Sozai Japanese Restaurant
Friday, May 7, 2010
Sozai Japanese Restaurant
1221 High Street, Armadale, VIC 3143
Australia
(61) 03 98248200
1221 High Street, Armadale, VIC 3143
Australia
(61) 03 98248200
I am not biased towards this place just because I work there. However, this place seriously does serve really fresh sushi and sashimi, plus delicious hot food. Everything is served simply, but the taste is much more than you can see with your naked eye.
Sozai, which means 'ingredients' in Japanese, has a pretty concise menu, which to some people, there are not many options to choose from. However, the advantage of a concise menu is that it displays all the things available at one glance, and it is easier to make a decision as the restaurant has what are the most popular and the most recommended dishes. The only setback I have found is the lack of choices for noodle dishes. Sozai serves only udon. Too bad for ramen/soba eaters.
At Sozai, you can try their genmaicha, which is Japanese green tea, combined with roasted brown rice. Very fragrant. Of course, there is also a wine list for you to choose from if you are after alcohol. Japanese beers include Asahi, Sapporo and Yebisu all Malt (*Note: No Kirin). Sakes include their house sake (ozeki), Iwanoi (dry sake with a clean finish) and Kikusui (between dry and sweet - a well-rounded taste).
Some popular dishes that I have photos of:
Gyu Tataki
Sliced raw tender beef with a tangy citrus sauce
Gyoza
Pan-fried home-made dumplings filled with pork and vegetables.
Agedashi Tofu
Crispy fried tofu bathed in a soy-based light soup.
Ebi Tempura Udon Soup
Prawn tempura on undon noodles with a soy-based soup.
Kaki No Sachi
Fresh oysters topped with salmon roe (ikura)
Sashimi (Main - 24 slices; Entree - 12 slices)
Fresh raw slices of tuna and salmon (white fish is also available upon request).
Spicy maki (available in tuna, salmon, prawn, vegetables)
Nigiri sushi - selection of raw fish and seafood laid over a mound of sushi rice
Sozai's most ordered nigiri sushi - Nasu nigiri (eggplant sushi)
Also my personal favorite. This sushi makes my mouth water.
You can either order a fixed set of sushi and sashimi platter, or you can design your own like that - Spicy maki, nasu nigiri, unagi (eel) nigiri and sashimi entree size.
Of course you pay for each individual item as it is, but it will be served on one plate, and it seems more 'personalized' this way.
Sozai's website is still under construction, therefore I will post the link up when it is completed. Hopefully I can make another post about Sozai with other food pictures!
Opening hours:
Lunch: 12PM - 2 or 2.30PM (depending on the crowd)
Dinner: 5.30PM - 10PM (last order at 9.30PM)
Overall (out of 5 stars per category):
Food: Taste: ***** Fragrance: **** Appearance: ****
Simple, yet fresh and delicious.
Service: ***1/2
Service can be better, but staffs are usually attentive and friendly. Service is quick, however, the speed may be affected during really busy hours.
Price: *** 1/2
Average-high. Location wise, it is located on rich and lavish High Street in Armadale, and thus the price.
Ambience: ****
Always a busy place, but it is a good place to catch up with friends.
Accessibility: ***
Sozai is located in the middle of Armadale and Malvern. However, it is not near either train stations. You can take a train to either stations and take a 10-15minutes walk down. OR, you can travel by tram from the city (or from the stations). Tram 6 runs on High Street, passing Armadale Station, whereas tram 16 runs on Glenferrie Road, passing Malvern Station.
Posted by Chubzzy at 5:02 PM
Cafe Giraffe
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Cafe Giraffe
302 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
VIC 3000. Australia
(61) 03 96400889
302 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
VIC 3000. Australia
(61) 03 96400889
No one can not love this quaint and lovely little cafe/restaurant, located on Little Lonsdale Street, between Elizabeth and Queen Street, in the heart of Melbourne City.
I found this place from a friend's Facebook page, and thought that the name sounded cute. For one, I have this thing for giraffes - they are huge creatures, but adorable. Then from pictures I've seen, the interior of this place looks comfortable too! So I decided to give it a try.
It was an extremely cute little place with pretty decorations. There is a little corner where customers can relax on a couch and surf the internet, or play some games that they provide. Right across is another 'private' corner with a long table for 4 or 5, where you can have your own quiet corner, or have a little party with friends. In the center stands a nicely decorated 'leaf-less' tree, and a short giraffe made of twigs (possibly). It is definitely an environment that you can sit down and relax, as long as you order one item per person.
Their menu offers pastas, some Japanese dishes, desserts and drinks such as smoothies and coffee. Their coffee was very good. So are their frappe, smoothies and other drinks. Pasta was perfect. Plus, their portions aren't as big as the typical Aussie portions, and it is just nice and filling for a regular person (or Asians). The price is also considerably cheaper as well.
It is a place to be, if you are feeling stressed out from school/work, or if you want to chill out with friends and have a good chat. Or if you want to catch up on some work (or assignments), Cafe Giraffe is definitely a place I will strongly recommend.
The only thing about this cafe that makes people feel 'restricted' is the number of rules they have. If you are in a group of 10, for example, everyone HAS to order something - referring back to my forementioned 'one item per person'. After 5pm, you have to order something that is more than $4, which is actually not very difficult for a drink will cost you $4. Also, you cannot bring in your own cake to celebrate a birthday there unless you pay extra $2 per person, and they will provide you with plates and fork. However, I do understand their rules in a way: their sitting capacity is very little, therefore it will be unfair if you hold up a seat just because you like the place but you are not ordering anything. In that way, you will deprive someone who would actually want something but have no where to sit down...
Spaghetti bolognaise
Penne with mushroom sauce
And a mango smoothie
Mushroom risotto
And a perfect latte
Top left: DIY Mocha Affogato - you can mix and match however you like it, and drink however you like it.
Top right: Vanilla Frappe - very smooth and creamy frappe... Worth a try!
Bottom left: A seriously strong latte - a very good dose for coffee lovers since many parts of Melbourne do not sell good coffees, least to say, good STRONG coffee...
Overall (out of 5 stars per category):
Food: Taste: ***** Fragrance: **** Appearance: *****
Portion is not big, and the taste is undeniable.
Service: ****
Staff are friendly, and quick.
Price: *****
Cheap, affordable prices for reasonable portions that will fill you up nicely.
Ambience: *****
Nicely decorated, comfortable, relaxing.
Accessibility: ****
Cafe Giraffe is not very noticeable, so unless someone points out to you that there is a cafe right there, one can easily walk past it.
However location wise, it is just behind the back exit of Melbourne Central station, from which a 5 minute walk is all that is required.
