tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post773876893458892489..comments2024-03-14T13:58:46.869+11:00Comments on I Eat Therefore I Am: Shoyathanh7580http://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-75045001255856391052008-03-17T12:52:00.000+11:002008-03-17T12:52:00.000+11:00Yep I totally agree Cin. I won't be going back to ...Yep I totally agree Cin. I won't be going back to them again. I read their review in the Good Food Guide again, and even in there they mention that service can be hit and miss quite often.thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-71451650711440968352008-03-17T10:18:00.000+11:002008-03-17T10:18:00.000+11:00I'm all for giving second chances but when the fee...I'm all for giving second chances but when the feedback is consistently bad...cinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08028047835223930866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-27320605079168518292008-03-16T19:29:00.000+11:002008-03-16T19:29:00.000+11:00Cin, I probably would normally do more research on...Cin, I probably would normally do more research on a restaurant. But it was suggestion from Danny and I thought that was good enough. <BR/><BR/>I just re-read the post you wrote. I even commented on it, saying that I probably wouldn't go there. I guess it never stuck in my head. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, they are definitely consistent in regards to poor service. You, Danny and myself have all commented on how bad the service was.thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-55480319579184197522008-03-16T12:34:00.000+11:002008-03-16T12:34:00.000+11:00Do thy research:http://myfavouritefoods.com/2006/0...Do thy research:<BR/><BR/>http://myfavouritefoods.com/2006/09/shoya-wanna-eat-there/<BR/><BR/>;PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-83958401422819338362008-02-14T20:49:00.000+11:002008-02-14T20:49:00.000+11:00Danny, I agree that restaurants do try to do too m...Danny, I agree that restaurants do try to do too much sometimes. Specialising and being good at one thing is just as good as being able to do many things average.<BR/><BR/>I read the Tempura Hajime post that you guys wrote at the time. I had noted that down as a place to go already. But before I ever got round to booking, The Age review just meant I wouldn't get in for months. I'm going to try and get a booking there, even if its months away.thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-60441812939932218842008-02-14T00:15:00.000+11:002008-02-14T00:15:00.000+11:00Thanh, it is somewhat ironic that a Japanese resta...Thanh, it is somewhat ironic that a Japanese restaurant can fare so poorly in service when in Japan, customer service is so fantastic. They really put the customer first, and go beyond the call of duty to see that a customer's needs are met. <BR/><BR/>In Japan, when you enter a business, you are always welcomed by the greeting of <I>Irrashaimase</I> by every single staff member. This happens even in a convenience store, let alone a restaurant. It makes you feel immediately welcome. I have been to Japanese places here that do not accord you that simple courtesy, so I immediately question their ability to provide me with warm service.<BR/><BR/>I think the problem that Japanese restaurants here have is that they do not specialise, instead trying to be a "jack of all trades". In Japan, restaurants specialise in one style only. You would not see the situation where a restaurant does sushi as well as other stuff. The food is so good over there partly because they have been able to perfect that one style, rather than trying to master many different styles. How many times have we seen Gordon Ramsey on Kitchen Nightmares tell the restaurant to simplify things?<BR/><BR/>I would describe Shoya as trying to attempt <I>kaiseki</I> cuisine, which is a high end style. However, one of the key things about <I>kaiseki</I> is balance, such that <I>kaiseki</I> in Japan is always served as a banquet, never a la carte. You would start with a soup, then some sashimi, then a grilled dish, then a steamed dish, and so forth. The reason for this is that, as single dishes, they would never work, nor satisfy a diner. but as a banquet, all the dishes meld together, each dish providing different tastes, but then also coming together as a balanced whole. by splitting the dishes into a la carte, you can never achieve this balance. it also ends up costing you more money, and is also not filling!<BR/><BR/>I well understand about the money issue - I'm in the same boat :) With limited funds, one must ensure that value is maximised. I should also add that recommendations should be provided with qualifiers; Shoya is definitely one of those cases. Because I have been there many times, I know what it's like, and can say that the sashimi is top notch, but perhaps choose carefully on the other things, and go easy on the drinks. It is the same with Nihonbashi Zen. Great sashimi and fantastic kushiyaki, but order carefully, because not all dishes are the same quality and the price can quickly build up. The sake might have been air-freighted from Japan that week, but this means that it will be very expensive.