New in town: Takeshi-San, Holland Village — Upscale Japanese fare for date night

Sushi, donburi, sashimi. I could go on to wax lyrical about all the great facets of Japanese cuisine and their suffixes to boot, but it’s more befitting to tell it through a new restaurant opening. In today’s case, we have Takeshi-San, a spanking new eatery promising the best of all things Japanese.

It’s nestled in Holland Village amidst a swanky pool of bars, restaurants, and cafes for the young and hip. But hey, don’t let age stop you from coming down for a fun night out or more specifically, a dining experience at Takeshi-San. Here, Japanese fare takes on a classy and elegant approach.

Let’s talk about the food. Yes, you have your classics. The menu here is impressively varied, boasting all your favourite dishes, from udon noodles to maki rolls.

Speaking of rolls, the Mexican Roll (S$15) appeals wholly to the shrimp lovers. It’s a unique combination of panko shrimp, boiled shrimp, cream cheese, crispy tempura bits, and a fiery spicy sauce to finish things off. It sounds utterly delicious, and I reckon that you’d be hard-pressed to find flavours like that anywhere else.

In yet another sushi offering, Takeshi-San takes things to a whole new level, quite literally, with their Sushi Kaidan Sets. This one proves to be as much a feast for the eyes as it is for our mouths.

It scores full marks for presentation, where cascading pieces of nigiri arrive on a staircase-like wooden contraption. Each set promises six different pieces of nigiri, including tamago, aburi salmon, and tuna nigiri. There’s the Nigiri Set (S$15), Salmon Set (S$18), Kaidan Basic Set (S$18), and the Aburi Mentai Set (S$22). Sushi fanatics would feel instantly at home with these options.

If rice isn’t your thing, here’s a plate of A5 Wagyu Truffle Inaniwa Udon (S$32) to whet your appetite. This one is truly indulgent. Pair the highest quality of meats with truffle, and add on a wobbly, creamy egg yolk atop creamy udon noodles. You end up with a sinful amalgamation of flavours which makes you feel no less than royalty. Choose this one if you’re looking to treat yourself well on payday.

With such an impressive array of Japanese dishes, Takeshi-San shapes out to be a fantastic option for lovers of the cuisine.

ChopeDeals: Get 1-for-1 Chirashi at $34.90 nett >

ChopeDeals: Get 1-for-1 Kaidan Set at $24.90 nett >