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4.0
from 1 to 5
181 Orchard Road
#08-12Singapore
Postal code: Show postal code
Telephone: (65) 6884-8901
Category:
Restaurants » Japanese
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1=SGD 0.0587
Overall Rating:
506
Had dinner at Ootoya, a casual Japanese restaurant chain with outlets in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, HK, Indonesia and more recently, Singapore. I've seen the outlets in Tokyo, but it never really occurred to me to try them out, especially with no dearth of excellent food options there.
With its discreet and minimalistic frontage, Ootoya could well be mistaken for an upclass Japanese restaurant. But walk in and be greeted by a casual, almost cafe like amostphere complete with shouts of Japanese greeting and a long U shape table (a little like a teppanyaki table except that this one doesn't have a chef standing in front of you preparing food) and small "semi private" rooms for those who have a bigger group (which we were lucky to get).
Charcoal Grilled Pork with Special Sauce ($16) - To be honest, how exciting can grilled pork get? But I was quite taken aback by how well Ootoya grilled its generous pieces of hog - Relatively tender with grilled lines to show for it and a flittering taste of charcoal smokiness. Coupled with plump, mildly sticky rice grains, it made for a wonderful combination.
Banana Parfait ($8) - I am rather skeptical about Japanese desserts as they always seem to prefer form (aesthetics) over substance (might be a misconception). Ootoya's Banana Parfait sought to realign that misconception with a surprisingly good and sweet ending to my meal. The parfait didn't come across as too gelatin and sat on a bed of azuki beans which hinted of coffee. 2 small slices of banana and sponge completed the picture.
Overall I spent about $28 for a wonderful dinner inclusive of free flow green tea. Well worth the money in my humble opinion and definitely worth a revisit.
See all my pictures here.
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424
Thai Food - $10 Dollars Ang Mo Food - $20 Dollars ATAS Chinese Food at the top level - $100 Dollars A sit in Ootoya during Dinner Hours - Priceless
The sits outside Ootoya are not for resting your feet, but they are for prospective customers with rumbling stomachs and black black faces. Now we know why it always feels like being in a thunderstorm in orchard central. The temperature so low and freezing, atmosphere dark and gloomy and the roar of the thunder reigning in my ears.
Ootoya is like a little gem in this cosmopolitan like mall. They serve food i should say pretty different from other restaurants. I catagorise them..."Home-Cooked Jap Food". They don't serve funky affairs like raw lobster sashimi or tappenyaki with the fliping saucers and flying eggs; but casual yet chic home affairs like fried chicken with egg plant, scallop on rice, and many more tantalizing saliva dripping stuffs which are super duper delicious. I could not really recall the complicated jap names of these dishes but I could recall the yummy taste and the soothing aroma, which BTW is flashing through my senses now....
The Dessert is FAB...... especially the mochi or whatever sticky yummy think they call it... You can have a choice of it with coffee, green tea or vanilla ice cream. Its always important to conclude your meal with a fabulously fantastic dessert as no one would enjoy a movie without a good ending...
Now we talk about the most important part.. Will it burn a hole in your pocket.. I can tell you... judging by my weight, size and the amount of burnt marks on my tongue I get savoury piping hot food.. It is super affordable. Considering the venue, ambience, super attentive service, wonderful setting, generous portions and great tasting food. It is very value for money. On top of that... the green tea is free lor.. no need 2 dollars or $1.50.. not even 50 cents... and no need to buy mineral water from them lor.....
Then got BONUS..... They have this tatami sitting.. in as the centre piece. Great for big groups, single diners or just for 2. You get to sit with strangers, altogether totally jap style lor.. Matter of fact, I didn't manage to sit there even though i went there to eat many times. I always wonder how they get in and out. If they will kick anybody's head when they get in/out.... Anyway.. this is something very interesting that I love...
You can also sit on normal tables for 2 or 4. They are spacious and comfortable and I love the window sits as I do get to see the miserable and impatient faces waiting outside to rush in for dinner. Its not a huge place and theres almost no reservation services available. Be early to secure a good seat or be in the midst of a thunderstorm.
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