It is pleasing to see how fortunes can change in the space of a few weeks. During my
first review of Bespoke, I highlighted how unfortunately there was a lack of customers dining at this restaurant. Well, upon returning two weeks later, I was delighted to see that the restaurant was full of eager customers during the lunch time. I have been told by my readers this is also the case for dinner time. I am sure the current 30% discount has something to do with the increase in customers. I would also like to think my first review has helped too.
Bespoke Japanese Vegetarian DiningLocation: 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-50 Sunshine PlazaContact: 63377050Opening Hours: Daily 11.30am-3.00pm & 5.30pm-10.00pmJapanese food always has such close links to the sea, due to the geographical location of Japan and the ingredients that are used. The main one of those being fish. Seaweed, however, is another one of those ingredients that manages to capture the true essence of ocean food, within its flavour. This dish, named
Stir Fried Japanese Seaweed with Carrot & Green Bean contains extremely fresh, high quality seaweed, which almost melts in the mouth. Although some people may argue this is an incredibly simplistic dish, I would retort that simplicity is one of the fundamental characteristics of Japanese cuisine. Simple fresh flavours and quality ingredients are the key, which this dish certainly has.
Price: $3.00. 7/10Another side dish that I picked out was the
Mushroom Shitake. The picture on the menu looks completely different to what actually arrives on the table. The picture shows a dry, raw looking mushroom, when in real-life it is doused in a special sauce and char-grilled nicely. The biggest criticism I have with this dish is too much salt in the sauce. The issue of high amounts of salt is a reoccurring problem at Bespoke. Putting that issue aside, the mushrooms were packed with juice and charred wonderfully. You will received two skewers of mushrooms for the price, which I find reasonable.
Price:$3.00. 7/10One of the more expensive dishes on the menu is the
Three Kind Sashimi. The concept of mock sashimi became well known in Singapore thanks to the late
Zen Vegetarian Restaurant, and now Bespoke is offering an almost identical dish - No surprise, as the head chef from Zen is now working at Bespoke. The three kinds of mock sashimi are served on a platform, with a bed of ice cubes underneath. Since I was dining with two non-vegetarian colleagues, I asked their opinion on whether the mock sashimi was similar to the real thing - Their response was that the fake version tasted nice, but was lacking in certain elements, such as flavour and texture - Compared to the real thing. For those that have never eaten real sashimi (like myself) then this dish will provide quite a novelty, irregardless of how authentic it is. But price wise, it is shockingly high.
Price: $18.00. 6/10 Without a doubt my personal favourite dish from Bespoke is the
Green Tea Soba. Last time I visited, I had this soup as part of a set meal. This time around I had it simply by itself. The dish is a conglomeration of different subtle flavours. The bits of tempura batter that are floating on the top added a fantastic textural and taste element to the dish. The soup flavour has the right balance of salt, and the green tea soba is bouncy and fresh. Definitely a dish that you must order when visiting Bespoke.
Price: $9.00. 9/10Conclusion - Now that business has risen exponentially, I see the sky being the limit for Bespoke. 100% vegetarian Japanese restaurants are practically non-existent in Singapore, so Bespoke has the market entirely to itself. Some adjustments need to be made in a few of their dishes, especially in terms of salt levels, but overall their food is excellent.Overall RatingFood - 8/10Ambiance- 9/10 Service - 9/10 Value - 6/10
