Maru

Impeccable service– the waiter even turned 180 degrees when I was entering my PIN. Wonderful sushi and sashimi. Not sure we ate everything in the right order but we really liked it.

Nice looking Japanese restaurant, probably the only one in Esher. But the prices are a bit expensive (except for the unagi grilled eel rice, which seems like good value for money). Otherwise the sushi is overpriced. The miso aubergine, one of the specialty, is for some reason butchered by the waitress when it arrives, and has so much water that it turns into a stew because of the butchering. Better if it was drier, and cut into cubes for easy eating. The salmon teriyaki sauce was very salty. Overall, would not be going back again try The Good Earth instead, just down the high road for some good oriental food.

Maru 2 the return visit
As promised I said that I would give this restaurant another appraisal once I returned. That opportunity happened last night when I ate there with my uncle.
Now I must admit it was with some trepidation that I returned, no perhaps that is too strong a word, after all it was not as if anything sinister was to befall me, It is though the weight of expectation that made me feel on edge.
My uncle is also passionate about Japanese cuisine, would he think it rivalled some of the other restaurants we had frequented or topple are regular haunt? Was I going to live to regret my first review and eat a healthy portion of humble pie and then regrettably down grade my own original appraisal. Then there was my own expectation would that first joyful experience be recaptured? Would my taste buds be tantalised and my senses aroused in unequivocal and exquisite delight, leaving me satisfied and a feeling of utter contentment that can only truly be beaten by other indulgences of a carnal nature.
Ah that is pause for thought and something to wet the appetite that great cuisine should indeed be an orgasmic experience arousing your passions and senses and sending you into a delirium that is truly sensational. However, that discussion is best left for the topic boards.
I digress we entered Maru and were greeted very courteously and warmly, the manager escorting us to our seat… dozo dozo yoroshiku desu… ah I was already beginning to feel at ease.
My uncle, as ever, was content for me to choose what we would eat, putting his trust and faith in my decisions in the knowledge that his hunger and contentment would be fully satisfied.
Playing on safe ground, I chose, from the apéritif section, the deep fried soft shell crab, that had restored my liking of this most delectable and sumptuous cuisine.
To complement this I chose scallop with asparagus, seared beef with a sauce and then a soup, which I knew my uncle is always partial to.
I must confess, I am not overtly keen on soup, and I really did not fancy misu soup… but then I looked and saw Oden… a flash back begun I was walking down a cobbled street in Old Kyoto… but my uncle stopped me and said can I order.
Our drinks arrived, i decided to quench my thirst with Kirin beer having established previously that Ashii did not quite hit the spot.
The first dish to arrive, actually took me by surprise, it was the Oden soup. I though for a moment, then recollected ah ok, this was a simplified version of a well known and extremely popular Japanese dish.
However, that first sip managed to achieve along held desire to time travel and in an instant I was transported to the home I shared with my girlfriend. It was a cold winters night, she had been labouring away all day preparing the Oden Soup, the beautiful sweet fragrances wafting in the air, the myriad of aromas danced round the room and masked the previous occasion when the pressure cooker had exploded and the ingredients decorated the ceiling.
There I was watching the winter Sumo Basho… and she called Gohan tabete… uuh chotto matte… she repeated this time a shrill voice rose… haiyaku kudasai !!! Sumimasen gomenasai I said meekly sitting at the table. and i tasted… hmm umai desu, .and then some twenty minutes later… totemo oshii katte desu né… domo arigato gozaimasu.
I have digressed but with good cause, Maru had not only met the approval of my uncle, who concurred with me that this indeed was infinitely superior to the restaurant we normally went to and should be firmly established as «Our Local»; but only on special occasions because it is an expensive fare and to become too accustomed would spoil the treat.
Not only this but for me Maru had done the impossible, of not only creating wonderful cuisine and an atmosphere to match, but a cheap time machine… nostalgia. which is an invaluable experience that you can’t put a price on.
Why though the upgrade to five stars, for the simple reason that its a new restaurant yet already they have added an addition. The Oden soup was not on the menu the first time I went.
This for me shows that they are not complacent and the desire to be fresh and add changes is highly commendable for Maru is only in its infancy.
I hope this attitude continues and that its reputation will grow for in my view it does not deserve to be rated below 4 stars.

It’s not you, it’s me. I have been spoilt with traditional Japanese food for many years now with my best friend being Japanese. So i guess i have high expectations.
I was so excited when i saw the ‘opening soon’ sign for this restaurant. The prospect of having a local Japanese restaurant really was too good to be true. We finally made it there tonight despite the snow. The staff were extremely welcoming and friendly, but i just found the food a huge let down for the prices they were charging.
There didn’t seem to be any Japanese staff, i think it is Korean run. The dishes just didn’t taste authentic to me. The avocado salad was tiny for £7, rather bland, and that seemed to be a similar theme for the rest of the meal. The fried aubergine was tasty, and the bottled water was pretty good too.
I wanted to love it, but it looks like my favourite Japanese restaurant is still Asakusa in Mornington Cresent!