<BR/><BR/>One place that I can unreservedly say is one of the epitomes of Japanese dining in Melbourne is Tempura Hajime. The food is exceptional and great value, and the service is outstanding. It was one of the greatest dining experiences that Mellie and I have had :)ElegantGourmandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12385520067886799534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-82630094577759204422008-02-13T21:26:00.000+11:002008-02-13T21:26:00.000+11:00Danny, Shoya was a bit of a disappointment. Maybe ...Danny, Shoya was a bit of a disappointment. Maybe you are right, they are now trying to overcompensate for the service and being way too attentive. <BR/><BR/>Drinks were expensive. We had good sake at Shira Nui for half the price.<BR/><BR/>The menu was very hard to browse. There are things scattered all over the place with inaccurate descriptions and portion sizes. Even when we asked what the sashimi platter actually contained, they couldn't tell us. I agree that at those prices, the wait staff should be able to recommend things. Instead, we just took stabs at dishes.<BR/><BR/>The look and feel of the place was definitely high class. I just felt they didn't match that with the food and service. I'm sure if I went more often, I could pick out dishes that I really liked. But alas, I don't have that much money to try the place heaps of times. High end restaurants should get it right on almost every dish.<BR/><BR/>No arguments that the sashimi was really delicious. But then so is the sashimi platter at Shira Nui for less than half the price. The tonkatsu wasn't bad, just didn't taste special. And for $32 I was expecting wow factor.<BR/><BR/>I think there is a reason why Shira Nui is so popular. The food is great, the service extremely pleasant, professional and personable. The prices are fair too. I just need to be organised and book really really early. :-)thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-33640209638777801332008-02-13T00:32:00.000+11:002008-02-13T00:32:00.000+11:00Hi Thanh. Sorry to hear that your experience at S...Hi Thanh. Sorry to hear that your experience at Shoya was not as good as you had anticipated. I must admit, I have a love/hate relationship with the place. Whilst I absolutely loved it some of the times that I went, other times it was a bit hit and miss. Usually the main culprit has been the service, though in the past it has been inattentive service that has been the problem, rather than the over-eagerness and pushiness that you experienced. Perhaps after all the complaints regarding poor service, they have tried to turn it around but overdid it! <BR/><BR/>I agree that it can be very expensive, especially the drinks. I have been to the upstairs bar, which has a cover charge of $20 - an absolute rip-off! Shoya is definitely a place for conspicuous spending by Japanese businessmen. <BR/><BR/>And yes, the menu is confusing and lacking in detail. I have wished many times that they would improve it, but it's never happened. It doesn't provide enough information about portion sizes, which leads to ordering dishes that might not be suitable (or filling). The service is also usually not knowledgeable enough to provide recommendations. I think, at the prices they are charging, you should be expecting top of the line service, and should be made to feel comfortable when you're dining.<BR/><BR/>I overlook the deficiencies of Shoya and go back again only because the actual look and feel of the place is, IMO, the closest that you would get to a high-end restaurant in Japan. Also, with selective ordering, one can construct a meal there that can be very enjoyable. For example, Mellie and I had a superb yakiniku dinner at Shoya but only because we chose very carefully about what we wanted. Of course, this is not possible when you go there for the first time.<BR/><BR/>I think certain things at Shoya is good, like the sashimi and the yakiniku. The tonkotsu is usually kurabuta pork so I'm surprised that the one you were served was not so good. I reckon it is more value to go at lunch time, when they have a better value banquet menu for around $18-$35 per head. Also, the yakiniku is pretty good IMO.<BR/><BR/>p.s. I see what you mean about Shira Nui. I had lunch there with Mellie and my parents last Saturday. Had we not booked, we would not have got a table! I had the sashimi platter, which was very good indeed.ElegantGourmandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12385520067886799534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-85250149424237874382008-02-12T19:25:00.000+11:002008-02-12T19:25:00.000+11:00That's very funny Anonymous. How many times do you...That's very funny Anonymous. How many times do you need to magnify your mouth to fit in so much food every time.thanh7580https://www.blogger.com/profile/12101572834580539226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835761.post-83737146101127260132008-02-12T11:26:00.000+11:002008-02-12T11:26:00.000+11:00how many times did you have to magnify those photo...how many times did you have to magnify those photos to show wat minute food we hadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com