If you love Japanese cuisine then there's no way you have not heard of Sakura at the Metropolitan Hotel and Spa. The landmark restaurant has seen loyal customers come in quietly to enjoy authentic Japanese food over the years and continues to keep its customers fully satisfied with its seasonal menu. The restaurant stands out for its simplicity while the plating of the food is beautiful and artistic.

My own love for Japanese food developed about 15 years ago when I was sent by my editor  to review Japanese food. Since then I have just loved the cuisine marveling at its simplicity despite its  precision and complication of preparing it.

This particular evening I had  chosen to come to the restaurant with a dear friend of mine Tanushree Joshi, a travel industry profressional. Catching up straight from work we looked forward to enjoying a delicious meal. Like always we were not disappointed. Around us were a couple of Japanese corporate looking men who ate silently relishing their beer and food probably thinking of their home. We were  presented with an exhaustive menu, as we were poring over it the manager asked politely "would you like to try our bento box?"

It would be a sin not to indulge in the sushi that Sakura is known for so we opted ala carte while ordering wasabi maritini and endmame. Beginning with the Shojin Moriawase, Kampachi Nigiri, Tobiko Nigiri, some prawn and vegetable tempuras we proceed to yasai salad, steamed rice with fish and konnyaku steak ending it perfectly with black sesame and red bean ice cream.

salad roll

Sweet Shitake Nigiri

Sojin Moriawase

Cheese potato croquottes

Konnyaku steak

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