A Fresh Chapter Unfolds At The New Location Of Sugi Japanese Restaurant in Garden Towers Makati

Few restaurants in the metro's local and constantly evolving culinary scene have endured the test of time, and fewer still have reached the four decade milestone serving their signature cuisine. One of them is a very familiar name. For over forty years and counting, Sugi Japanese Restaurant has always been on the top of any list for exquisite and authentic Japanese cuisine, and a new chapter unfolds bringing the freshest flavors of the season...

Timeless, nostalgic, classic. Since the eighties, Sugi Japanese Restaurant led the upward trend in Japanese restaurants anchored on both quality and authenticity deeply embedding itself in Manila's culinary mainstream. Everyone I know has a story from the revered Japanese dining establishment from many years back including my own fond memories. But like the changing of seasons, a fresh and exciting chapter in its continuing story begins at its new location in Makati's Garden Towers. Read on for a reunion of familiar flavors and discover new dishes at Sugi Japanese Restaurant...

The comforting warmth of rich wood tones takes you back to the first time you visited Sugi Japanese Restaurant many years ago in its former locations, yet there's a strikingly modern, minimalist and sleek vibe at the newest location in Garden Towers. Designed by Architect Lara Fernandez Barrios, the new look reflects the restaurant brand's bold direction moving forward while preserving its repertoire of well-loved renditions of popular Japanese staples. 

The specialty Sugi Iced Tea (P 160) just never fails to soothe the palate with its sweet notes and vibrant citrusy finish rounded out by the flavorful depth of the tea. After all these years, the Sugi Iced Tea remains spot on. 

That day, we also sampled a Japanese Sparkling Sake, the Mio Clear from their extensive selection of spirits. Highly recommended should you prefer more spirited libations. Lightly crisp with that effervescent lightness with each sip, you're now ready for the new dishes of Sugi Japanese Restaurant. 

Starting August 11, Sugi Japanese Restaurant will be rolling out the new Flavors of the Season Menu regularly refreshed every four months by Chef Kenichi Kasahara. Designed and curated to highlight the chef's creativity as well as showcase each of the kitchen departments from the grill, fry, teppanyaki and sushi bar, the Flavors of the Season offerings reflect Sugi Japanese Restaurant's renewed commitment to culinary excellence and a memorable dining experience that cemented its reputation through the years with even more flavorful stories to come. 

The Inari Kawari Sushi with its variety of fresh fillings from shirashubushi, spicy tuna, spicy salmon, unagi and negi toro in soft tofu skin pouches kicks off your Flavors of the Season feast at Sugi Japanese Restaurant. Each fully loaded pouch brings a delectable burst of fresh and clean notes punctuated by a soothing heat from the spicy variants. It's the perfect start to your much awaited reunion with the beloved restaurant. 

The succulent Kajiki Steak with slabs of juicy Blue Marlin delicately seared teppanyaki style and served with sautéed bell peppers and onions delivered that perfect balance of savory sweetness and subtle salty hints. The perfect alternative to the usual protein, the Kaijiki Steak's fresh and clean notes brings out the delicate and even nuanced flavors of the Blue Marlin for a savory yet refreshing seafood option. 

Sugi Japanese Restaurant also served their bestselling creations like the Salmon Aburi Maki, a classic ebi fry roll topped with torched salmon, haikara flakes and tobiko. Beautifully plated with its vibrant colors, the complex play on flavors and textures from the different components brings multiple layers of distinctive notes lingering long on the palate. One more bite, and it's good to be back at Sugi Japanese Restaurant. 

From the Flavors of the Season Menu, the Kushi Age Moriawase brings the crunch with its assorted sticks of kushi katsu in five tasty variants. The deep-fried skewers of Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus, Quail Egg with Mozzarella, Fish Cake, Pork and Shrimp with Leeks coated in crisp breading brings a variety of flavors and once you start, well you know the rest...

The thick Butabara Anakari Yaki with grilled pork belly in a thick spicy and sweet glaze paired with radish and kimchi rounds out the new Flavors of the Season Menu at Sugi Japanese Restaurant. The delicate sweetness of the juicy pork are taken a notch higher by the spicy-sweet glaze for that bold yet delectably balanced finish. The Flavors of the Season Menu is a welcome addition to Sugi Japanese Restaurant's growing repertoire of culinary offerings fitting right in with their solid bestsellers. The four new dishes are four more reasons to visit Sugi Japanese Restaurant's new location in Garden Towers. 

But no visit to Sugi Japanese Restaurant is complete without the pair of all-time bestsellers starting with the Wafu Steak. The juicy slabs of tenderloin steak with winter mushrooms and tofu draped in the Chef's Special Teppanyaki Sauce just takes you back to the days when the Greenhills branch ruled the neighborhood. I fondly recall those days when you rewarded yourself with the Wafu Steak and bowls of Japanese fried rice for a job well done. And the Wafu Steak still hits the spot. 

And of course, the Assorted Tempura of plump shrimps, asohos or whiting and assorted vegetables each one coated in a delicately light, crisp and crunchy batter. Makes you remember the times when you requested for your own bowl of dipping sauce with extra radish. Consistency in the quality of fresh ingredients and meticulous execution from the veteran kitchen still manned by a team of the same chefs made Sugi Japanese Restaurant home for so many loyal diners. I knew it was mine where you can always have your Wafu Steak, Assorted Tempura and bowls of fried rice.

The initial batch of new menu additions present interesting possibilities the next time you dine at the well-loved restaurant, infusing the classic menu with bold new culinary expressions. And you can expect even more innovative dishes with the succeeding editions of the Flavors of the Seasons menus at Sugi Japanese Restaurant. 

And don't forget their specialty ice cream for that sweet and nostalgic ending just like the good old days. Food trends come and go as sure as the seasons change, but timeless flavors remains the reason why you keep coming back to a familiar place. Like Sugi Japanese Restaurant. And the new Flavors of the Season menus refreshed every four months will keep you coming back along with their bestsellers for a flavorful reunion with the restaurant you've always loved. 

Sugi is located at the Ground Floor, Palm Promenade, Garden Towers, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/sugimnl/ and https://www.instagram.com/sugimnl/# for more information and updates or call 8818 6753 for inquiries.

Dude for Food is now on Facebook and Instagram, check out the FB Page and IG Feed for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.