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2013-06-07
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Get more reviews at http://thehungrybunnie.blogspot.comHinoki is opened by the brother of the guy behind Tatsuya, and having heard a number of rave reviews about it, I was expecting a certain standard of Japanese fare when I visited this casual Japanese diner one night for dinner with Lips. I was surprised to find myself plainly unimpressed with Hinoki's fare. Even if I'd taken into consideration the attractively low prices of Hinoki's bento sets, the food just wasn't up to par, both in executio
Hinoki is opened by the brother of the guy behind Tatsuya, and having heard a number of rave reviews about it, I was expecting a certain standard of Japanese fare when I visited this casual Japanese diner one night for dinner with Lips. I was surprised to find myself plainly unimpressed with Hinoki's fare. Even if I'd taken into consideration the attractively low prices of Hinoki's bento sets, the food just wasn't up to par, both in execution and quality of ingredients.
That said, the stellar service standards is a common thread between Tatsuya and Hinoki. Our cups of green tea were refilled promptly and the waitresses were attentive and sweetly accommodating. A teensy weensy gripe though, was that they shut down the air-conditioning of our area after 9pm. It got a bit stuffy and warm, which was such a mood-killer for lingering over tea and dessert.
We got the Hinoki Bento ($38++) consisting the following:
1) Buta Kakuni, pork belly simmered in soy and dressed with shredded radish and mustard, was pretty pedestrian. Not bad but not great either
2) Tempura: was poorly done, evident from its appearance. The tempura batter was thick and heavy when it should have been airy and light
3) Gindara Teriyaki: while fleshy and generous, was also another average dish
4) Chawanmushi was layered thinly with a viscous, gel-like, tasteless substance. I didn't like the texture and found no ostensible use for the addition of it
5) Sashimi Mori and Aburi Sushi: the fish was sinewy and tough, when it should have been melt-in-your-mouth and sweet
6) Salad, despite its miserably sad look, was fortunately saved by the refreshingly tangy wafu dressing
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