Geisha

Jennifer Jane

4.0

Japanese food is one of my ultimate favorite cuisines but not every restaurant can get it right (or exactly the way I like it). I only have 3 Japanese restaurants which I frequent in Metro Manila and Geisha happens to be one of them. This restaurant is also very vegetarian friendly so it makes for many successful family dinners; I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t enjoy this restaurant as much as I do! It has a classy but homey ambiance that is sure to make you feel right at home whether you’re there for a family dinner, a date or you just want to have a quiet meal by yourself!Geisha is located just across the road from it’s sister restaurant, Red Kimono in Bonifacio High Street. It is the high end version of Red Kimono, with it’s ingredients being more fresh and staff being better trained. It is, in my opinion, one of the best restaurants in that area. It may be a little on the pricey side but it is most definitely worth it! (Trust me, SO. WORTH. IT.)I found out about their Eat All You Can Tasting Menu (P795) a couple of months ago but only recently had the chance to go try it out. I walked into Geisha very hungry and walked out very (very) happy! I was able to sample many of their dishes including their most popular ones, like the Salmon with Baby Spinach Chips and Spicy Tuna Roll. The Eat All You Can Menu doesn’t include everything from their regular menu but it does include all the crowd favorites so you won’t be missing out on much (you will be saving a lot though).Sesame Encrusted Tofu Salad (P235) – I usually only eat tofu when it’s in my Miso soup and sometimes not at all but I managed to have 2-3 bites of this and found it to be quite tasty. The tofu was perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, the mushrooms and greens tasted very fresh. The Miso dressing pulled all the fresh flavors together making one delicious salad. I also loved the presentation of this dish, I probably wouldn’t order it again though because they have better things on their menu.Miso Soup (P70) – It honestly tasted like any other Miso soup out there except it was loaded with tofu and seaweed and I am a huge fan of this dish because of their generosity. Some people have told me that when they feel like having a big meal, they generally have soup first – apparently the warm liquid makes you feel like it’s creating more space in your stomach so you can eat some more. I have never felt that but maybe it works for some people. (Try it and let me know if it works for you!)Rock Shrimp Tempura – I honestly expected more from this dish. It turned out to be very ordinary and kind of oily. It had a nice crunch to it but at some point, you can only taste the tempura batter and not the shrimp. Still, I guess it would be good as pica pica when you just want to have a couple of beers and something to munch on.Spicy Tuna Roll (P320) – The Spicy Tuna Roll was the star of the show (as usual)! This dish was so good, we ordered 2 servings and probably would have ordered one more if we didn’t fill up on all the other food. I have never tasted a Spicy Tuna Roll more glorious than the one of Geisha. The tuna filling is packed with flavor and the rice to tuna ratio is perfect. The Spicy Tuna Roll has bits of fried tempura batter and sesame seeds as a finish and it’s actually unbelievable how much this contributes to the flavor. You can actually taste the sesame seeds when you bite into it. I have gone to Geisha a couple of times just to have this because it’s that good. (I also adore their Spicy Tuna Crisps (P180), it uses the same filing as the Spicy Tuna Roll except they serve it on a deep fried wanton crisps – it is absolutely delicious!)Vegetable Gyoza (P190) – I am a big fan of the Gyoza in this restaurant because unlike other places I’ve been to, ginger is not the dominant flavor. The fried spinach chips and pesto sauce on the plate contributed to the flavor of the Gyoza, not that it needed it. It may only be filled with vegetables but trust me when I say that you won’t even miss the meat!Salmon with Baby Spinach Chips (P395) – I can understand why this dish is one of their best sellers. Not only does the soft and buttery slice of salmon come with baby spinach chips but it also comes with fried mashed potatoes – what’s not to love about it? The salmon practically melts in your mouth and is perfectly complemented by the crunchy yet smooth textures of the mashed potatoes. The spinach chips honestly are easily forgotten but add a nice crunch to your meal and can also work as a palate cleanser if you want to ready your taste buds for the next dish!Chicken Teriyaki (P395) – Nothing out of the ordinary but I can see why it is a crowd pleaser. The chicken skin remains slightly crispy while the meat itself is juicy. It is not as sweet as other Teriyaki dishes I have tried which is why this must be a crowd pleaser. It is served with a small side of Japanese Potato Salad which is all right on it’s own but does not really complement this dish.Chicken Katsu Curry – Of course, this is nothing in comparison to places like Yabu or Saboten but it is passable. The curry is thick and flavorful while the chicken strips are juicy – they go very well together. Also served with a side of Japanese Potato Salad but who really cares about the Potato Salad when you have deep fried chicken strips with a curry dipping sauce in front of you?I’ve included a photo of the Tasting Menu for those of you who might be interested in trying it out as well!All You Can Eat MenuAlso highly recommended (but not on the tasting menu):Angus Fried Rice – Angus. Fried. Rice!!Chicken Fried Rice – Better than Kimpura’s in my honest opinionEdamame Risotto – Who would’ve thought??Florentine Maki – There’s no meat in it but you won’t miss it, trust me!Matcha Cheesecake – Seriously though…. Seriously.

Monica Xu

2.0

This is a modern Japanese restaurant with a sit-down buffet. The interior is pretty well but too dim during the day. Food is too oily. No free tea. To be honest, not so delicious "japanese" food. But, but, but, service was excellent.

Janice Alyssa Loo

3.0

I will always regret availing their order-all-you-can-eat. The food is alright but not knowing how much serving you would get kills you. You know you have to finish what you order. Turns out not all the dishes are exquisite. Pure torture. Hah but their low light is okay and pretty. :)