Sushi and Highballs at Izakaya Sensu and Chotto Matte

Raintree Restaurants, the same group behind M Cafe, Kabila, Chelsea Grand Cafe, Chelsea Kitchen, Stella, Rocket Room, Terraz, Simple Lang, Momo Cafe, and Saboten, introduces its newest pair of dining concepts, Izakaya Sensu and Chotto Matte, for a new and refreshing dining experience that's authentically Japanese. And just like M Cafe and Kabila, and Stella and Rocket Room, Izakaya Sensu and Chotto Matte also offers a unique dual dining concept all in one place. Sushi and yakitori at Izakaya Sensu, followed by a round of Kakubin Highballs at Chotto Matte within steps of each other in one place, now how cool is that?

On one side, you'll find Chotto Matte, inspired by the bar scene and high energy vibe of Tokyo's Gai District with its line of Kakubin Highballs (L); and deeper inside, you'll find Izakaya Sensu (R), Raintree Restaurants' modern and contemporary take on the traditional Japanese Izakaya, with their spin on authentic Japanese cuisine.

And it's a concept that works. Pioneered by Raintree Restaurants with their successful M Cafe/Kabila and Stella/Rocket Room back-to-back dining concepts, Izakaya Sensu and Chotto Matte offers diners a unique dual Japanese dining experience with its restaurant and bar configuration. The concept also allows diners to order from both Izakaya Sensu and Chotto Matte, and there's nothing like fresh sushi and yakitori with a round of highballs in one place. Both Izakaya Sensu's traditional interiors and Chotto Matte's contemporary bar design exude their own unique look and vibe, adding to the experience. My dining experience at Izakaya Sensu began with their signature Potato Salad (P 195), with smoked milkfish and grilled imported tatami iwashi, thin crisp sheets made from baby sardines, on a creamy Japanese-style potato salad. It's the little touches like the smoked milkfish and tatami iwashi that make it refreshingly different yet authentically Japanese for a new flavor experience. Izakaya Sensu is not your traditional izakaya, instead it's a contemporary spin with a new sense and style yet maintaining authentic Japanese flavors. Izakaya Sensu is a collaboration of Raintree Restaurants and Tokyo's Piglet, known for their modern approach to traditional Japanese cuisine. And their potato salad is a good way to acquaint yourself with their modern and inventive culinary style.

At Izakaya Sensu, you'll find three types of salt accompanying their dishes, Nori, Bonito and Curry Salt, each with its own  prominent flavor profile. A pinch of the flavored salt brings out the natural flavors of the dish, just one of the many subtleties in traditional Japanese cuisine presented at Izakaya Sensu.

The Hanjuku Tamago (195), delicately breaded soft boiled eggs is one dish that gets a flavorful boost with just a pinch of the salt. The richness of the soft-boiled egg becomes more intense, with a burst of bold notes.

Izakaya Sensu's Sushi Omakase 6 (P 450) offers the chef's freshest selection of sushi, with six varieties of the day's freshest catch. The sushi varieties change daily, depending on market or seasonal availabilities, but you can be sure to get a sampler of the finest seafood this side of the metro. The Tuna Sushi (top far right) is topped with a pinch of Izakaya Sensu's signature salt, bringing out the natural sweetness of the tuna for richer flavors.

The Sensu Kawari Kusi 5 (P 195) features five delicately grilled chicken breast skewers topped with Japanese-style flavored sauce and spices, each one with its own unique flavors. The creamy Japanese mayo-based sauce and the sharp notes of the spices pair well with the subtle notes of the chicken, adding a layer of intense flavors. The clean flavors also pair well with a few rounds of highballs over at Chotto Matte.

The Sensu Roll (P 575) includes two of Izakaya Sensu's signature creations in one dish, with Tempura Asparagus and Spicy Mayonnaise topped with Spicy Tuna, Green Chili, and Unagi Sauce; and the other with Crabmeat Mayonnaise, Yuzu Skin, Flying Fish Roe, and Unagi Sauce. The combination of different flavors blend seamlessly, with the fresh ingredients delivering clean notes. Try it with Izakaya Sensu's signature flavored salt for a change, and rediscover fresh flavors without it being overpowered by the usual soy sauce.

