Ginga Sushi Bar and Dining - Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. I was meeting a friend in the city, and she propositioned sushi feeling a lot like it. I was game for it, and she knew the place. So, then she picked me up at the usual meeting spot and it was off to the Emporium. Ginga has been reliable in the past for a good meal, so this was all good by me. It might not look like a lot from the inside, but stepping in the door the vibe completely transforms.
Without mincing words, this place is big. When you are talking about the Emporium, you are surely talking about the kind of atmosphere that just represents a dining experience. They have managed to get that here really well. For different kinds of seating, you are spoiled for choice - at the bar getting individual bits from the train yourself? Check. Table booth with a la carte service? Check. Maybe something that can help combine the two? Well, checkmate! Also, the interior is really good and calm. Each place is set out with a pair of chopsticks, small tub for sauces to go in, and a serviette all prepared for any willing patron.
To order, and to pay your bills at the end, there is a button to press. Each seat has their own button for the former function, and each couple of seats shares the button for the latter. The button for saying you are prepared to order is a nifty touch, allowing diners to take their time and has worked out well before. I commend the idea of the bills button to an extent; here, it seemed a bit pedantic as they first had to know you were finished and ready to pay first, then collect the bill, then take you to the counter to pay.
If the two back in South Bank represented different components (one a sushi train - albeit with a separate fusion space - and one being a la carte dining), then this combines it all. There is of course, the sushi train, which ducks and weaves around the ample space and all kinds of sushi varieties are available on it. If you cannot find the one you are looking for, then they can be individually ordered. There is also the classical favourite, bento boxes, plus a modest selection of main meals and an extensive one of dumplings.
I was one hungry man, so the idea of a main meal was appealing to me. It took a while to scan the menu and decide which one, and I ultimately went with the reliable Japanese curry, having chicken karage as the meat. When I was told by her that the serving sizes were massive and filling, she was not kidding. The food was delicious, the proportion of the components (rice, chicken karage, sauce, red ginger) were all spot on and it was really hot and filling. It had a plentiful amounts of the fried chicken, which was tender and had a good proportion of batter-to-meat ratio.
Getting a small order of dumplings on the side, my friend said she would try the prawn dumplings and that is what I got. These were also quite good. The prawns on the inside were succulent and sweet, with the subtlety of well steamed dumplings also being infused. They especially went well with the combination of wasabi and soy sauce.
To drink from the menu, I got a Kamune (or as they described on the menu "Japanese Lemonade"). While back in the homeland, it is probably about as exciting as a can is here, from an outsider's perspective it has a unique novelty. The design of the bottle is characteristic, having a Codd-neck and it is sealed by a marble stopper. A device - the lid, if you will - is used to press down on the marble to release it and thus open the beverage for immediate consumption. In native Japan, there are several dozen flavours of it - some quite odd. As a drink though, it is pleasant. There is a slightly different, less sweet, taste to it as compared to more Western-brand lemonades.
Finally, finishing off with something a little sweet just to make the meal feel complete there was a plate that kept on circulating on the train. It was mostly because they were topped with chocolate, which is always a plus for me. I could not find what they were on the menu, so it is hazarding a guess that they were ecclairs. These were a good finish to the meal, with plenty of custard cream on the inside, and a thick layer of chocolate over the pastry.
Out of all the Ginga places so far, this might be the best one yet. They really know what they are doing in terms of food, but they also utilise the location brilliantly. There are many aspects of what makes people remember a dining experience out present in the decor, and it has the mood of fine dining with the quick, convenient efficiency of the perfect place for the lunch-time rush. This is a people pleasing restaurant, and consider me one of those please people.
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