I’ve come to realise that even amongst mid-range Japanese restaurant chains, there are some good ones, and some really not so good ones. Akashi at VivoCity was a pleasant surprise, but Aji Tei at the basement of Takashimaya was a downright disappointment. We were there on Saturday, and were deliberating between trying Al Forno’s makeshift stall that was set up there for a 2-week Italian Fair, and the Aji Tei restaurant nearby. Had I known that it was part of the Ajisen Ramen chain, I might have had second thoughts, but based on the photos in the menu, we decided to go with Aji Tei.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmSKV-Vs2jZmcHwBmpGNUr5Z9a4ZHtGhVHs9Y_N3PBaoVQidEoEr0-3P0Gc9M-6pSLVTCLVbLMve52uqetJEchfTyMcebJBL4KCNaxpAFrd8-y_p-vUNJn7DY_zWbJgwyTaHSRA/s400/wings+and+scallop.jpg)
Deceived! The food was nothing like how it was represented in the photos. Almost everything was disappointing; the best dish for me was the chicken wings with a sesame and barbeque sauce. The scallop sushi, which was supposed to be part of the Hokkaido promotion, was tasteless and the scallop was watery, a sure sign that it had been frozen and thawed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM-0XeUAU2ZxOk837fApa9et4xeFwwRzBGOo_hJg3G6LWAdYpzxMkk_O0hsqZwjleKpTK23kMT3WncAZvLQtqHk6QHmwWUTZ952yMUoKflOwLbYFCKnspNpTXRqHMnPxxmB-o4g/s400/pork+and+don.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZyFcA7t38Fk1plHHvtsTAZA93OnuR7gmssyrN3NSq-IZFhTsikcevWMDcL7v2RG0gYFBbb6FF9EepYNThTH3DE3Fc4KpCFh-tOc3h1hLFBxgexK7IoqfZeEVExA5ZB8Oz4504w/s200/salmon+plate.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeynhgFkc31O6vrKrcLJQ3ueTrTd59WPmmsEgxjmA4gtPg0r4NOWUDjHrZbGYpx8o5ysvBLBJZoisiWZ79WgFgGmP4wPx26HT3igNxbjKCJSIrcCEmlxdfyehhsy3emaTJerPdw/s400/salmon+head.jpg)
As you can see, I’m in a grilled fish head mood, after my experience with the yellowtail collar at Akashi. Unfortunately, the salmon head here fell far, far short. The salmon was under-salted and didn’t really have any flavour at all, and the bowl of rice that I ordered was nothing like the one at Akashi either – it was soft, slightly mushy, and tasteless.
Give this place a very wide berth, given all the other dining options in the vicinity. And don’t be conned by the photos in the menu, either.
A says:
Except for my salmon which was passable, everything else was disappointing. Don't be fooled by the low prices; portions are incredibly small.
Aji Tei
Takashimaya Department Store
B2-02
Tel: 6333-8110
No comments:
Post a Comment