REVISITING A ONCE-FAVE JAPAN RESTO

It was a day of disappointment that led us to delist a once-favorite restaurant, Omakase, at the Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang. This Japanese dining place started many years ago in the now-defunct Susana Complex, which has been replaced by a high-rise building.

It was a small place but gained a huge following for Japanese cuisine. In fact, it was always a standing-room-only scenario.

We were among its early customers, and in every visit, we were pleased with highquality food and service.

There were efficient staff members, among them Junee, whowould always welcome us.

Years later, a new complex, Molito Lifestyle Center, was built across and Omakase was among the first restaurants to move there. There came about much competition.

Amistake

Banking on previous pleasurable experience, we chose Omakase to celebrate recent birthdays of three family members.

Dining area:

A receptionist led us to our table for 12 in the right corner. There was minimal décor.

Service: Staff:

Kitchen was quick. Junee was no longer visible. He must have been elevated to supervisor. He was inside the office but could be called.

What to order:

A bento was our choice that evening. And it was probably a mistake. Our meal box contained fried rice, which was plain boiled rice in brown water and was tasteless; fish tempura which consisted of two pieces of asohos (one medium and one small), served with the sauce with no flavor at all, like it was colored water; a few cubes of beef on bean sprouts and potato salad.

The last one sealed our resolve, by then, to delist Omakase among our faves .We called Junee, who apologized and offered a replacement. We declined.

Others in our group also noted the deterioration and, as one put it, the salad had a “strange taste.”

Even if all restaurants do it, there was no singing of the “Happy Birthday” song, in spite of being informed earlier about three celebrants, no small cake either. How can they have gone this way?

There is much competition around Omakase, so it better shape up.

Service charge and government taxes are added to the bill.