As usual, D Guy sure knows all the right buttons to press. When he mentioned that his brother was gifting us a bottle of Junmai Daiginjo for our dinner at Robataya Yoyogi, I could not decline despite being double booked that night.
This spacious little restaurant at The Pier near Robertson Quay serves small dishes of grilled meat, seafood and vegetables. Allowing Chef Patrick Tan to decide on your meal is an easy choice, especially for your first time. Patrick has fresh supplies flown in 5 days of the week from Japan and will select the best from the latest additions to his larder.
Our Omakase dinner began with a leg of Hokkaido King Crab grilled to perfection, sweet and succulent. This seasonal dish seemed an appropriate way to celebrate the end of 2007. A lovely little lamb cutlet followed, seasoned just right and served tender with a dollop of English mustard on the side. After that came a single Hokkigai (surf clam) with a light cream sauce slightly browned on the top mixed with tiny caviar and finely chopped spring onions.
The evening's two vegetable dishes were delightful in their creative simplicity. Two small new potatoes, halved, grilled to perfection and served with thin slices of butter were a fragrant combination, the butter melting upon contact with the still hot tiny tubers. The last dish was a short skewer of cherry tomatoes wrapped in bacon. The little tomatoes were lightly roasted and filled your mouth with ketchup-like consistency mixing with the salty bacon when eaten.
Our little extra order was grilled squid. Chef Tan did an excellent job making sure that the meat was still juicy and not too chewy yet with a crispy edge on it. It was accompanied by a slightly spicy cream sauce that blended well with its flavour. The chef's menu ended with a cold noodle served with sides of finely grated ginger and spring onions. The texture and temperature of the noodles provided a satisfying finish to a wonderful meal.
Chef Patrick also runs Yoyogi across the street at 35 Mhd Sultan Road if you fancy the more traditional sushi and sashimi fare.
Robataya Yoyogi, +65 633 2711, 80 Mohamed Sultan Road, The Pier, #01-04, Singapore 239013.
