Back on track...
Just got home from takumi. They claim to be the best sushi restaurant in CT, and the rules state you're not allowed to debate it (yes, there are rules). Can't really argue with them there. I've been there several times before with friends (many of whom are visiting Japanese and love this place too - on a side note, they have made some concerning remarks about bad sushi hygiene at most sushi places they have been to in CT). Reservations are necessary - it was full by 8pm tonight, and experience has shown that you have to call by Friday morning to make reservations for Saturday night.
I like the layout and look of the place. There is (if I'm not mistaken) a front room, a back room, and outside seating at the back. Outside seating is great in the summer. Hanging on the walls are drawings of Papa San when he was younger - I maintain these are dying to be turned into a meme!
Papa San is a character. Owner and head chef, he is known to be temperamental. The kitchen stays open until the time stated on the menu, or until Papa San decides he's had enough. He does usually make the rounds on the floor. I've only ever caught him in a good mood, but friends have said he's blown up at them before and threatened banning them.
The sushi is always good. There are a lot of options, and some very unusual and playful ones at that. It's not the same old at Takumi. Personal favourites are the Sweet Kiss and the Super Crunch, which 3 of us went for tonight. The 4th picked the Rainbow Roll. Papa San was being extra generous tonight - the portions are usually large, but they were borderline unmanageable tonight, requiring 2 bites for each piece. Still tasty, though. We did also have starters - Tempura Tofu, which I was told was good; Miso Soup, which I had a taste of and liked; Wakame Salad, which was made incredible by that sesame seed dressing.
Desserts were once again the let-down of the evening. I shared the tempura banana dish with a friend - we've both had it before and enjoyed it, and both found it to be lacking tonight. Someone else ordered the green tea tiramisu - he said the green tea sponge cakes were basically inedible, but the rest of it was fine.
Prices were decent. You can get cheaper for sure, but do you really want to. The Sweet Kiss and Super Crunch go for R85 for 8 (large) pieces. We all came in at under R200 for 3 courses + drinks. They do include the tip on the bill.
TL;DR:
Restaurant: Takumi
Area: Gardens, CT
Decor: Just enough kitch to keep it from being pretentious
Food: Excellent sushi as always
Dietary restrictions: Don't bother if you don't like sushi/sashimi
Service: Good (has been somewhat inattentive in the past)
Price: Good – under R200 each
Worth repeating: This is a repeat!
Just got home from takumi. They claim to be the best sushi restaurant in CT, and the rules state you're not allowed to debate it (yes, there are rules). Can't really argue with them there. I've been there several times before with friends (many of whom are visiting Japanese and love this place too - on a side note, they have made some concerning remarks about bad sushi hygiene at most sushi places they have been to in CT). Reservations are necessary - it was full by 8pm tonight, and experience has shown that you have to call by Friday morning to make reservations for Saturday night.
I like the layout and look of the place. There is (if I'm not mistaken) a front room, a back room, and outside seating at the back. Outside seating is great in the summer. Hanging on the walls are drawings of Papa San when he was younger - I maintain these are dying to be turned into a meme!
Papa San is a character. Owner and head chef, he is known to be temperamental. The kitchen stays open until the time stated on the menu, or until Papa San decides he's had enough. He does usually make the rounds on the floor. I've only ever caught him in a good mood, but friends have said he's blown up at them before and threatened banning them.
The sushi is always good. There are a lot of options, and some very unusual and playful ones at that. It's not the same old at Takumi. Personal favourites are the Sweet Kiss and the Super Crunch, which 3 of us went for tonight. The 4th picked the Rainbow Roll. Papa San was being extra generous tonight - the portions are usually large, but they were borderline unmanageable tonight, requiring 2 bites for each piece. Still tasty, though. We did also have starters - Tempura Tofu, which I was told was good; Miso Soup, which I had a taste of and liked; Wakame Salad, which was made incredible by that sesame seed dressing.
Desserts were once again the let-down of the evening. I shared the tempura banana dish with a friend - we've both had it before and enjoyed it, and both found it to be lacking tonight. Someone else ordered the green tea tiramisu - he said the green tea sponge cakes were basically inedible, but the rest of it was fine.
Prices were decent. You can get cheaper for sure, but do you really want to. The Sweet Kiss and Super Crunch go for R85 for 8 (large) pieces. We all came in at under R200 for 3 courses + drinks. They do include the tip on the bill.
TL;DR:
Restaurant: Takumi
Area: Gardens, CT
Decor: Just enough kitch to keep it from being pretentious
Food: Excellent sushi as always
Dietary restrictions: Don't bother if you don't like sushi/sashimi
Service: Good (has been somewhat inattentive in the past)
Price: Good – under R200 each
Worth repeating: This is a repeat!
