Dinner @ Ryo Sushi | Sushi Restaurant in Tanjong Pagar

June 23, 2018 in Japanese by thywhaleliciousfay

When Ryo Sushi first opened its door in September 2016, my IGGF (InstaGram GirlFriend) said we should hurry down to try their opening special menu which was a 10-course priced very affordably and attractively at $18 but limited to the first 18 customers. However, the thing about me is that I prefer regular menus. So Ryo Sushi ended up on my restaurants-to-try list… For 1.5 years. Oops. Out of sight area, out of mind lah. Cause shortly after Ryo Sushi opened at Orchid Hotel, my office shifted out of Tanjong Pagar.

And the reason why Ryo Sushi returned back to my radar was because a foodie friend, whom I recently befriended on instagram, was also interested to check out Ryo Sushi. Yeah. And let’s call my new friend IGBP (InstaGram Bottomless Pit). Haha. But making the reservation was tricky. Tripadvisor reviews mentioned Ryo Sushi’s booking system was atrocious. And it’s claimed that one stand a higher chance of securing seats if it’s mentioned in the reservation call that one is getting the most expensive menu ($98).

In our first attempt, I called at 11.30pm and was told that they only accept reservation 1 month in advanced. In our second attempt, I called at 10.30pm but my call was not picked up. In our third attempt, I called at 10am. Thankfully they answered my morning call because I was making reservation to have dinner on the same day.

I was informed they were fully booked that night for all 3 seatings (6pm, 7.30pm and 9pm). The staff put us on the waiting list instead, and I was informed later at 3.30pm that we were confirmed for 6pm seating. Which honestly, it’s hard for me to comprehend how they managed to squeeze out 2 seats when they said they were full house when I called earlier. Was it pure coincidence that someone cancelled their reservation or was it really work of the magic words “we are ordering the $98 set”. But in any case, IGBP and I were thrilled to get our reservation confirmed.

And we started our dinner with:-

1) 18-course sea urchin menu, $98 comprised of:-

(A) Dish #1 (above) – Edamame.

(B) Dish #2 (above, left) – Hijiki seaweed salad.

(C) Dish #3 (above) – Truffled onsen egg with salmon roe.

  
  
  
  
  
  

(D) Dish #4 (above) – Sushi assortment of flounder (hirame) with pink Himalayan salt, snapper (matai), squid, scallop with kombu crumble and a dash of fresh lime, striped jack (shima-aji) with citrus and pepper, big-eye snapper (kinmedai), prawn (namba ebi), marinated tuna (maguro zyke) with yuzu zest, medium fatty tuna (chutoro) with soya foam, salmon roe, and sea urchin (bafun uni).

(E) Dish #5 (above) – Crab hand roll. And I liked the attention to small details; Chef Louis added (3 to 4) slits to the seaweed before passing us the hand roll. The slits made it easier for eating.

(F) Dish #6 (above) – Super mini rice bowl of sea urchin (bafun uni) and salmon roe.

(G) Dish #7 (above) – Miso soup.

I went to Ryo Sushi with no expectation and I was genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed the dining experience. Don’t expect top quality for the sushi topping (neta) since we get what we pay for. But the sushi was pretty good. Although chef Louis could use less “thank you so much”. A “thank you so much” would follow after his every introduction of the sushi. Hmm…

And while I was having my dinner, I noticed everyone but one was having the $98 menu. So one could still get reservation with the $68 menu (which is also 11-course, but without sea urchin). The $18 menu is only for walks-in which I personally think would be quite hard to get unless one try to walk in during lunch. And for lunch service, Ryo Sushi also offered a $38 menu in addition to the $68 and $98 menus.

Do I recommend Ryo Sushi? I certainly do. But I hope one’s experience won’t be marred by the reservation process before the actual meal.

RYO SUSHI
1 Tras Link, Orchid Hotel, #01-06, Singapore
6443 3463, Website, Facebook
Overall: 7
Opening hours:-
Food/Beverage: 7
Mon – Sat : 11:45 – 14:45 (Lunch)
Ambience: 6
Mon – Sat : 18:00 – 22:30 (Dinner)
Value: 8
Service: 7
* Closed on Sun