Kinki

Ocha OUCH

It feels almost like an adventure getting to Kinki Restaurant at the Customs House.

Depending on which route you take, you could either end up walking through a construction site OR, if you are really fortunate, you might discover a shortcut through the "yet to be opened" Fullerton Bay Hotel.

Needless to say, I belong to the former category. (I only discovered the shortcut after trailing some street smart customers making their way back to Raffles Place after lunch).

Having done a little homework on the restaurant beforehand, I wasn't just there for the food. The restaurant sports a "Japanese with attitude" theme, complete with graffiti grazed walls, a gorgeous floor motif designed by Chris Garver from Miami Ink and manga inspired menus.

designed by Chris Garver...worth a trip to the restaurant in itself!

"manga inspired" menu

graffiti tinged walls

A rebellious streak is clearly evident in all aspects- from the restaurant's funky website to the swashbuckling attitude of its service staff (the domineering tone of the lady taking my reservation almost made me feel like a timid schoolgirl).

lights which resemble gigantic fish hooks

The restaurant's set lunch menu, though palatable, doesn't really impress. There are 12 options to choose from, ranging from sushi sets to breaded pork cutlets and grilled meats. My lunch kaki and I ordered a vegetarian tofu steak set (SGD18) and kurobuta katsu curry set (SGD22) to share. All sets come with an appetiser, miso soup and dessert.

We thoroughly enjoyed the appetizer for the day - plump juicy momotaro tomatoes lightly doused with a tasty seasoning.

a refreshing treat.. momotaro tomatoes

This was followed by a luscious tofu steak encased in a thin crispy batter which crumbled beautifully in the mouth. Although the flavors were fresh and uncomplicated, they came across slightly bland after awhile.

tofu hidden in vegetables

When the kurobuta cutlets arrived, we could barely contain our excitement/greediness and tucked in with much gusto. Unfortunately, the dish fell short of expectations and we could barely taste the purported richness of the prized pork. There were bits of mushroom in the filling and I felt like I was eating a supped-up mashed yam puff (wu-kok) from a dim sum pushcart. Thank goodness for the accompanying Japanese curry dip, which was sufficiently thick and flavorful.

"supped up" wu kok

Dessert was a pretty looking slice of green tea sponge cake. As it was served to us on the onset (together with the appetisers and mains), the cake looked decidedly dejected by the time we got to it (the cream was melting). Pity. It would have tasted so much better if eaten slightly chilled.

The shocker came when I received the bill and found out that my kaki and I had been charged SGD4 each (before service charge and tax) for our green tea. I have not paid so much for plain ol' green tea before. It was an oversight on my part (and a painful lesson) not to have checked earlier. I wonder if the restaurant also charges for plain water.

Kinki is definitely worth a visit at least once for its unique decor. If making reservations, ask for a seat directly by the window to enjoy an unobstructed view of the stunning Marina Bay waterfront.

Kinki Restaurant & Bar
70, Collyer Quay
#02-02
Customs House
Tel: 6533 3471