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| - My wife and I went to Hapa Izakaya to try their Big Taste 2017 dinner menu. Our experience was very underwhelming, which started off by walking into the freezing restaurant where either they do not have heating, or were just oblivious to the fact that most guests were clearly cold and wearing jackets and winter coats while having dinner.
We ordered a Wagyu nigiri carpaccio to start, which consisted of two pieces of nigiri with what was supposed to be carpaccio meat on top. Contrary to what you would get with a good carpaccio, the meat slices were thick and chewy. For what is supposed to be haute cuisine, this is inexcusable.
As our main, we ordered a sockeye salmon foil yaki, which left a lot to be desired. The salmon filet was decently cooked on the sides but raw and rubbery in its centre, and served over a mushroom and barley "risotto" that tasted almost like gravy. The dish not only had no relation to Japanese cuisine at all (isn't that the idea of going to a Japanese restaurant?), it was also poorly executed. Frankly, I think I could achieve better results at home.
We also tried a spicy veggie roll from their regular menu which was good, although soaked in spicy mayo.
The star of the night was the dessert, a matcha creme brulee that was exquisite. It is the only reason why I give two stars instead of one.
The above experience, of course, is charged by Hapa Izakaya at the price of fine dining. But the quality to justify the price is just not there. I don't expect to be back any time soon.
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