Located where the old and fondly missed Kopitiam was, The Great Treat is under the wing of Le Meridien Hotel and Shopping Centre along Orchard Road, and has been the talk of the town due to its famous Thai cuisine foodcourt. But to go only for this is to miss several other cuisines served up by small restaurants flanking it that are equally good. Teshwindar Kaur and Tracy Yap check these bistro outlets for those who don’t fancy the long queues.
Sushi Ondo
A thriving pet project embarked by sushi giant Genki Sushi in Japan, Sushi Ondo now resides in Japanese-manic Singapore, joining 4 other conveyor belt sushi competitors in a race to sushi lovers’ stomachs.
Not that Sushi Ondo would even have to put up a fight. Since its unofficial opening 2 months ago, this $1.50 per plate sushi restaurant has been packing in the crowds effortlessly. Its sharp price cut is highly competitive among other sushi restaurants such as Sakae Sushi and Edo Sushi, which charge an average of $2 for a normal plate of sushi. With oiishi (Japanese for delicious) largely familiar bite-sized Japanese chow like sushi, gunkan (seaweed wrapped sushi), temaki (handrolls) and maki to whet your appetite, its economical prices and family-oriented ambience just make Sushi Ondo irresistibly tempting to visit.
Meaning “rhythm” when translated to English, Ondo paves the path for more cost-competitive bistros that are a disappearing trend in Singapore. Like its parent restaurant Genki Sushi, Sushi Ondo offers the same quality control and service efficiency. Sushi Ondo’s limited menu may be incomparable to similar restaurants, but their unique selling point lies in the creative fare like hanna maki and local flavour that is readily available at the stretch of an arm. Here are some mouth-watering delicacies that UrbanWire has selected for your sensory enjoyment.
Ebi Tempura Maki
Sticky sweet rice as its outer layer, this maki (Japanese rice roll) consists of crispy batter-coated prawn (tempura) rolled tightly with a thin piece of seaweed inside. The maki is topped off with strips of spring roll skin to add that extra crunch. The tempura emits the fragrance, which mesmerises every tempura lover and combined with the spring roll skin, makes it scrumptious to the very last bite.
Hanna Maki
Like a flower, the hanna (flower) maki is delicate in its appearance and seems almost too beautiful to consume. Enveloped in a sheet of smooth, succulent salmon, the moulded rice has imbibed the fresh, salty flavour of the fish. The maki then finishes off with a squeeze of mayonnaise and sprinkles of ebbiko (fish roe). The maki melts in the mouth giving less resistance than the ebikko as they burst, leaving a lingering aftertaste of salt and mayonnaise.
Spider Temaki (handroll)
Like a spider, the soft shell crab’s legs creep out of this handroll cautiously. Draped in a film of seaweed in the shape of a cone, the fried soft shell crab unite harmoniously with Japanese cucumber sticks and a mixture of mayonnaise and ebbiko. Eaten when warm, the soft shell crab breaks off with the cucumber easily. Towards the end, the mayonnaise’s intensity rises, making the experience of the temaki an exquisite one.
Besides the common Japanese cuisine, Sushi Ondo invigorates the taste buds with its unique local tim sum recipes that are a hot favourite among customers. Although the menu is short of ramens (Chinese-style noodles) and sobas (buckwheat noodles), they do have the well-loved chawan mushi (Japanese steamed egg) and delectable miso soup. Give in to your sashimi (raw fish) cravings, various fish are sliced upon request for a mere $3.50 per plate. Down those with a free flow of coke, sprite or ice lemon tea ($1.50).
Service
Sushi Ondo uses technology to deliver its trademark polite and prompt service, using an LED display that flashes table numbers. All customers have to do is touch a button. Once the table has been attended to, the table number on the screen disappears on another press. This effectively informs the waiters on the floor that the certain table has been served. The switch from the usual intercoms to LED display monitors has certainly impressed many service-fussy patrons. Can’t wait even a nanosecond to have your tea served? Then help yourself to a teacup from above the conveyor belt, and make your own cuppa of maccha (green tea).
Ambience
Sushi Ondo has a trendy look and bright hues. The restaurant is bathed in homey orange and raincoat yellow, with adorable paintings of cartoons at the back walls. The sufficiently lit shop space is a quiet and comfortable hangout on lazy Sundays, but buzzes with people by lunch and dinnertime. The kitchen staff at work are a visual feast, as you wait for that plump sake (salmon) sushi at the other side of the conveyor belt to come round to you.
Overall Rating: 7/10
