Restaurant review: Hashida Garo
Those who know and love Hashida Sushi restaurant in Singapore probably don’t expect master chef-owner Kenjiro ‘Hatch’ Hashida to make desserts the focus of his second venture, but that’s exactly what he did for Hashida Garo. And like any good confectionery shop/café/restaurant in Japan, sweets are exquisite, oh-so pretty, and sometimes, innovative. Best of all, nothing costs more than $20.
On the menu are a mix of traditional Japanese dessertss, French sweets, and even local-inspired creations like the rare kuzukiri (cold clear kuzu noodles served with sugar syrup and seasonal fruits), mizu majyu (jelly-type dumpling filled with sweet white bean paste swimming in green mint syrup), chocolate yokan (a rich, jellied dessert made with red bean paste, valrhona chocolate and a dash of sea salt), macarons (there’s yuzu, matcha, hoji tea, tomato, passion fruit, miso, black tea and – wait for it – foie gras), and the lovely merlion monaka, a wafer stuffed with kaya, white chocolate and white bean paste.
But Hashida Garo isn’t just a place for some brilliant post-prandial treats. The multi-concept restaurant is conceptualised to be a dining establishment for all those in-between meals – brunch, afternoon tea, and pre-dinner or supper small plates pair with sake. If you’re there for the booze, order the collagen-rich chawanmushi, the comforting paiten oden, the delicious potato salad, and the fish noodles to line your stomach before knocking back uber-smooth rice wines. Tea is also a big deal for the 26-seater (after all, a tatami platform takes centrestage in the room) – there are nine types of green teas to choose from, and you’ll get witness an elaborate, traditional matcha tea ceremony when someone in the restaurant orders a cuppa.
While sweets, tea and tapas-style items take up most of the menu, there are also awesome set lunches and dinners for hungry folks (that’s kind of like everyone). Though pricey for a casual dining place, we highly recommend the miyazaki waygu set ($90), which comes with appetiser, a melt-in-your-mouth-and-life-changingly-good wagyu A5 tenderlion, rice and miso soup. Not big on beef? The Buta Kakuni, unagi Ippon, chicken karaage, and garo curry set are practically faultless – plus you can get them for less than $40. Now, if you love unpretentious yet top-notch food, or if you’re tired of blowing cash on increasingly pricey Japanese fine dining, then this is the place you should frequent. Where else can you find superb green teas, first-rate set meals, outstanding sakes and brilliant desserts all under one roof.
Psst…if you like this, check out heaps more Japanese restaurants in Singapore here.
Hashida Garo, #04-16 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road, Singapore 238897, p. 6235 2283. Open Sun-Thu 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-11pm.