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The highlight of the dish was rather unexpected: the nutty-tangy sesame dressing stole the spotlight with its creamy yet refreshing taste and peanut-like aroma. While my dining partner-in-crime and I speculated ground sesame, vinegar, and slight hints of peanut to fall within the ingredient list, the lingering components remain a (tasty) mystery.
The portion size was very generous - in my opinion anyway - so I ended up packing a portion of the noodles for takeout. In the process, I made sure that both the spiced yellow radish and sesame sauce were included - indeed, the sauce was that impressive.
For those familiar with my eating habits, I tend to steer clear from seafood (except for fish) at all costs, especially shellfish. Their slimy texture is outlandish and peculiar, while the de-shelling and consumption process is merely too time-consuming and effort-intensive for the amount of derived meat.
Squid is one of the few types of seafood I enjoy in both fresh (cooked) and preserved forms. Heavily battered calamari isn't usually my go-to choice, so ordering the Fresh Fried Ika was a gamble.
The lady serving us was evidently more experienced in her field than the heavily tattooed males and doe-eyed girls on night shift, whisking us two receipts that evenly divided up our orders without being given any instructions prior. She wasn't the most genuine of serving staff, though I commended her efficiency and strong sense of professionalism.
While I had high hopes for the new products, all three proved to be a major letdown. The filling was much too thin and devoid of cheesiness to be even be considered a "cheese tart". None of the flavours were particularly distinct. The Green Tea Tart, in particular, was crumbly and lacking in both cheese and tea essence.
I suppose it should be appreciatd that the tart shells were of a standard thickness, and not overly buttery either. Besides this, there is little else to articulate praise towards.
A password-secured Wi-Fi network was provided, thoug there were very few outlets, if any at all. A lonely two-port outlet was found near the cashier/pick-up area, hidden underneath the wooden bench that lined the west perimeter.
Tiramisu Bingsoo was creamy, cocoa-dusted, and featured an extravagant slice of Tiramisu cake. A sweet, crunchy cookie (?) dust had been spooned between the shaved ice layers at the dessert's approximate halfway point, while a milky, coffee-flavoured layer at the bottom provided a nice pick-me-up.
A shot of espresso had also been provided, likely to enhance the caffeine content and flavour intensity. Not the most ecstatic about affogatos, I steered clear of this hot-cold combo, staying loyal to the plain syrup-coated frozen milk slivers.
My Green Tea Latte was as typical as powdered drink mixes could be made to be. Nonetheless, its heat was greatly appreciated after the slushy journey involved to arrive at the sidewalk-less plaza.
This is not to say that improvements are not deemed necessary in other areas of operation. Hardwood flooring is potentially dangerous during wintertime as snow and salt dragged in by clunky boots pose slip and trip hazards to unsuspecting customers carrying plates of dessert and ceramic cups filled with scalding liquids.
A cramped, dilapidated single stall of a washroom was found after maneouvering around trays of plastic water bottles, situated adjacent to a metal supplies shelf and a chipping pink door. It was, inarguably, on the less pristine side; filth made several appearances throughout the interior in the form of dust and stains. At least the facilities weren't nearly as fossil-age as the structural components appeared.
Behold my purchases of the day: