Go-Zen Japanese Restaurant
Shop 5, 142 Spit Rd
Mosman, NSW 2088
$$$–
Go-Zen is as tucked away as a restaurant can possibly get. It’s actually off on a side street to the left of Spit Road, with a car park behind (very handy). The entrance is also via the side door (which I realised after trying to tug at their ‘main’ door, derrr!). I envisaged it to be a really cosy-style Japanese restaurant, so was pretty surprised to see all the tables topped with wine glasses and not a Japanese patron in sight.
Did that mean the food wasn’t authentic? Well… yes 😛 It definitely wasn’t very Japanese, even the sushi came with only 4 choices of fish and certainly no fancy rolls. They didn’t even have Soba noodles or shabu-shabu! Still, the menu looked interesting, especially their Specials. We zero’d in on the Soft Shelled Crab marinated in Mirin and Deep Fried Crisp. Every other table there had ordered it so we just went with the flow. Definitely a good choice, as the crab was fantastic! Terribly expensive at $10 for one little crab, it had better be 😉 The crab was so crispy and light, but the flesh inside was sweet. Way way way too small a portion, they either need to give 3 crabs, or cut the price.
Next was their Sushi Roll with Crab, Salmon and Avocado. It was lovely, smooth and fresh. No complaints there but nothing spectacular as it was just like regular sushi that you can get anyway. The final dish was their Deep Fried Seafood Roll. I was under the assumption it would be sushi, but it turned out to be fish and scallops wrapped in some breaded batter and deep fried. Lovely but nothing I’d crave for either.
All in all, I can’t really see why people rave about the place. It’s definitely not a bad meal, but it wasn’t spectacular either.. not something that totally pleasured my tastebuds.
Go-Zen Japanese Restaurant
Table setting
Soft Shelled Crab marinated in Mirin and Deep Fried Crisp
Sushi Roll with Crab, Salmon and Avocado
Deep Fried Seafood Roll
After-dinner mints
oh i love soft shell crabs, they usually have them at sushi places (which costs way cheaper than the one u had)
teehee
The crap was so crispy
sorry couldnt help but notice 😛
*rofl*!!!!! Oh that’s hilarious, I didn’t even notice.. going to change it now 😉
The deep fried seafood roll looks good though! :-9
It was nice! Just quite $$ as it was a small serve 😛
oh i love soft shell crabs, they usually have them at sushi places (which costs way cheaper than the one u had)
teehee
The crap was so crispy
sorry couldnt help but notice 😛
*rofl*!!!!! Oh that’s hilarious, I didn’t even notice.. going to change it now 😉
Merrill and I tried the place sometime early this year. I agree it’s nothing special and the soft shell crab portion was tiny for the cost!!! Btw, did you know you can buy frozen soft shell crabs at Asian grocery stores? I’m always so tempted to buy them but have work out a good marinate/seasoning for it first.
The crab was sooooo nice, wish it was cheaper!
Jakii told me about those frozen crabs, but I really haven’t a clue how to season/cook them so I daren’t try yet 😉
Sushi Roll with Crab, Salmon and Avocado
I first heard of avocado and cucumber rolls but when I first read about this on your entry: I first thought, “Yeah, that would be right up my alley…” The picture of it isn’t so bad either. I definitely want to try this!
Yeah it was nice sushi! The fish was fresh too 🙂
I love softshell crabs until recently, when my friend told me how they were harvested, I completely stopped eating softshell crabs 🙁
Ooo how do they do it? Don’t worry it won’t gross me out.. I’ve seen all the movies/books about McDonalds and it just makes me crave it more when I hear the word “fries” 😉
In order for a hard crab to grow, it must periodically shed its old shell (molt) in order to grow a larger shell. Following a successful molt, the crab’s new shell is extremely soft. This is when it is sold and termed as Soft Shell Crab.
It is not so much as gross, but a bit on the cruel side when some unscrupulous “grower” use method such as deliberately force open the shell to force them to grow.
Poor ‘lil crabbies! I think they’re young ones too? Then again, I also love veal so I guess that’s why it doesn’t freak me out 😉
It still looks good to me too keep the reviews coming!
Heh I will.. it was still fun to try out a new restaurant
Although you made the meal sound mediocre – still looks good to me.
Yeah, their presentation wasn’t bad at all. The food was nice, just not stand-out
The deep fried seafood roll looks good though! :-9
It was nice! Just quite $$ as it was a small serve 😛
Merrill and I tried the place sometime early this year. I agree it’s nothing special and the soft shell crab portion was tiny for the cost!!! Btw, did you know you can buy frozen soft shell crabs at Asian grocery stores? I’m always so tempted to buy them but have work out a good marinate/seasoning for it first.
The crab was sooooo nice, wish it was cheaper!
Jakii told me about those frozen crabs, but I really haven’t a clue how to season/cook them so I daren’t try yet 😉
Sushi Roll with Crab, Salmon and Avocado
I first heard of avocado and cucumber rolls but when I first read about this on your entry: I first thought, “Yeah, that would be right up my alley…” The picture of it isn’t so bad either. I definitely want to try this!
Yeah it was nice sushi! The fish was fresh too 🙂
I love softshell crabs until recently, when my friend told me how they were harvested, I completely stopped eating softshell crabs 🙁
Ooo how do they do it? Don’t worry it won’t gross me out.. I’ve seen all the movies/books about McDonalds and it just makes me crave it more when I hear the word “fries” 😉
In order for a hard crab to grow, it must periodically shed its old shell (molt) in order to grow a larger shell. Following a successful molt, the crab’s new shell is extremely soft. This is when it is sold and termed as Soft Shell Crab.
It is not so much as gross, but a bit on the cruel side when some unscrupulous “grower” use method such as deliberately force open the shell to force them to grow.
Poor ‘lil crabbies! I think they’re young ones too? Then again, I also love veal so I guess that’s why it doesn’t freak me out 😉
It still looks good to me too keep the reviews coming!
Heh I will.. it was still fun to try out a new restaurant
Although you made the meal sound mediocre – still looks good to me.
Yeah, their presentation wasn’t bad at all. The food was nice, just not stand-out