Torio Japanese Restaurant

Torio Japanese Restaurant
10 Gemmill Lane

https://www.torio.com.sg/

Sashimi - Shake, Maguro, Tamago Ika (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax)

Wallet-Friendly Omakase, Fine Dining Sushi

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 8
Value for Money: 9
Spent about SGD $118 per person.


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Established in November 2018 and named after the Japanese phrase for 'trio', Torio Japanese Restaurant expounds the 3-fold philosophy of commitment, contribution, and camaraderie. Positioned as a casual fine dining restaurant, Torio Japanese Restaurant presents quality premium ingredients in well-executed and beautiful dishes, all at prices that won't break the bank.

Ambience at Torio Japanese Restaurant is casual, cozy, and simple. The neat clean lines of the place is set with warm lights and earthy colors, from black to white to wood, resulting in a tranquil feel the minute you step in. Along one wall is the open kitchen, with bar seats to perch as you watch Chef at work. Along the other wall are sturdy wooden tables with comfortable dining chairs, suitable for slow, lingering meals.

Service at Torio Japanese Restaurant is straightforward and casual. Staff are relatively young, and don't engage too much with diners, but they carry out requests efficiently. I like that their product knowledge is good, as they introduce each dish as it's served, though they sometimes mumble so we couldn't hear them clearly. They clean up quickly when diners leave. If you sit around the open kitchen, you'll be able to engage with Chef and team.

Food at Torio Japanese Restaurant is classic Japanese cuisine, done to fine dining standards. Ingredients are premium and fresh, and Head Chef Jackles 'Jack' Tai, an Itamae (skilled sushi chef) with 20 years experience, translates them into beautifully executed plates which are delicious and visually pleasing. Portions are sized for individuals, especially so for their exquisite omakase sets. Despite the fine dining standards, prices here are reasonable, and they offer among the best value for money omakase around. Budget about SGD $118 per person.


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Torio Japanese Restaurant Exterior

Torio Japanese Restaurant Interior

Us

The Whisky Nikka From The Barrel (SGD $12) is brewed by the Nikka Whisky Distilling Co. Ltd. in Yoichi, Shiribeshi, Hokkaido, Japan. It is a blended whisky created to deliver full flavors and richness of barrel maturation. It has a bright golden orange colour, with aromas of cinnamon, leather, oak, and caramel. The body is smooth and complex, with tastes of toffee, nutmeg, vanilla, and orange, rather like a Christmas pudding cake. It has a deep floral fruity sweet spice flavour, with a warm and lingering finish.

Whisky Nikka From The Barrel (SGD $12)

The Chimi Zensai (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax) or Small Appetizers feature a trio of cold dishes, befitting the restaurant name. The Chuka Kurage or Seasoned Jellyfish has a slippery crunchy texture, with bright sweet spice savoury flavour from the jellyfish. The Chuka Wakame or Seasoned Seaweed has a soft crunchy texture, with bright vegetal earthy sweet nutty flavour from the seaweed. The Hizu or Ice Head Salmon Fish Cartilage has a firm crunchy texture, with delicate sweet savoury milky flavour from the salmon fish head soft bone cartilage.

Chimi Zensai (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax)

Chuka Kurage

Chuka Wakame

Hizu

Chimi Zensai

The Sashimi - Shake, Maguro, Tamago Ika (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax) here is excellent, with the sashimi / raw fish slices being thick and succulent, with moist tender textures and a light chew. The Shake / Salmon Fish has a bold sweet savoury flavour, while the Maguro / Bluefin Tuna Fish has a deep meaty savoury sweet flavour. The Tamago Ika / Rolled Egg Omelette Stuffed Squid has a light crunch outside, with a soft spongy chew inside, and holds good eggy sweet savoury flavour.

Sashimi - Shake, Maguro, Tamago Ika (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax)

Sashimi - Shake, Maguro, Tamago Ika

The Uni Chawanmushi (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax) or Sea Urchin Steamed Egg Custard was warm and comforting. The wobbly soft steamed egg custard has deep earthy sweet savoury eggy flavour, while the creamy sea urchin lends a rush of briny salty sweet flavour.

Uni Chawanmushi (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax)

Uni Chawanmushi

Uni Chawanmushi

The Negima Miso Jiru (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax) or Leek Miso Soup, features a thin clear soup / broth that is warm with deep savoury sweet earthy flavour, from the rich miso paste used. Garnished with crunchy leeks with vegetal sweet flavour, slippery sheets of seaweed with vegetal earthy flavour, and a chunk of bluefin tuna fish with savoury sweet meaty flavour.

Negima Miso Jiru (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax)

Negima Miso Jiru

Negima Miso Jiru

The Furikake Gohan (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax) or Seasoned Rice features a bowl of sticky Japanese white rice, seasoned with nori komi furikake / dried seaweed and sesame seed seasoning. This gives it a bright earthy nutty spice flavour, complementing the natural grainy sweet flavour of the white rice.

Furikake Gohan (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax)

Furikake Gohan

Furikake Gohan

The Hokke Yaki (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax) or Grilled Okhotsk Atka Mackerel Fish is a local Hokkaido dish, featuring a large okhotsk atka mackerel fish grilled till the skin turns crisp, while the fish meat remains tender, flaky, buttery, and moist. Lightly salted, this has a beautiful savoury sweet salty flavour that is so delicious.

Hokke Yaki (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax)

Hokke Yaki

Hokke Yaki

The Nigiri Sushi Moriawase (SGD $78 for 8 pieces) or Assorted Raw Fish On Vinegared Sushi Rice arrived on a platter with 8 different varieties. The sticky soft vinegared sushi rice has a light grainy sweet sour flavour. I sampled the Kanpachi Sushi or Greater Amberjack Fish Sushi, which has a firm juicy slippery chew to texture, with bright meaty sweet savoury flavour to the fish. The Aburi Botan Ebi Sushi or Torched Spot Prawn Sushi is juicy fresh with a light crunch, and the furikake seasoning lends a bold salty spice flavour to the natural sweet flavour of the prawn / shrimp.

Nigiri Sushi Moriawase (SGD $78 for 8 pieces)

Nigiri Sushi Moriawase

Kanpachi Sushi

Kanpachi Sushi

Aburi Botan Ebi Sushi

Aburi Botan Ebi Sushi

Nigiri Sushi Moriawase

The Kuro Goma Aisu (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax) or Black Sesame Ice Cream has a creamy grainy texture, and doesn't melt easily. I note the black sesame ice cream holds deep nutty sweet milky flavour, very pleasing.

Kuro Goma Aisu (SGD $68 Set Meal Per Pax)

Kuro Goma Aisu

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