Mellow Kitty
Kagura is an unassuming little restaurant neither too exciting nor too dull, neither too fancy nor too shabby, neither too expensive nor too cheap. It features a rock waterfall, a few understated Chinese decorations and a little bamboo here and there with some jazz standards playing softly in the background. The wait staff is friendly, bilingual and unobtrusive. The menu, too, is similarly inoffensive. They have plenty of standard Japanese favorites like sushi, tempura and rice-stuffed omelets, but also cater to Western tastes with pizza, pasta, and breads. If their food was anywhere as bland as the ambiance, Kagura would be in serious trouble, but thankfully it is not. Salmon and flying fish roe rolls (￥50) were fresh and delectable, as were the avocado crab rolls (￥40) which went down well with a side of sweet potato fries (￥30). The Kyoto-style grilled cod with sweet miso glaze (￥50) was also delicious despite being a bit rubbery in texture. The real standout was the stellar shrimp and cod roe with mayo dressing (￥45) which is so good you should probably get at least two orders. Thoughtful presentation was a nice touch and the prices are affordable for most budgets, resulting in a pleasing overall dining experience. They may try to cast a wide net, but the real catches are the Japanese dishes.

Derek Sandhaus

Add: 390 Shaanxi Nan Lu 陕西南路390号 Tel: 5171-9539