Jac: So this is a right proper start; two years down the road, a new life in a new neighbourhood and the celebration of all these by dinner in our own backyard.

Ambience: The crystal chandelier is quite the bit of eye-candy

Jac: Umai-ya’s been around for a while so there’s a lived in air about the place and a quite efficiency among the wait staff in the flagship Damansara Perdana outlet. They’ve recently opened a swankier version in Damansara Uptown though.

Bran: I’d never have thought that such a place existed around Damansara Perdana, despite the smattering of restaurants here and there. It’s a hidden jewel!

Menu selection is NOT to be taken lightly!

 

Salmon Salad

Jac: We started off the meal with a Salmon Salad, a rather ordinary choice but the fresh salad was dressed with an interesting nutty flavoured dressing. Neither of us could pin down the taste of it.

Bran: After a bit of research (more like having eaten something like it after, to be revealed in an upcoming post :p), I’ve found out that it’s a sesame sauce or goma. It had an exquisitely buttery and nutty flavour that melted almost too quickly in my mouth.

Berjaya Roll

Jac: The “Berjaya’ roll had baby octopus filling, avocado slices on top, garnished with ebiko and drizzled with another tasty mystery sauce. (Bran: Goma!)

Bran: The Berjaya Roll sushi was probably up there amongst the best sushi I’ve ever had. Ooh, yummy.

Mushroon soup in tin foil

Jac: The clear mushroom soup with slices of Chinese mushroom and shitake was simple and refreshing with the added twist of lemon.

Bran: Understated and yet remaining elegant at the same time.

Beef Teppanyaki

Jac: The beef teppanyaki came with tender bite size pieces of beef in a prominent garlic and ginger seasoning.

Bran: Not as medium rare as I’d ordered it, but delish all the same.

Jac: The moment we spotted ‘Wasabi ice-cream’ on the menu, there was no doubt what we were having for dessert. I expected a slight flavour of wasabi but was unprepared for the kick the ice-cream delivered. It’s not a dessert for the faint hearted and I won’t be ordering it again anytime soon as I’m not given to crying over my dessert! (Sorry no photo of the ice-cream; by the time we’d finished exclaiming over it, most had been consumed or melted into an un-photogenic puddle :p)

Bran: I wondered why the waitress was so intent on getting us to have extra red bean topping. I now know why. My first ever meeting with Wasabi ice-cream, but not my last!

A belly happy customer

Jac: Altogether the meal for the two of us came to about RM100. It’s a little on the high side but worth the money for deceptively ‘normal’ Japanese fare that turns around to surprise and tantalize the taste buds.

Her Review Summary

Ambience : 6
Service : 8.5
Food : 8.5
Worth a revisit?: Yes, if I find loose change at the end of the month, there’s something to celebrate and I need to settle my craving with something other than the cheaper kaiten belt options.
Rave-ability: Sushi rice so good you can eat it on its own!

His Review Summary

Ambience: 7 – Modern Japanese styling was nice and private booths were private

Service: 8

Food: 8