Howdy! Sorry for the lack of updates! Was busy catching the Olympic action. I was also occupied with a freelance assignment, writing food reviews! Isn't that cool, getting paid to eat and write? :)

Ladies lunch bento, S$26.80.

But before actually seeing any moolah coming in, I think I've already blown much of it away on Tatsuya's lunch bentos. Yes, they are pricier than mid-range Japanese restaurant bentos, but compared to the a la carte menu prices, the bentos are a steal! Tatsuya is one of the top Japanese restaurants in Singapore; be prepared to shell out S$180++ per head for omakase!

There are about 8 bento sets to choose from. The Ladies Lunch Bento sounded intriguing, so that's what I had!

California roll and Tatsuya "branded" tamago (omelette cake).

As I don't eat sashimi or raw sushi, I requested them to swap the sushi for a larger portion of California maki. The vinegared rice was just perfect, and it was just delightful how the ultra-fresh tobiko popped in the mouth! Even the sweet, fluffy tamago was perfect!

Chilled inaniwa udon.

But my favorite part of the meal was definitely the chilled inaniwa udon! The thin noodles were so smooth and silky soft. With a bouncy "QQ" texture, the experience was simply ethereal!

Condiments for the inaniwa udon.

Even the condiments for the noodles are daintily presented! How ingenious to use a slice of daikon (hollowed in the center) to hold the quail egg!

Kakiage.

The crispy tempura kakiage of prawn and vegetables was a lovely contrast to the silky cold inaniwa udon.

Salad.

A palate cleanser, this was just simply iceberg lettuce and wakame with a soy-sesame dressing. Isn't iceberg a rather unsophisticated choice for a high-end restaurant?

Some people have commented that the chawanmushi here has no ingredients like chicken, fishcake, or gingko, but I think they've failed to appreciate how wonderfully smooth and light-as-air it is. Delicately scented with a touch of yuzu, the custard seems to just glide down the throat.

Sashimi unajyu bento, S$30.90.

This was on a separate visit. As I don't eat raw fish, they replaced the sashimi with California roll.

On the whole, everything was enjoyable, but I thought the grilled eel wasn't anything outstanding. Neither was the tempura, but it was grease-free and the batter was light and melt-in-the-mouth. The chawanmushi was still sublime, but this time it didn't taste as flavorful.

Bored with the fresh fruit, I tried out the ice-cream selection. Pricey, but it was sublime! More like a creamy sorbet, the peach ice cream was not too sweet, slightly tart in a pleasant way, and oh-so-light.

The bento selection is the same offered elsewhere, but what I like is that the quality here is consistent. Everything is freshly made, and the staff are attentive and accommodating. Tatsuya has the intimate feel of a family-run diner instead of the high-end restaurant it is. I even got a nod and smile from the affable owner-chef Ronnie Chia when he was making his rounds!

Prices shown are before 10% service charge and 7% GST. Reservations are recommended.

Tatsuya Japanese Restaurant
270 Orchard Road
#01-05, Park Hotel Orchard
Singapore 238857
Tel: (65) 6737 1160