To look for a Japanese restaurant in a vibrant culinary city like Singapore is a cinch, but to look for one as exquisite as Inagiku is definitely no easy feat. Serving up high quality Japanese delicacies like the ever delectable Wagyu beef and tuna belly, this fine-dining restaurant is definitely one to satisfy the fussiest of taste buds. Veiled from the rush of the city crowd, Inagiku is located right in the midst of Raffles City Mall, yet subtly tucked away at the serene corners of Raffles the Plaza Hotel, affording a tranquil retreat to an exclusive taste paradise.

• The Vibe
  From the first step through the doors of this restaurant to your immaculately set table, this detail-oriented restaurant is elegantly appareled yet simple enough to set you at ease. There are different dining spaces to cater to your individual preferences; the sushi bar modeled after those in contemporary Japan, a main dining hall, a long teppanyaki bar as well as 3 courtly furnished private tatami rooms that can house a substantial number of guests in its space. The no-nonsense vibe is strong, and most suitable for power lunches and corporate dinners.

• The Food
  The dishes served at Inagiku are pricey, but not without reason. Using only the premium quality products imported from parts of Japan , even the least discerning of taste senses will be able to taste the distinct difference of Inagiku from the average local Japanese restaurant.

  Embark on your tasting of the rather extensive menu with the sashimi platter (4 kinds - $55), which is a chilled assortment of fresh salmon, tuna, swordfish and yellowtail, nestling on a bed of ice. But of course, to really indulge your senses, it is compulsory to have a share of the Wagyu Sirloin Steak (150 grams - $120) served in a special individual cooker shaped like a pebble, for the guests to grill their own meats to the desired texture and colour. Low in cholesterol and ranked high on the gourmet scale, this thinly sliced platter of meat is lightly seasoned with sea salt and pepper with all its natural juices locked in, affording divine sensations to the palate.

  To further pamper yourself, or impress that client, the Lobster with Inagiku Original Golden Sauce ($195) topped with salmon roe is one that should not be left out on. The special “golden sauce” is a unique composition of Chef Eric, and is very much loved by regular patrons who return time and time again to savour this richly aromatic and creamy blend that enrobes the lobster dish. However, it is wise to go easy on it for an over-consumption of the sauce does musk the natural sweetness of the lobster.

  Those who are looking to sample gourmet sushi will appreciate the selection offered in Inagiku. Choice selections include the superior tuna belly ($60 for 2) and the huge Botan shrimp ($24 for 2) sushi which are paired off with extra flavourful wasabi root that is grated specially with a shark's fin board.

• The Service
  The all female service staff adorned in pretty kimonos and Japanese slippers were a genteel sight to behold. Efficient in service and polite to guests at all times, these waitresses definitely made the experience in Inagiku a well-rounded one.

The SD Food Advisor's take on Inagiku
Judging from the prices of the food, Inagiku is not an everyday dining affair for most Singaporeans. However, to taste premier quality incorporated with excellent culinary skills of the chefs, this restaurant is surely worth that splurge once in a while. This is a restaurant that displays serious dedication in quenching that ubiquitous gourmet thirst prevalent in the best of us.