With our fairly heavy breakfast, I decided that a lighter lunch should be in order so that we didn't overload ourselves. Back in the cbd, we thought that Calia, a refined modern Japanese restaurant in the Emporium would be a good choice. This was definitely an understatement.
Arriving at peak lunch hour, there was a significant lineup. We waited for about half an hour and ended up being seated on a large communal table, which we didn't mind. It gave us ample opportunity to peer upon the open kitchen in all its grandeur.
Menus were provided, and I loved the modern take on traditional favourites. Some of the options were a little adventurous but didn't deviate too much from my comfort zone. I would probably have been happy to eat everything off the menu, so this guarantees I'll be back to try the other dishes.
Starting off with drinks, he had a cold brew and I a pot of hot houjicha. Again the glass which held the cold brew was largely spent on the large ice cube, but he found it adequate to meet his caffeine needs. My houjicha was strong and toasty, I liked it.
Starting off our meal we had the standard sized sashimi platter. It was a little small for the price of $25, but cuts were very fresh and enjoyable. My favourite cut was the scallop which was so fresh that it almost had a sweetness to it. Plating was also spot on.
Highlight of our meal, and probably of the whole trip was the Kuru Kani Somen - Crab meat on somen noodles served in a light dashi tea broth, with extra crab. Portion of crab was abundant and well worth the extra. flavours were delicate, light and intricate. I loved how tender the crab pieces were with no hint of shell at all in the bowl. Somen noodles are also a personal favourite for me. I often get some to have at home, but they aren't often available on a commercial basis, these were cooked wonderfully. Further to this, the dashi broth was light but flavoursome, highlighting the flavours of crab, nori and spring onion. Perfection in a bowl.
Our last shared dish was the Baked Alaskan King Crab Leg in Miso Mayonnaise. This was his favourite of the meal, Tasty meaty crab leg that had been semi deshelled for our convenience topped with rich creamy miso mayonnaise made for a delectable morsel of food.
Taste: 9.5/10
Value: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Environment: 8/10
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