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2013-03-28
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As on of the brands under the MOF banner, Danro at NEX offers a selection of Nabemono (Japanese hot pot dishes) from different regions of Japan, buffet style. Perhaps it's a Singaporean thing to go gaga for buffets, but I only managed to get seats on my third attempt! The restaurant interior is dimly lit and cosy, with bamboo decor and wooden furnishings all round. The buffet section is placed right at the back of the restaurant. So if you are looking for quick refills, try asking for a table ne
The restaurant interior is dimly lit and cosy, with bamboo decor and wooden furnishings all round. The buffet section is placed right at the back of the restaurant. So if you are looking for quick refills, try asking for a table nearer to the back of the restaurant if it's available.
At nearly $30 per pax for the buffet, the selection of food is kind of limited beyond the assorted soup bases. You can opt for up to 2 soup bases per hot pot, choosing from the likes of Wafu broth from Kyoto, Tonkotsu from Tokyo etc. We opted for the Wafu as well as the Chicken and Milk broth, both highly recommended by other patrons to Danro (超人气！）as well as for the contrast they would provide. The Wafu is a light and clear soup base - the main component of radish giving it an underlying sweet tone, while the Chicken and Milk broth tends more on the creamier side.
While there wasn't much to choose from for the buffet spread, the staff at Danro do keep them well-stocked. You would hardly see empty trays or missing items. Diners can have their pick of starters, vegetables, assorted meatballs, seafood and meats.
Highlighting the Onsen Egg from the list of appetizers - a half boiled egg immersed in what seems to be a cold Shoyru-based bath with a couple of sprigs of spring onion. Interesting experience!But the highlight of the dinner had to be the beef and pork shabu shabu. The thin slices of meat cook within a minute or 2 of cooking, and taste great picked piping hot right out of the pot or with sauce dips that you can create from the restaurants recommended lists or off the top of your head.
Foodie tip! Even going around the entire buffet spread with a fine tooth comb, you would still not be able to find the restaurant's signature Kiritanpo, rice sticks pounded from freshly cooked rice, toasted and served with sweet miso sauce drizzled on it. You would have to order the dish separately. By itself, the Kiritanpo has that earthy burnt flavour of rice, but tastes just as nice if you dip them into your choice of soup. Don't miss out!
On the whole, it was a good experience at Danro. But it's kind of hard justifying the price point with the small variety of food available. So.. we'll see!
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