I have never posted my opinions on food places here before, although I have made an effort to spare time and compose some reviews at online food communities of 3-4 places that were highly rated in my point of view. (why waste time commenting on nondescript places or blasting lousy ones.) But this one - Tatsuya - deserves special mention. Went for their well-recommended, value-for-money set lunch on a weekday (Nori-san no okagede). Service was efficient and passable but that is no matter. The food and the makers of it were clearly the star. Had a $30 sushi bento, as illustrated. The impeccable details paid to the production of the food clearly shone through. The use of Japanese ingredients, down to the chopped slivers of spring onion (not in pic) whose purpose is to gently enliven the 6 pieces of sea-goodness on rice, demonstrates the chef's persistence and dedication to his craft. Those 6 delectable pieces were made-to-measure for the hito-guchi and as each bite went through, hints of yuzu zest started to envelope the palate - ahh, what a refreshing combination. Special mention also goes to the chawanmushi, which is one of my least favourite Japanese concoctions. But this one, ironically made sono-mama without any usual prawn/meat/gingko nut companions to lend flavour, was pitch-perfect. Again, the credit has to go to the yuzu for dressing up the steamed egg. After hitting the peak with the sushi, the tempura seemed almost mediocre. But I note the light batter and absence of visible swathes of oil, in contrast to the floury, oil-drenched crust that seems to be a common sighting at most establishments here.
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