Bon Gout

Bon Gout is a little Japanese eatery, which proves that good Japanese food can be affordable.

Magurozuke Don ($14nett) It came prettily presented, garnished with crispy Japanese cucumbers and ginger and a side of pickles. Maguro Zuke means marinated raw tuna We were suprised at the amount of maguro we got - 6 huge chunks of tuna - probably the most that I've seen for $14 (with a set meal too!) The salad was simple with sliced capsicums, onions and cucumber, topped with a dollop of tangy dressing.

Tofu Salad ($7) Chilled Tofu with a tangy dressing and a hint of sesame. I really liked the little crispy silver fish which were used to garnish the salad. There's also some Japanese seaweed (at the bottom right in the picture) which gives the dish a delicious texture. Theres also fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, and some chopped spring onion sprinkled over the top.It's a very refreshing dish with a contrasting variety of textures.

Ramen Set ($12, $10 for ramen alone) I tried the Tonkatsu Ramen, which was recommended by the waitress. The ramen broth (which is what I use when I compare ramen) was pretty normal, nothing to rave about, The set came with Onigiri (Rice balls) which were carbo overkill after the ramen.

Nasu Chicken ($12) Chicken and Eggplant with Miso Sauce, which was highly recommended in another blog review (according to my friend). Thought $12 is pretty pricey for the portion, I thought that the dish was brilliant. It was a riot of colour, and the chicken was tender, succulent and done just right. The stir fried peppers, leeks and eggplants cooked to perfection and evenly coated with the delicious miso sauce. Best of all, the eggplants (which I find are harder to cook) were cooked enough so they weren't still spongy, but yet not till it was soggy and the seed portion mushy and dropping out. They had a brilliant purple hue, and tasted yummy together with the chicken.

I really enjoyed my dining experience - we went there for lunch on Sunday, and the place was pretty crowded, though the interior was far from noisy. Most of the Japanese families were reading books borrowed from the restaurant. The place is brightly lit (great for taking photos) and cheerful, with helpful knowledgable staff. The mood is casual and relaxed, perfect for lazing the weekend away.

The al fresco area overlooks Singapore River, and on a balmy Sunday afternoon, is a perfect place to relax. It's very windy, peaceful and if only I could read Japanese, I'll camp here all afternoon reading their endless volumes of manga. Best of all, there is no service charge or GST! It is indeed affordable, delicious and value for money. I will definitely return (hopefully very soon) to try out their curry sets, which are incredibly aromatic:)