Sushi Blues

Trying out new restaurants in Shanghai is like peeling pretty wrapping paper off a present to find out what gift lies within. A delightful walk along the Yandang Lu pedestrian strip brought us to the beautiful entrance of this new dining concept whose interior looked like it was carefully put together. Ordering was a bit of a challenge given the wide selection to choose from (mostly on the pricey side). We decided to stick to the YY198 per person set menu. It seemed like a good deal as it included spring rolls with prawn and vegetables, assorted sashimi (salmon, yellowtail, scallop), roast chicken with mashed avocado, hot inariwa udon noodle with mixed mushrooms, and dessert. A few more unusual a la carte selections like river eel sandwiched between layers of tempura eggplant (YY65) and the wasabi mousse dessert and sesame ice cream (YY55) also caught our attention. The presentation was fantastic, Japanese gone gourmet on pretty plates and pots with exquisite cutlery, but the flavors often overwhelmed the main ingredients and confused our taste buds. The ambiance was a good effort though sent some mixed signals (is it a bar? is it a restaurant?), and the music could have been more ambient. The food itself could have been fresher and more memorable but alas, the presentation took precedence over taste. Overall, we give it points for effort and maybe a second chance for execution, hoping that next time, the experience won't be as confusing. --Sabine Chichioco