This visit was planned ahead of time, even before the last random visit. No different from the last, there were ready queues to go in before the stipulated 630pm (why am I not surprised) but what was surprising was the number of people eating ala carte that night. I presumptuously thought that everyone was there for omakase.
I get placed next to some dude celebrating the birthday of his babe and the whole meal, he was inching into my territory of comfort much to the chagrin of the companion. Talked loud, emptied half a bottle sake, indulged in the $80 sets and the bill came up to a beautiful tune of 400 odd.
Impressive or not, I leave that judgement to you.
The prices remained the same since the last visit but they seemed to have changed the selection a fairbit. $60 options no longer come with wagyu, instead that gets placed in the $80 bracket. Also in the $80 set is sushi instead of sashimi rice.
Back to support chef teppei!
The lovely treats all lined up.
Salad to kickstart the meal.
Hot water always refilled #topmarksforservice
Braised radish that reminded me of my mom's double boiled soup.
I exchanged the squid tempura for haddock, a kind of fish. Decently flavoured and tasted just like mushrooms.
Edamame beans that gets passed off as a course and at least these were grilled.
The sashimi platter that makes this meal worthwhile. Tuna belly no less for its melt in my mouth texture and just one piece of heaven. #howimissjapan
I mistook this for gyoza when it was seared fish fillet. This found joy in the companion's tum being the huge fish fan he is.
Wobbly chawanmushi to tame the tastebuds before the exciting meal enfolds.
Their familiar handrolls get passed around.
A squishy sqooshly kind of delicious. Tuna handroll done so fine and dandy, I credit the tempura bits for being the cherry on top of the icing.
Once again, so mindblowingly good. I hereby name oyster my muse.
Skewer time!
Liked the earthy flavours of redbean and yam lollipop.
For real, no more legendary king sized prawn that the rest have been raving about.
Here's Miss Catfish taking a soak in the tempura broth. Delightfully crisp.
Baby yams so tiny, I was amazed that the texture shone through despite its miniscule portions.
Gingkos on a skewer, nothing fancy.
You saw it right - no camera nor eye tricks - a full fish fried so crisp, even better than tempura. "Meishikai" the server uttered, whatever it was it was one hell of a delicious fish and so I chomped it all including eyeballs down. The fine bones were a nit to pick though, be careful with them!
Seared beef sushi, a nicely executed sear that sealed all juices.
Like a conductor, Chef Teppei signalled the birthday mates to whip out their cameras for the cake!
Somewhere down the line, it was someone's birthday and there it was - the regal sushi cake complete with a candle and a half hearted birthday song from the rest of us, strangers.
Beef cubes seared to a lovely doneness - it could be more tender but lovely pink and lovely succulence.
Something new on the menu - Chicken noodle, sounds and looks really healthy.
Like meesua, the portion of oodles was good enough for a huge slurp. Bland chicken stock to match.
Kimchi fried rice that seemed smaller in portions this time round.
I cannot bring myself to order anything else but the sashimi rice so then three different types of rice dishes with my favourite being uni.
Walnut and yuzu this time - I should just be thankful they even serve dessert.
An all too familiar sight before and after the meal.
It must have been sights of these boxes of delights that made it so tempting.
A strange revelation about this meal - I was hardly as stuffed as before and the companion even had space for a takeaway for chirashi don ($15). They may have shrunk their portions alongside with the value and if returns are necessary, it will be for ala carte and takeaway.
Chirashi don was a killer - fresh cubes of tuna, salmon and roe made it oooh-lala delicious. No wonder people return specially for alacarte. I am sure the Japanese get bigger portions but the value of Teppei is finally found once again.
Second visit completed, no more visits planned for 2013. Maybe 2014?
Teppei
Orchid Hotel
I get placed next to some dude celebrating the birthday of his babe and the whole meal, he was inching into my territory of comfort much to the chagrin of the companion. Talked loud, emptied half a bottle sake, indulged in the $80 sets and the bill came up to a beautiful tune of 400 odd.
Impressive or not, I leave that judgement to you.
The prices remained the same since the last visit but they seemed to have changed the selection a fairbit. $60 options no longer come with wagyu, instead that gets placed in the $80 bracket. Also in the $80 set is sushi instead of sashimi rice.
Back to support chef teppei!
The lovely treats all lined up.
Salad to kickstart the meal.
Hot water always refilled #topmarksforservice
Braised radish that reminded me of my mom's double boiled soup.
I exchanged the squid tempura for haddock, a kind of fish. Decently flavoured and tasted just like mushrooms.
Edamame beans that gets passed off as a course and at least these were grilled.
The sashimi platter that makes this meal worthwhile. Tuna belly no less for its melt in my mouth texture and just one piece of heaven. #howimissjapan
I mistook this for gyoza when it was seared fish fillet. This found joy in the companion's tum being the huge fish fan he is.
Wobbly chawanmushi to tame the tastebuds before the exciting meal enfolds.
Their familiar handrolls get passed around.
A squishy sqooshly kind of delicious. Tuna handroll done so fine and dandy, I credit the tempura bits for being the cherry on top of the icing.
Once again, so mindblowingly good. I hereby name oyster my muse.
Skewer time!
Liked the earthy flavours of redbean and yam lollipop.
For real, no more legendary king sized prawn that the rest have been raving about.
Here's Miss Catfish taking a soak in the tempura broth. Delightfully crisp.
Baby yams so tiny, I was amazed that the texture shone through despite its miniscule portions.
Gingkos on a skewer, nothing fancy.
You saw it right - no camera nor eye tricks - a full fish fried so crisp, even better than tempura. "Meishikai" the server uttered, whatever it was it was one hell of a delicious fish and so I chomped it all including eyeballs down. The fine bones were a nit to pick though, be careful with them!
Seared beef sushi, a nicely executed sear that sealed all juices.
Like a conductor, Chef Teppei signalled the birthday mates to whip out their cameras for the cake!
Somewhere down the line, it was someone's birthday and there it was - the regal sushi cake complete with a candle and a half hearted birthday song from the rest of us, strangers.
Beef cubes seared to a lovely doneness - it could be more tender but lovely pink and lovely succulence.
Something new on the menu - Chicken noodle, sounds and looks really healthy.
Like meesua, the portion of oodles was good enough for a huge slurp. Bland chicken stock to match.
Kimchi fried rice that seemed smaller in portions this time round.
I cannot bring myself to order anything else but the sashimi rice so then three different types of rice dishes with my favourite being uni.
Walnut and yuzu this time - I should just be thankful they even serve dessert.
An all too familiar sight before and after the meal.
It must have been sights of these boxes of delights that made it so tempting.
A strange revelation about this meal - I was hardly as stuffed as before and the companion even had space for a takeaway for chirashi don ($15). They may have shrunk their portions alongside with the value and if returns are necessary, it will be for ala carte and takeaway.
Chirashi don was a killer - fresh cubes of tuna, salmon and roe made it oooh-lala delicious. No wonder people return specially for alacarte. I am sure the Japanese get bigger portions but the value of Teppei is finally found once again.
Second visit completed, no more visits planned for 2013. Maybe 2014?
Teppei
Orchid Hotel
Looks like a subtle downshift in value for money. Though still quite worth it comparatively.
ReplyDelete@dirtystall: yeahhh unfortunately! Oh well, fingers crossed a better option comes up soon!
ReplyDeleteso how much was your omakase here ?
ReplyDelete@anon: $60+
Delete