Retooling the Japanese cuisine for busy week-day lunch hour is hardly a new idea. The word "Gyo-taku" originally means a traditional method of Japanese fish printing and while Gyotaku may not display all the sparkle and creativity of this historical innovative way of recording different kinds of fish, the restaurant counters with a surprising willingness to explore the rich variety of Japanese dishes. Ever since working in Central, Gyotaku has been C's favourite lunch spot.
Located on the 12th Floor of the thin building on Stanley Street, the decor of Gyotaku is sleek, yet utterly cosy. Comfortable lighting, simple colours and wooden furniture imbue the space with a casual and modern feeling. The restaurant is usually very fully booked during lunch hour almost every day, so we had to book a table at least 2 days in advance. Service is polite and attentive. Gyotaku serves a special daily set lunch menu that changes every day and also its more pricier lunch menu. What amazed us was its wide variety- from sashimi set to sukiyaki set, it really included almost every items you could imagine from a Japanese restaurant! A lunch set comes with a salad and a miso soup. Lunch is reasonably priced at $150 to $200 per person.
(1) The Baked Marinated Salmon ($130) is C's favourite and is the must-have dish every time he visits. The salmon was extravagantly tender and succulent, and was baked in an alluring way to bring out the vibrant and intense flavours of the fish with a hint of spiciness. The mayonnaise further lifted the enticing taste of the dish. It was an outstanding dish that is highly recommended for everyone who is a fan of salmon.
(2) San ordered the Grilled Miso Cod Fish Set ($150) and it was another accomplished dish. The cod fish was wonderfully grilled. Each piece of fish was adoringly soft and tender, and delicately moist to keep its surface shiny. San found the dish to be very enjoyable.
(3) Everyone seemed to like the Marinated Pork in Ginger Sauce ($108 Set Lunch Price) including Chow Chow. The pork had a gorgeously firm and bouncy texture. The soy-sauce-based marinate was sweet and decadent, but it was hard to find the ginger taste in the dish.
(4) The 3 Type Sashimi on Rice ($118 Set Lunch Price) was a bowl of joy. The 3 types of sashimi varied based on the availability of the day. That day we had Salmon, Tuna and Scallop. The raw fish were all very fresh and tasty and the flavours were well balanced. We just hoped that they could be more generous with the portion of each slice of the sashimi.
(5) Lastly, the dessert, Sesame Pudding was a real showstopper! It only came with the normal lunch set menu. The medley of sesame mixed with the soft, chewy pudding texture formed a symphony of tastes in the mouth that was utterly the perfect and unforgettable end to our lunch.
Overall remarks: Gyotaku presents the Japanese cuisine with confident, fluid grace and these dishes, coupled with a brace of insightful cookery skills lend the restaurant a warmth and comfort ambience, offering a satisfying lunch that would lighten up the timeworn elements of your boring work days in Central.
Food: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Ambience: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Service: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
INFO
12/F, 11 Stanley Street, Central 中環士丹利街11號12樓
Telephone: 3902 3813
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