The Hirame Sugata-Age (P 695) is a comforting seafood dish with deep-fried flatfish nuggets laid on a crisp noodle basket and served with ponzu dip. Intricately plated, the light flavors of the fish are kicked up a notch with a squeeze of lemon and a dip in the ponzu sauce. And don't forget the crispy noodles...

Like traditional Izakayas, Izakaya Sensu offers a wide assortment of yakitori. The Yakitori Omakase 7 (P 275) features the chef's daily selection with seven skewers of assorted yakitori, tasty little bites of chicken, quail eggs, and bacon with vegetables. Also perfect when paired with Chotto Matte's signature highballs.

The Aonori Dashimaki (P 175), light and fluffy seaweed-flavored Japanese-style omelette with daikon radish, is another tasty side dish prepared with that precise style Japanese cuisine is known for, with the richness of the egg capped by the subtle hint of seaweed.

Everyday between 11:30 am and 2:00 pm, Izakaya Sensu offers their signature Bento Japanese-style Lunch Boxes, available in seven varieties and served with miso soup and daily changing side dishes and dessert. It's a complete meal elegantly plated in layered Japanese bento boxes. I go for Bento # 3, the Sushi Bento (P 550), with Ebi, Salmon, and Tuna Nigiri Sushi and Maki Sushi, with a side of Chicken Kara-Age, sesame-coated fried chicken, seaweed, tofu, vegetables and tamago. Each compartment plays with different flavors and textures for a satisfying meal.

Each bento comes with miso soup and dessert for a complete meal. Other options include Bento #5, the Tempura Bento (P 495), with assorted tempura, seaweed, vegetables, and rice. Other Japanese Bento lunch boxes include Broiled Miso Pork Belly, Broiled Spanish Mackerel, Sashimi, Kara-Age, and Chicken Teriyaki. 

The Sawara Saikoyu-Yaki (P 475), broiled Saikoyu Miso Spanish mackerel, is another refreshing seafood dish, with tender mackerel draped in flavorful miso for rich flavors. Light with fresh flavors, it's yet another taste of Izakaya Sensu's wide range of authentic Japanese flavors.

Cap your feast with Izakaya Sensu's indulgent and elegant desserts, like the Coffee Jelly Tiramisu (P 395), with the bold coffee notes tempering the richness of the cream for balanced flavors...

...the light Fluffy Matcha Chiffon Cake (P 195), with just a whisper of the bitter matcha with every bite...

...the rich Miso Chosolate Cake (P 355), a personal favorite, blending the distinct notes of miso with the richness of chocolate for a whole new chocolate experience...

...and the creamy Matcha Belgian White Chocolate Cheesecake (P 395), with the contrasting notes of matcha and the rich belgian white chocolate cheesecake combining in another elegant dessert. Unlike traditional Japanese restaurants, Izakaya Sensu goes a step further with their line of signature desserts to complete your dining experience.

After a satisfying meal, why not have a few rounds of Chotto Matte's signature highballs, tall cocktails blended with premium Suntory Japanese whisky. And the best part? You don't even have to leave Izakaya Sensu, just walk a few steps and you're in Chotto Matte. With its casual yet edgy bar vibe, take a seat as your Highball is prepared...  

A tall cocktail, with Suntory Special Blended Whisky as a base and blended with soda water and other fruit or alcohol mixes, the Highball gets you in the groove in no time. And at Chotto Matte, you can choose from six different Highball concoctions, from the fruity Bungalow (P 250) with grapefruit, Kyoto (P 295) with green tea, Capri (P 295) with Campari, Cointreau, and fresh oranges, the locally-inspired Andres (P 150) with Tanduay Dark Rum, to the refreshing Black (P 250) with Jim Beam, Coca-Cola and cherry bitters. Or you can stick with the classic...

The Classic Suntory Kakubin (P 250), a smooth blend of Suntory Special Blended Whisky with soda water, and fresh lemons, perfect with fresh sushi or sashimi, even better with yakitori and fried dishes like Izakaya Sensu's Sichimi Age or fried chicken hearts and gizzard with Japanese 7-spice blend or the Shitake Ebi, mushrooms stuffed with ebi. Izakaya Sensu and Chotto Matte is another winning pair from Raintree Restaurants, and if you're looking for some sushi and highballs, you can have it back-to-back, all in one place...