There has been nothing but shimmering rays of success since the Sun with Moon Japanese Dining & Café rose in Wheelock Place and charged right to the forefront of the contemporary Japanese dining scene on bustling Orchard Road . It suffices to say that this modern trendy outlet is a one-for-all, all-for-one restaurant serving quality Japanese food for tired, hungry or lazy shoppers from all walks of life.

• The Vibe
  The interior is designed to create coziness and comfort. This is achieved by the clever use of lighting, quaint little Japanese lamps and the row of snow-white tree skeletons that line the glass panels on one side of this 145-seater restaurant. This settled mood is a stark contrast to the busy cross junction of heavy human and vehicle traffic. Sun with Moon, attentive to the various needs of their guests, provides spaciously laid out seats that range from regular dining chairs and lounges, counter seats and small café tables. Private rooms are also available for booking for the use of business meetings.

• The Food
  The all-day restaurant has different menu for lunch, afternoon café and dinner. Aside from the fact that sashimi is regretfully missing in the afternoon café menu, Sun with Moon has a fine range of both quality and novel Japanese dishes from which you are almost certainly going to find something endearing.

  The signature staple dish of Sun with Moon is the Kamameshi, a more delicate cousin of the local favourite clay pot rice. The afternoon café features the scaled down version, the Mini Yakiniku Kamameshi served steaming hot ($9.80+++, $12.30+++ with Miso Soup and Cold Dish). A little hourglass on top indicates when the wooden lid may be lifted to release the pent up fragrance of premium quality rice, a cute gimmick which delights diners nonetheless.

  Do not miss out on the desirable Japanese sushi rolls. The Rainbow Roll (6 pcs, $12.80) comprises of crispy soft shell crab, mango, avocado rolled in seaweed with Japanese rice seasoned with vinegar, covered with mayonnaise and topped with bright tangy crunchy smelt roe. Enjoy a hodgepodge of flavours as you take a bite into this colourful alluring treat. You should also not deny your palate the Salmon Teriyaki Roll (6 pcs, $10.50). It is a nifty creation where well grilled paper crisp salmon belly is rolled with fresh lettuce, cucumber and fragrant rice and then crowned with pearl-like salmon roe.

  Sashimi is traditionally regarded as the finest dish in Japanese cuisine and represents the Japanese cultural appreciation of subtlety. Visually pleasing and freshly cut, the Hamachi (5 pcs, $16.50), Maguro (5 pcs, $14.80) and Salmon (5 pcs, $9.80) sashimi will be ambrosial joys.

  The icing of the Sun with Moon experience must come in the form of their desserts. Highly recommended is the Tofu Cheesecake ($5.00), which comes cooped in a cage in the company of a lovely paper crane. Another house favourite is the Kuro Goma Pudding ($6.00), the irresistible home made Black Sesame Pudding which melts easily in your mouth. Uncompromising both in food quality and their aesthetic value, these heavenly desserts surely deserve some stomach room.

• The Service
  The service is praiseworthy given that the restaurant still command a decent following in the mid afternoon. The service staff is friendly and attentive to the needs of the guests. Food is served at ideal intervals as if the meal is paced. It is a Japanese modern dining experience, efficient and with minimum fuss.

SD Food Advisor's take on Sun with Moon Japanese Dining and Café
Sun with Moon offers Japanese food at a range of prices, some of which are astronomical, considering the portion. However, a great part may be attributed to the higher quality of ingredients and what goes into the presentation of the food. There are affordable options such as the kamameshi. Sun with Moon continued efforts to please their guests with new dishes and drinks indicates their intentions to shine even brighter on Orchard Road . Do make prior reservations if you are to avoid disappointment.