Shoya

25 Market Lane, Melbourne. (03) 9650 0848
Score: 37/40
There are lots of places to get a bento in Melbourne. But this is the best I’ve had.

Shoya (which means rising house) is supposedly one of Melbourne’s best Japanese restaurant. Unfortunately neither time nor my bank balance had allowed me to visit and attempt to verify this claim, but I decided, after a particularly bad morning at work, to treat myself to lunch, with a fellow blogger and foodie.

Shoya has several lunch set options, ranging from $24.50 to $65. I went for the eponymous Shoya Set, which is $28.

I was rewarded with an endless array of literally perfectly cooked and prepared Japanese dishes, starting with a stunning dish of sashimi that included an array of fish including salmon, kingfish and scallop. The next dish was a very small pickled eel salad and it wasn’t on the list of dishes on the menu, so I think it was a bonus amuse bouche. The next dish was chilled beancurd with strips of bonito flake. The tofu was reasonably solid, silken and extremely tasty.

Savoury egg custard topped with a bright green broad bean was one of my favourites and contained little morsels of seafood and meat.A large portion of tempura was straight out of the deep fryer and into my gob, and included both vegetables and a large prawn. A beautiful piece of white fish came next and was so perfect. Crispy skin but moist inside. The hot dishes were topped off with a small bowl of udon, in the most stunning stock. We think the noodles were hand made, but irrespective, they were bouncy, but soft and delicate too. The stock was well-balanced with just the right amount of salt for me.

My dining companion was slightly less indulgent than me (thank goodness, because she helped me eat all of my food!) and chose a stunning Shoya Ramen ($15), topped with a large piece of stewed pork that just crumbled under the softest touch.

For dessert we shared my last course – green tea ice cream. Um. Excuse me. Don’t roll your eyes, thanks,

I’m not a big fan of green tea ice cream either, but I strongly recommend you try this version – it tasted of the essence of tea and was absolutely delightful.

Having had lunch at Shoya, to say I am desperate to go back for dinner is possibly the greatest understatement of the century. The staff were friendly, the atmosphere classy, with simply and classic decor, and the food, quite simply, beautiful.

I strongly recommend Shoya for lunch. Watch this space for dinner.

Atmosphere: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Value for money: 9/10
Food: 10/10

Website: www.shoya.com.au