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Lots of friends and colleagues claimed themselves to be a devoted Japanese food lover. Even though apparently they don’t have enough chance, and sometimes the guts, to explore the whole things.
Me? Never do that. Of course I couldn’t afford the exclusivity of the meals at the very best of it, as well. But I admit that I can barely stand the temptation of having either another dish of Hoka Hoka Bento’s Shrimp Rolls or Sushi Tei’s Salmon Mentai Yaki. So cheesy, eh? Heuhe. But that's just mee! :-)
For me, both choices tasted heavenly, of course, and, probably most importantly, bear something a bit melancholy. Each was dearly introduced to me by an ex lover, respectively*grin. The 1st one was back in 1997 (she was a dentistry student at the University of Indonesia), whilst the later one was somewhere near April 2006 (she was a practicing lawyer, also an UI’s graduate). All were successfully gained me as the newest worshipper of the mentioned dishes, hehe.
But better leave such preferred experiences behind when you got the chance to try this cozy and elegance Japanese restaurant; Imari, located at the very heart of JW Marriot, Surabaya. For it offers you the real way to enjoy the exotic meals of Japan. Set of menu of choice, timely served, on such precise coordinated movements. Classic Japanese cuisine served in a sophisticated atmosphere. With sound and plenty matching booze ready to be ordered, and adequate privacy allocated for each table as wished for.
Whether you choose to be seated on the usual dining tables, the cubicle ones, just beside the sushi bar, or prefer to have the indulgence of the tatami rooms deeper inside the restaurant; you will have the same attention from a bunch of helpful and friendly waiters. Of course there would be lots more ambiences that could be expected from the sanctuary of those tatami rooms. There you can have your, ahem, “real” Japanese style of socializing, I guess, without much bothering, or to be bothered by, another casual guest outside.
I praise the way they add some personal touch on re-reserving your favorite drinks; by labeling each one with the patronage’s names, and displaying them behind the sushi bar. Therefore you don’t have to finish it at once, as it is supposed to be on another places, and after that, you could come again without having the difficulties to order another bottles, or worst getting it run out. A smart way to retain your customers, no? Besides, those bottles also served as the restaurant additional decoration. Hmm.
Back to those tortured tongue of us, well then, most of the colleagues, the 70 students and faculties or so of the certification class (including me, ha-ha!) left the place somewhat dissatisfied and confused, concerning the treat we received. One friend noted by saying that he didn’t like the food, because it didn’t feel as good as the ones he used to have at his local Hoka Hoka Bento's chain. *grin
Photos were the courtesy of TLT
Taken on location, May 6, 2008
Imari Japanese Restaurant
Open for lunch and dinner
JW Marriott® Hotel Surabaya
JL Embong Malang 85-89
Surabaya, 60261, Indonesia
Tel. +6231 545 8888
the elegant welcoming sign
seated, positioned, prepared
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err... are we supposed to eat this?
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the center of the class' attention
saved by the Garden Salad :p
Miso Soup, this, we can take
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a glimpse of the class
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Salmon, on such a great sauce!
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Have you had your fruits?
bigger dish for bigger taste :p
Leave no booze behind! :p
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A touch of wilderness? Hehe
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 | hmmm... this chawan mushi looks so silky and soft! |
| the bowl looks too modern. =| |
| reminds me of Tokio Joe, only this place's brighter |
| teriyaki sauce, I assume? looks tempting. |
 | Cool composition, were you bored ? *grin*
Last time I was there with Hubby back in 2002 for Valentine's Dinner .. it was packed (like everywhere else that night) hence we got the second seating .. at 8 30 pm, the food was good.
Now I'm hungry (siiiiggghhh) |
| they even printed a card for it? cool. never ran into a fancy one like this. they usually just wrote the name on the bottle with a marker or put a sticker on it. |
| that's a pretty neat small zen garden, complete with the water thingie. The sound of the water running is supposed to calm you down. =) |
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 |  Well, the essence of Japanese cuisine lies in the freshness of the ingredients, balance, and simplicity. Thus meals are prepared without much spices to retain its real/genuine taste. So most people who are used to the so-called Japanese food at Hoka Hoka Bento (which I would like to call as Japanese inspired Indonesian food) or our local cuisine's rich and spice-laden taste, would probably find authentic Japanese food as bland and boring. It takes time to adjust.  ..or perhaps forever to forget about the real ones, haha!
Some people I know are having a great time just to adjust, not just on some foreign meals, but also on everything. Well then, everyone should go for their own taste, I guess. But at least we could confirm them first to find out what they can stand, and, sure, what they dont.
