Saikou, third time's not a charm

Saikou @ Wellington St

I know i have previously given a (sort of raving) positive review about Saikou about a month or two back, as one of my favourite lunch spots in Central for sushi... If only I could write this post having the same positive views... ! 

I arrived at Saikou today with my brother, hoping to introduce him to this place I used to to like. Without the 20% discount for after 1.45pm arrivals, it seemed a lot more expensive for what they give you. We hesitated at first, but finally decided to go for the pick-your own Tempura Set ($220) and the Sushi Platter ($190). 

The usual starters of steamed chawanmushi, salad and mini stewed dish arrived. Apart from the salad being absolutely drenched in sesame dressing things seemed fine. 

tempura plate

Shortly after, the tempura set arrived. For this tempura set, you get to choose 6 from 12 items on a tick-sheet, 1 of 4 stewed dishes and a noodle or rice dish. We chose local live prawn, whiting, white fish, mantis shrimp, the chef's recommendation and beancurd sheet with shrimp paste. The batter for these were alright except I would've liked them more if it were a little more browned (some were pretty white). 

USA Beef and Potato Stew

 The beef and potato stew was alright - the broth was lightly salty, beef was on the lean side, but quite homey. Carrots and potatoes were tender enough.

somen noodles were slightly too soft and of a small portion but the condiments and tsuyu that came with it was alright

 this sushi plate was honestly the saddest i've had since i can remember... from the bottom right, lean tuna, snapper, two tilapia fillets, half a scallop, a piece from a futomaki roll, lean tuna gunkan, uni gunkan, ark shell, sweet shrimp and sweet tamago. 

If the plate from my last visit was worth the $190, this plate should technically be half that or less... The tuna pieces were awfully bloody in taste, the doubling of the cheaper tilapia fish was cheeky, the seaweed on the gunkan rolls were limp and even slightly wet. If these aren't bad enough of examples, see the rice in the photo below? 

now i remember mentioning the fat and round rice morsels which came with the chirashi and sushi last time, but these were no where to be seen. instead, here is some anemic-looking grains, with each sushi rice being of a different shape and size... c'mon, any sushi-making beginner could do better after one class. either it was not a proper sushi chef who had prepared this plate or a sushi chef did so blindfolded. 

udon in a hot broth was slightly too salty and as usual, noodles way too soft. 

Dessert was some 'chocolate pudding' which was more like 'ovaltine pudding', and my brother said it tasted like chocolate processed cheese cubes - i have no idea where he got that from but i suppose he meant it negatively.

Honestly i was incredibly disappointed with Saikou. After getting the bill (with service, about $450) I reflected my thoughts to the manager, who said i couldn't expect anymore since they stopped importing from their old suppliers near the Fukushima nuclear plant. really? because other restaurants have continued to get their supply from other parts of japan and remain in (if not top) good quality. Saikou now sources from places like Taiwan and Korea, with only a couple items from Hokkaido, and later will stop serving raw items with their menu prices reduced for other items. It sounds to me like they're headed for the worst when they don't have to, and they should have already cut out the raw items if they cannot continue providing quality fish for the prices they charge. 

Food: ♥ (borderline 0)
Service: ♥ - ♥♥

Price: $$$ (lunch)

Saikou

19/F, Wellington Place

2-8 Wellington Street, 

Central