WinterWonders: New Blooms for Sakura?

Spring is round the corner meaning the Sakura buds will be in full bloom soon. Rows of the light pink trees running down a stretch of road being cleared out for the viewers to lay out their picnic mats, ready to just sip some tea whilst admiring the Sakura trees. .......

Major SIGH, no we are not in Japan and the possibilities of having a Sakura picnic gathering is a solid nil.

However, major renovations works have finished and the favourite budget place for local Japanese cuisine has moved to Conduit street here in London. [they moved two streets down regent street. why? hm perhaps to be opposite Vivienne Westwood? Actually why not-shoppers come out of Westwood, see the cute facade and go 'yeah! I fancy jap today!' Hm..maybe...

Anyhow, Sakura is the name of this little Japanese restaurant. They used to look very scruffy with unappealing interiors and mediocre food quality but just the other day I thought of bringing my flatmate down there since we were in the area and not to mention STARVING. Then once we got to the door, a paper sign explained they had moved down to Conduit street. After frowning for abit we managed to get our lazy bums down the two streets and we were greeted with this...

WHAT?!?!?!?! Okay, I don't now where to start about the transformation but this is the old Sakura:

Different much?

I guess it has gone form a more local look to a higher end look-ahem 'Mayfair' look. Well, I love the new look. It is towards the Japanese French style which is an ever growing trend in Asia. Ma Maison is a favourite in Singapore where you get transported to an interior of a snow lodge which seems likes its on an abandoned snowy mountain however in reality its on the 2nd floor of a shopping mall. The power of interiors :D

Pink isn't a big fave of mine but it works with Sakura for obvious reasons. They are smart enough to not only attract the rich shoppers along the streets of Mayfair but also the business people in the area. I have been to the new Sakura twice and on both occasions, the place was packed with corporate people. It would be an ideal place to have a business lunch, its classy yet not crazy expensive and its Japanese. Japanese cuisine seems to be one of the Asian markets whereby no one makes a loss. Everyone is always up for Japanese food and over the years, the cuisine has taken on a more traditional and local taste within this city. Its not rubbish like Samurai or Yo Sushi. Ugh, don't get me started.

The interiors match the exterior. It does follow the European French style of red leathered studded chairs and wooden tables. Georgian lightings and pastel colours. They do seem have gotten rather confused with their picture hangings by placing blown up photographs of Chinese flowers and pagodas though. Seating is on the upper floor or ground floor, toilets are in the basement which I guess is where the kitchen is also located. HMMM...basement kitchens are always rather dodge. However, I'm not going to do a Gordon Ramsey and hey, Japanese are known to be clean right?

Service is probably the only downfall about this place. Utterly rubbish if we look upon it from a stereotypical Japanese point of view. The receptionist had the arrogance of a bull and ignorance of a cow. The waiters had the Chinese mindset of getting things out quickly, taking takes back quickly, oh customer service ooh what is that?

We got taken up to the upper floor and into a back room which I first presumed was where all the 'Azns' were seated since everyone in that room was Asian whereas the customers out near the window porch were Europeans. Racist? I dare not bring anything up.

The room we were in had little to no furnishings and had the furniture from the old restaurant. HAHA, maybe they still have abit of work to do. Not sure if they plan to keep it that way but having different furniture is rather weird and not elegant. Especially if you have Georgian look alike furniture in the main areas and only village furniture in the back rooms.

Anyhow, the food is the most important thing here and it definitely has improved. Prices have increased but that goes with the new location and the profits they have to make. Fine no big deal.

The traditional local foods are very tasty but that makes me rather skeptical for I'm thinking they put alot of MSG in their 'dons'. The Sashimi is fresh and generous however, I would still prefer having my sashimi sliced well and not in a thick chunk. The sushi is definitely on par, melts in the mouth kind-perfect. The bento boxes are abit disappointing for the daily special bento had everything overcooked including the tofu which is just not right. Ah, it seems that I have changed my mind about the food at this place. The best thing here is their yakiniku don though and their tempura which has a lovely batter. The dons are all delicious but be prepared to drink tons of water afterwards. I was surprised to find that their green tea is non fillable unless charged. Their green tea ice cream was nothing special and was definitely from a box. Haha, ok I'm officially not giving this place a good summary. A shame for its has great potential but most of the little things here just don't click and overall when I look back, the imaginary greatness I initially had in my head just isn't there. I guess, I was just really hungry that day.

(o.o)