Very good food and respectful prompt service combine for a pleasant dining experience. But the high prices and bland flavours dragged this rating down to 3.5 stars rounded up.
We ordered the steak teppanyaki, squid stir-fry and shrimp siomai. All were good with drawbacks:
* although the sauce too mild, the steak for the most part was tender rib-eye or strip loin, and only a small pile of fat remained.
* the squid was not overwhelming in flavour, but a little piquant dipping sauce enhanced it (not necessarily a good thing).
* the siomai was creamy and smooth, and yet didn't reflect the taste of shrimp very well at all.
* the miso soup was chock full with small chunks of tofu and tender wholesome sea-leaves.
No serious downsides, but could be much more flavourful.
The aircons made it too cold for a rainy cool day outdoors: the hostess needs to be aware of not cooling off the rooms too much at the same time as countering the humidity of the season?
I've eaten at Tanabe several times over the years, but, compared to the best restos in Asia and America, the food's not great. Fairly good but no bonus: for example, flavour that was missing in the smooth siomai = perplexity and perhaps some hidden fillers? So I've only gone there as a kind of last resort when preferred options are closed or over-frequented. As well, except for great tep, I'm just not a fan of Japanese deep-fried and raw food.
Customers comprised a very high percentage of Japanese! Now that's always a good sign all around the world: always look for Chinese at spicy beef noodle soup or hot-pot establishments; Koreans at full-spectrum menu restos ordering bimbimbop and gamjatung (not just pork belly); Indians for Punjabi, Goan or Tamil vindaloo, curries, biryani or tikka; Vietnamese for great pho and seared catfish; Greeks for super ribs or lamb chops.
From cultures that cook at home and tend to be thrifty, locals from these cultures are telling a big story about the place! But if too many filipinos are seated, be aware that their food culture and tastebuds have largely been sabotaged by 400 years of marginal Spanish, American and Chinese somewhat-blended blek. I'd humbly suggest the food will likely suck?
As well, we didn't get to know our server as the whole crew serve as needed. In terms of customer relations, this could be improved.
But with confidence go there and see for yourself? read more