Full-length mirrors are on the khaki wall. Wooden tables matched with black leather low chairs traditional Japanese with modernity. The wait staff are all dressed in black ensemble. The house music makes the vibe young and hip. Red spotlights outside frames the total look of the restaurant.
It took a while for our orders to arrive and when it did, I almost did not eat it. The server had his fingers on the plate (like almost touching the food or sauce!) every time (note every) they served the food –so gross. A sushi roll even fell from the plate that the waiter was about to serve another table.
On the Table:
Amuse Bouche: Hot Raspberry Tea
Bubba liked the service tea that expels an aroma of raspberries.
Pepper Crusted Chicken with Garlic Linguini PHP240
It wasn’t pepper crusted, more like garnished with pepper. I liked this dish because the chicken compliments the garlic pasta.
Ebi Tempura PHP330
Too pricey for its taste and size
Japanese Rice PHP60
Ho-hum.
Katsudon PHP180
This is Bubba’s staple order every time the cuisine is Japanese. He said it was salty and surprisingly didn’t finish his food. I would normally finish it since I don’t want to waste food but I wasn’t in my eating rampage mood this week.
Dynamite Roll PHP195
This has got to be the highlight of the whole average dinner. It had generous serving of salmon on top of the sushi rolls. It came with a sweet brown sauce, not your usual soy and wasabi dip. It was named dynamite because it was supposed to be spicy. A vision of Elmer Fudd red faced and smoke coming out of his ears entered my mind. Sadly, it didn’t serve its name well. I didn’t find it spicy at all.
Celebrity spotting:
Toni Gonzaga and Direk Paul at Cravings
Ariel of Ariel and Maverick Duo at Sumo Sam
Preggers Ina Raymundo with family passing by
The food was overly priced, as it is only artistically ordinary. Some dishes are interestingly different. I am not excited to have a second visit to Sumo Sam but we’ll see. Bubba gave a passing grade.
Marvin Agustin is part owner of this modern Japanese restaurant. Sumo Sam is located at the 6th level of Shangrila Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City. Contact them at 9100388/6375704.
Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/440/08_0515-_Sumo_Sam
