In Japan, an Izakaya is where people go to relax after a hard day's work. Japanese for pub, the word connotes more than just beer and men when it comes to the Ministry of Food. This casual restaurant, located in the heart of Marina Square, seeks to replicate the leisurely dining experience found at these Izakayas by providing authentic Japanese food and desserts at affordable prices.

Desserts take centre stage at the Ministry of Food, although their menu offers significantly more than that. In this no-frills, unpretentious setting, it is easy to relax and be transported to the land of the rising sun.

• The Vibe
  Simplicity rules at the Ministry of Food. With its use of wood and a generous smattering of dark red, the décor at this restaurant is basic at best. Japanese art adorns the walls, along with coloured photographs of some of the delicacies available, presumably for the uninitiated. From the entrance, the size of the restaurant is deceiving, as there are plenty of seats on hand, both indoors and out of doors.

• The Food
  Ramen, sushi, sashimi, tempura – Ministry of Food has it all. With an expansive menu that spans everything from salads to hot stone dishes, even those not accustomed to authentic Japanese food should find something to please the palate. Little cards detailing tips on how to eat particular dishes accompany each course, a practice that is both informative and endearing.

  Health buffs should try the Tofu Avocado Salad ($6.80 for 3 pax), a light and refreshing starter comprising lettuce leaves, tomato, cucumber, avocado and tofu. Wasabi dressing served alongside the salad packs a bit of punch, and is deliberately separated from the main dish so that diners can determine their preferred amount of dressing without being overwhelmed.

  The same can be said of the Salmon Sashimi Salad ($10.80 for 3 pax), a healthy treat for sashimi lovers. Served with a unique apple dressing consisting of ingredients like red wine and garlic, the sashimi at Ministry of Food is perfectly fresh.

  Aesthetically pleasing and distinctive in flavour, the Soba Crepe ($6.80 for 8 pieces) is interesting at the very least. A refreshing take on the usual rice-based sushi, these bite-sized pieces of soba noodles wrapped in a thin crepe may be a bit of an acquired taste for some.

  Those with a taste for soup will enjoy the Tan-Tan Ramen ($8.80), a noodle dish made up of minced beef and pork in a spicy sesame soup. Generously portioned, this steaming bowl of ramen noodles is delicious, but could stand to be spicier.

  A popular Japanese dish, the Unagi Hot Stone Rice ($6.80) at Ministry of Food is quite ordinary. While the seaweed-topped rice is flavourful thanks to the specially blended sauce it is served with, a bigger portion of eel would make a lot of difference.

  Do-it-yourself fans will like the Sukiyaki Beef Set ($19.80), whereby diners are to dip slices of premium New Zealand beef into a boiling pot of sukiyaki sauce with Japanese mirin and sake wine till it is cooked. The resulting beef is tender to a fault, its taste further enhanced by the sweet soup.

  Those with a sweet tooth will celebrate the extensive selection of Japanese desserts available at Ministry of Food. Key ingredients include soft-serve ice-cream, red bean paste, green tea sauce and Japanese dumplings, which make their appearance in several of the desserts. Standout desserts include the Macha Imo ($6.50), Macha Zen ($7.50) and Macha Kurian ($8.50), which are not overly sweet but very agreeable to the palate.

• The Service
  Service is minimal. Green tea is refilled at regular intervals, but the staff does not make much effort beyond that to enhance their customers' dining experience.

The SD Food Advisor's take on Ministry of Food
Not a fan of Japanese myself, Ministry of Food gave me a bit of an introduction to the cuisine and I was pleasantly surprised by some of the dishes. I would return to try some of the other dishes as well as for the yummy desserts.