to eat I say. Like a rainbow, the choices of raw fish used is brilliant. Possibly the best of the day’s catch or the ends and odds of it. The dash of vinegar to the bed of seaweed coated rice made a universe of difference. Exceptionally tasty and possibly even more so than the seafood display. Admittedly delicious but there were types of fish used that was hardly fresh but bearably fishy.

Miso soup was hearty and definitely laden with MSG yet somehow works for Japanese cuisine.

Dessert was what I looked forward most to since they offered a trio of mango sorbet, plum wine jelly and beancurd pudding with plum sauce. Of the three, I agreed most with plum wine jelly. Powerful dessert that disintegrated into a mouthful of liquor.



Roasted tea to end off the meal.

The hype built up for it being a Les Amis establishment left me with a slight sense of disappointment. Perhaps I wanted to be wowed greatly. I reckon it’s back to Tatsuya’s for their equally value for money, snotty service but more satisfying bento sets.

Aoki

Shaw Center