We had lunch at Ura last week. We were in two, and I arrived first, followed by my girlfriend.
I sat on the chair, my girlfriend sat on the sofa. The back of the chair was too hard, curved and rigid, suggest the boss/management to put cushions on the chair for comfortability.
Service was quite quick: within few minutes I sat down, the manager/vice manager asked me if I want any water. I said yes. I did not specify whether the water is by bottle, or by glass, nor any brand of water.
Few minutes later, the manager brought a bottle of water, of 1000 ml. of course, what I wanted actually was just glass water like other customers. I couldn't say no,however, because the manager already "proactive;y" opened the bottled water, actually even before he arrived the table. I live overseas, and I am not too aware of that particular brand of water. Anyway, I thought, even bottled water, at an eatery of average spending of around 200-400 HKD, will not cost too much. So I didn't reject the water.
We ordered 2 lunch menu, A and B. Menu A was waygu beef with uni. B was sashimi rice with uni, toro, and ikura.
The lunch menu started with 2 chawanmushi. Unfortunately they failed. The egg was too watery, and lack of ingredients inside. Really a let-down given such a simple, classic Japanese starters.
To the main dish: Ingredients are almost top-notch and fresh. Big compliments to the waygu beef, nicely cooked and flavourful. Portion was nice as well.
Upon asking for the bill: the bottled water they charge me was 78 HKD. I was more than shocked. Even in 5 star hotels in hong kong, the bottled water are somewhat in a similar range. The manager could argue it is a 1L, however, for 2 person drinking 1 L of water, I think it is an overkill. It is strange for me as to why they brought this particular brand of water to me ( which apparently was the puriest from newzealand), given I did not request any particular brand , and when the bottle was particular expensive, and also at 1 L for two? Maybe thats the only brand of water that is by bottle, and by this size? Anyway, I am sure it will help if the manager at that time kindly informed. However, this has been " forgotten" ( please do not tell me I should ask for price. In Hong Kong, do you go around eating in restaurants asking how much is the water? With this in mind, I think the whole story is very clear)
Anyway, as I checked, the cost of this water BY retail is only around 35 hkd per bottle, and if you buy in bulk, is only around 25 hkd per bottle.
In short, I think the food was nice, some part has slipped, but worst of all, if they continue to forcefully "sell" their premium bottled water without notifying customers beforehand, I can ensure you more bad reviews to come, which was not not worth it. You win 78 HKD, but got a bad review and a bad name.
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