If you're looking for that perfect intimate place for dinner, Tempura Hajime is the best place to be. With only 12 seats, personalized service is guaranteed. This is truly one of my most memorable dining experiences in Melbourne to date, where the service is homey yet professional and not intrusive.
Another thing that I liked about the place is that it is well lit and does not have that damp or enclosed feeling. If you also like the idea of having a sort-of personal chef cooking for you, this place also ticks the box.
On to the food. Sis and I chose the Tempura Set, consisting of entrees, 7 to 10 pieces of freshly cooked tempura pieces, a main and dessert. Clearly, my expectations were set very high and I was not disappointed.
Entrees were poached chicken in sesame dressing and sashimi (ocean trout, king fish and hapuka with plum sauce). Sis noted that she has had fresher sashimi but I thought it was nice and up to my standards, not veiny.
Mains, from left to right clockwise were the dips (you can choose from lemon juice and sea salt and the traditional tempura sauce and shredded radish. I have to say that both of the dips worked extremely well with the tempura), sweet corn, asparagus, prawn, sweet potato, eel (yes! battered and fried eel!), zucchini with spicy salmon, minced chicken, fish, scallop with uni (my favorite!), mushroom with minced prawn and mixed seafood. The tempura was freshly cooked and immediately served in front of you. There's nothing like crunchy batter that seals that luscious flavor of the food. Needless to say, dinner was sublime and as close to authentic Japanese tempura.
Dessert was also memorable. Yoghurt jelly with cointreau and grapes. Sis admittedly liked this one the best. But who wouldn't? It's not pretending to be a panna cotta but can arguably be one. It's smooth, silky and light. Thumbs up!
Unfortunately, this place has to be reserved for that special occasion and damn, too bad I can't afford to eat like this every night :(
Another thing that I liked about the place is that it is well lit and does not have that damp or enclosed feeling. If you also like the idea of having a sort-of personal chef cooking for you, this place also ticks the box.
On to the food. Sis and I chose the Tempura Set, consisting of entrees, 7 to 10 pieces of freshly cooked tempura pieces, a main and dessert. Clearly, my expectations were set very high and I was not disappointed.
Entrees were poached chicken in sesame dressing and sashimi (ocean trout, king fish and hapuka with plum sauce). Sis noted that she has had fresher sashimi but I thought it was nice and up to my standards, not veiny.
Mains, from left to right clockwise were the dips (you can choose from lemon juice and sea salt and the traditional tempura sauce and shredded radish. I have to say that both of the dips worked extremely well with the tempura), sweet corn, asparagus, prawn, sweet potato, eel (yes! battered and fried eel!), zucchini with spicy salmon, minced chicken, fish, scallop with uni (my favorite!), mushroom with minced prawn and mixed seafood. The tempura was freshly cooked and immediately served in front of you. There's nothing like crunchy batter that seals that luscious flavor of the food. Needless to say, dinner was sublime and as close to authentic Japanese tempura.
Dessert was also memorable. Yoghurt jelly with cointreau and grapes. Sis admittedly liked this one the best. But who wouldn't? It's not pretending to be a panna cotta but can arguably be one. It's smooth, silky and light. Thumbs up!Unfortunately, this place has to be reserved for that special occasion and damn, too bad I can't afford to eat like this every night :(
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