Taking so many people from different background, ages, sexes, and regions on such a place was sure a bold step. I'm afraid the experience we got there left nothing but disappoinment. Not just for the class itself, but the committe (who paid the grand bills), and, especially, the restauranteurs and the chefs and the dedicated staffs as well. Too bad.
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 | you know what, i read this expat's blog, she commented about hoka bento (and i quote) "a fast food Japanese place that is very popular amongst locals and equally despised by expats". She's expat from us staying di indo. link http://www.howieandhaviva.blogspot.com/dan gue dapet factsnya dari elo. haha althou yes, hoka bento's the only 'jap food' i like di indo. sushi tei dan teman2nya gue suka, tapi price isn't so friendly to my pocket money. =D btw, the one thats called 'chawan mushi', do you like it? i tasted it in one of the local jap resto here, and it taste like yuck. and i didn't even dare to try when i was in japan. |
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| yah komen gue kok ilang ya..... i was just saying, food looks bit fusion to me. |
| csakura wrote on May 12, edited on May 12 Yeah, that's why the proudly displayed them behind the sushi bar, I guess. It somewhat added the right nuance and spirits for the whole room :-) many Japanese restaurants here practice that bottle-keeping service. It's quite important if you want to attract the Japanese expats. Hehehe.. plus, it would be too much of a hassle (not to mention dangerous) if the customers were forced to finish everything in one night.
I once opened a big bottle in a restaurant here and had to keep half of it because me and my dining partner couldn't finish it in one night. We could actually, but then we would be too drunk to even leave the place. Hahahah.. =P |
 | hhmm.. i love chawan mushi too!
very smooth and silky ..tastes heavenly... |
 | "Back to those tortured tongue of us, well then, most of the colleagues, the 70 students and faculties or so of the certification class (including me, ha-ha!) left the place somewhat dissatisfied and confused, concerning the treat we received. One friend noted by saying that he didn’t like the food, because it didn’t feel as good as the ones he used to have at his local Hoka Hoka Bento's chain. *grin"
this reminds me of a time when i accompanied a couple of my friends to embark on their first sushi-tasting adventure. in short, they were disheartened by the bland taste and the obvious raw-state of the salmon and whatnot, and since then opted for their preferred 'jap' food, hoka-hoka bento, where all the meats are cooked and there aren't any chawan mushi in sight. even if they do go to proper sushi joint, makan sushinya pakai saus sambal dan cabe rawit.. hahahaha...
it's too bad you lot did not find the food at this particular restaurant enjoyable though.. coz just from the pictures alone, they look tasty :) |
| "a fast food Japanese place that is very popular amongst locals and equally despised by expats". She's expat from us staying di indo. link http://www.howieandhaviva.blogspot.com/ So true. Yeah, I read those comment, too. But as far as I can remember, I dont think the link you gave was the original source of it. Well, I dont know -- it doesnt matter anyway.
Btw, JWM Surabaya was my very 1st experience to ever taste a 'chawan mushi', and so far, I hardly like it. But sure another chance would come, and this time, I hope, would be better. *grin
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 | imari is one of most eloquence in Surabaya but yet impressed, it's food is not quite superior as well as tsukinofone |
| chawan mushi itu rasanya biasa bro, kalau mau bandingin resto jepang harus dari sashiminya
gimana bisa bikin makanan enak kalau yang mentahannya mereka ga bisa bikin yang enak? |
| this reminds me of a time when i accompanied a couple of my friends to embark on their first sushi-tasting adventure. in short, they were disheartened by the bland taste and the obvious raw-state of the salmon and whatnot, and since then opted for their preferred 'jap' food, hoka-hoka bento, where all the meats are cooked and there aren't any chawan mushi in sight. even if they do go to proper sushi joint, Thanks for the lengthy illustration, I found out it's soo typical amongts friends, here. Frankly speaking, including me, at first.
But let's just leave that part on our very own taste, no? Coz I believe that it happens everywhere; not just on ordinary Indonesian taste something they wouldnt consume on a daily basis (i.e. sushi or even sashimi), but sure on the other way around. For instance, tell me how many Japs you've ever seen are ready to eat Gado-gado on street stall, just next to a dirty smelly black-watered small river? :p
It is what we call as the level of perceiving. Taste and culture DO matter.
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| murah, enak, pas buat kocek pas buat mulut... silahkan saja ajak temenmu ke tsukinofone |
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