Senya Publika Dinner

Post by Chiefeater VK

Dinner at Senya Solaris Publika turned out to be one of those meals with clear ups and downs. There were enough decent moments to keep the evening from falling flat, but a few dishes also missed the mark in ways that were hard to ignore.

Ordering made through this terminal.

The yakitori was generally a minus for me. What got in the way was the sweet sauce, which felt more like a distraction than a complement. Instead of bringing out the flavour of the skewers, it sat over them too heavily and dulled whatever natural character the meat might have had. The platter looked appealing enough, but the taste never quite followed through.

The ohtoro also disappointed. It was really cold when served, and that took away from the pleasure of eating it. With ohtoro, you want that rich fattiness to ease out gradually and coat the palate properly. When it comes too cold, the texture tightens and the whole experience feels muted.

The more interesting dishes were the teppanyaki items. They had a bit more personality and gave the meal some life where the yakitori and sashimi had not. There was enough contrast in texture and flavour there to make them feel more worth the order, especially compared with the sweeter, less focused yakitori plate.

Pork Liver & Kimchi Teppanyaki

Oyster & Scallop with Kimchi Teppanyaki

Still, the best item of the night was really the taiyaki ice cream shaped like a fish. It had a playful presentation, but more importantly it was simply enjoyable. Sometimes dessert ends up being the cleanest hit of the evening, and that was the case here. After a meal that had a few stumbles, the taiyaki was the item that left the nicest final impression. And it was the cheapest item other than the tea.

Overall, this was a mixed dinner at Senya. The yakitori did not work for me, the ohtoro was served too cold, the teppanyaki was more interesting, and the taiyaki ice cream ended up being the real winner.

Pricing

Omakase Yakitori 5pcs/Sal – RM29.00
Ohtoro Sashimi 3pcs – RM95.00
Suntory Premium Malts (Glass) – RM25.00
Pork Liver & Kimchi – RM26.00
Hot Green Tea (Free Refill) – RM4.50
Oyster & Scallop with Kimchi – RM38.00
Taiyaki Black Sesame – RM6.50

Subtotal: RM224.00
Service Charge 10%: RM22.40
Service Tax: RM13.94
Rounding Adjustment: RM0.01

Total: RM260.35
Average per pax: RM130.18, based on 2 pax

MVX Summary

MVX Score: 7.0/10

M – Meal Value
At RM260.35 for two people, this was not a cheap dinner. The problem is that some of the more premium items did not quite justify the spend, especially with the yakitori underwhelming and the ohtoro arriving too cold. The taiyaki helped leave a better impression, but it was dessert rather than the pricier savoury dishes that ended up standing out most.
Score: 6.5/10

V – Venue & Vibes
Senya still feels like a comfortable Japanese dining room for a casual dinner and drinks session. The setting suits sharing plates and skewers, and the meal never felt unpleasant from an atmosphere point of view.
Score: 7.5/10

X – X-Factor
The X-factor was the taiyaki black sesame ice cream. In a meal with a few uneven moments, that dessert was the one item that really landed.
Score: 8.0/10

Business Hours
Opens Daily
11:45 am to 10:00 pm