Date: 24/9/2009
Restaurant: Ariake Japanese Restaurant
Address: Corner of Albert & Quay Streets, Downtown Auckland
Website: http://www.ariake.co.nz/
Party size: 2
Special note: Dinner Course Ariake need to be ordered 2 days in advance.
Parking: It is difficult to find street parking. However there are plenty carpark in the nearby area.
When we get seated: 7:00pm
When we left: 9:30pm
Tonight's experience:
Food ordered: Dinner Course Ariake ($85 per person)
Highlight: Hors d'oeuvres, with 7 bite size item serve on the same plate. Each tastes differently and yet they compliment with each other.
Presentation: Fantastic for all the dishes. I feel bad eating such beautiful food.
Taste overall: Very good, but not as good as it was couple years ago when I first dined at Ariake. The grilled steak are slightly overcooked to my taste (They served it as medium, close to medium well) but I must admit I like my food relatively raw compare to the general public.
Environment: The restaurant are around 70-80% full. We are seated along the side of the windows and the seat are arranged far apart so diners can have good privacy space. However, tonight there was a group of 7-8 which is unbelievably loud which is kind of annoying. One of the servers had to go to that table and ask them to quiet down.
Disappointment: The sashimi and the sushi are the disappointment for tonight. There is nothing wrong with the taste as the fish served are very fresh. What disappoints me is that the sashimi served the most common (Snapper, Salmon and Tuna) fish in New Zealand's japanese restaurant. I expect restaurant at Ariake's caliber would serve something more interesting. What is even more unforgivable is that they repeat tuna and salmon in the sashimi and sushi dishes. I do not believe that is good practice for a full course dinner as the chef should provide variety to its customers. I don't think they put much thoughts into the sushi and sashimi course.
Final comment: Araike's pace of serving food may be slow considered by some. However, I believe if you spend that much money on a dinner, you should be savoring it and not trying to rush through it.
Final grade: B+
I would definitely go back and hopefully they would do even better next time.
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