Hidden away from those who are not in the know, Genzo is a new Japanese F&B establishment which had recently opened its doors at 336 River Valley Road — the building being the former Automobile Association of Singapore; Genzo shares its premises with SHŌ at Level 4, being accessible from the lift lobby at the entrance of the building.

Serving up a wide variety of dishes from sides, cooked dishes, raw dishes, sushi, maki and entrees, the Negitoro Don is one of the few items being listed in the “Raw Mains” section of the menu. Described as “minced tuna belly mixed with sesame seed, topped with spring onions and homemade shots”, this was the item that left the strongest impression during our meal here. Having had a few Negitoro Don out there, this was one variant which we really loved the textural aspect of the dish — the minced fish not being particularly fibrous; just smooth, moist and did not carry much of any unpleasant fishiness; no odd “tension” that prevents fibres from breaking, nor was it dry and crumbly. Topped over Japanese Pearl Rice (patrons can also opt for Soba, Udon and Salad at no additional cost, or Brown Rice at $1 extra) that is served at room temperature, we liked how the entire bowl carried a consistent temperature throughout; the ikura providing a burst of umami while the Tamago was nice to have — provided a slight contrast of flavour and texture with its light sweetness.

Apart from being served ala-carte, patrons can also choose to go for the set meal; the Sashimi Set comes with 3 piece sashimi and miso soup, while the Premium Set adds Chawanmushi, 3 piece sashimi, miso soup and dessert — the latter being what we opted for. Enjoyed the freshness of the salmon sashimi here, while the Chawanmushi was smooth and silken with a gelatinous layer of stock over the top for an umami factor; the dessert was also pretty stellar being a green tea mochi that is all chewy and well-filled with pastry cream and sponge cake — carried an evident aroma of the tea whilst providing the meal with a light end.

Really enjoyed the relaxed vibes at Genzo, especially with the “outdoor” seats are situated right at the poolside. A spot to check out!