by Miss Terry Diner
Many years ago, there was a little Japanese Sushi/Sashimi restaurant at one
end of the Benihana Restaurant which was on the first floor of Royal Garden
Plaza overlooking Second Road. In the refurbishment, when Benihana moved to
the next floor up and went to the Beach Road side of the Plaza, Kabuki
somehow got lost. For those who love this type of cuisine, I have great
news. Kabuki has found its way back!
If you go to the escalators at the Beach Road end of the Royal Garden Plaza,
up to the second floor, you will almost walk right into Kabuki, in the left
corner of the new Benihana. The refrigerated display cabinet is there,
complete with several bottles of different sakis, with the production area
immediately behind, where the Kabuki chef Josh weaves his magic.
The menu is limited, but there are enough choices from the 34 Japanese
items. It begins with sashimi (five pieces per order) and has choices
including egg omelet, red snapper, sweet shrimp, crab sticks, octopus,
salmon, surf clam, mackerel, tuna, yellow tail and grilled eel. Prices range
from B.200-550 depending upon the seafood and its country of origin, with
most imported from Japan or Australia.
The next page has the sushi items (two pieces per serving) with 13 items
ranging mainly between B. 140-180. Eight traditional rolls follow (six
pieces per serve) at B. 120-320 and then two Soba and Udon noodles at B.
180. Please note that as this is part of the Marriott Hotel complex there
will be a plus plus applied, as is the usual in these cases.
As soon as we sat down, we were made most welcome and the large cold towels
were very refreshing. Well starched linen napkins were supplied, and an
interesting basket-weave mini-quiver containing our individual chopsticks is
in our place setting. There is also a stoneware tray with containers with
chilli powder and soy sauce, to mix with the Wasabi, as you see fit. Regular
readers of this column will know that Miss Terry Diner just loves Wasabi!
By the way, if you are not too adept with chopsticks, as one of my lunchtime
guests was, Kabuki will supply special chopsticks, complete with rubber band
to take the fumbling out of food! Great idea.
Being a working lunchtime, we turned down all the offers of saki (or wine),
but instead had a wonderful iced tea, complete with tea ice cubes.
It would be difficult to name any dish we enjoyed most, as we enjoyed them
all! The California Roll was an immediate hit, with the different tastes and
textures of the prawn, avocado, egg, asparagus, mayonnaise and crabstick,
complete with the prawn eggs on top.
I was also very taken with the Oshinko Maki which had rice around pickled
Daikon, and all wrapped in seaweed, and with a deft dip of Wasabi, was
absolutely delicious.
The Unagi sushi was very interesting, being a grilled smoked eel which comes
with a soy glaze and toasted sesame seeds, wrapped in seaweed. This is one
which is best without the Wasabi, and was wonderful.
We finished our lunch with some green tea ice cream, a very smooth palate
reviver after the different tastes of the meal. I should also point out that
the presentation of the individual dishes was superb, and chef Josh has
obviously been very well trained by the Marriott’s kitchen operation manager
Dennis Barton, who spent two years himself in the kitchens in Japan.
We went at lunchtime as a party of three, and could see why this style of
eating is so popular. The food comes at the pace you want, leaving enough
time for socializing or business. The concept is very easy to get along with
and the photographic menu means you know what you are going to get. Chef
Josh will also answer all your questions as to what you are eating. Great
fun, good food. Well worth the visit! Do try.
Kabuki (inside Benihana), Second floor Royal Garden Plaza (Beach Road end),
telephone 038 412 120. Open seven days, 12 noon until 10 p.m. Secure parking
in the Royal Garden Plaza car park (Kabuki will stamp your parking ticket).
