For weeks, coworkers and I had been planning to go to Silla (pronounced Shilla), a local Korean (with Japanese influences) restaurant/karaoke lounge after work some Friday, and last night, our dreams finally came true.
Three coworkers ordered sake without consulting any sort of list, and were given jars of warm sake; Husband and I wisely chose large bottles of Kirin. I should note here that I recommend going to Silla in a large group. Everyone should order Kirin or another large bottle of beer and then share, in the Japanese and Korean style. Your table should have at least one bottle per person at all times, and whoever reaches for a bottle first should refill everyone else’s glasses.
First to arrive were the appetizers, gratis, little bowls of kimchi, pickled daikon, sliced fishcake, and marinated cucumber. I missed the dried squid bits, and the sesame mung bean sprouts that I received on other occasions, but satisfied myself with everything else. Oh how I love kimchi. Last year, one of Chef’s friends brought in a jar of her mother’s kimchi, which we nibbled on, week after week, allowing it to ripen and age until it had reached a delicious, yet eye-watering, tongue-scathing spiciness, which we relished and then stood, fanning our tongues, only to repeat every 5 minutes or so.
Although we ordered sushi to start out with, we were first served Galbi-gui (beef short ribs) and bulgogi (marinated, bbq’d beef). After about 5 minutes or so, out came another’s order of potstickers, followed by my hamachi kama about 10 minutes later (cheek, or rather jaw bone, of hamachi). And then one order of sushi, and then, when we were getting full and had basically written it off, the last order of sushi came out about 30 minutes later. One poor coworker’s fish omelette, sadly, never arrived, although we were charged for it, along with the toro nigiri (fatty tuna belly from blue fin tuna) that we also never received. All in all, it took nearly an hour for us to receive all of our food, which came in no particular order.
My Hamachi Kama arrived, looking rather severe and unaccompanied, just a grilled jawbone, on a lettuce leaf, with a chunk of lemon tossed on the side. I suggest that you never turn down the opportunity to eat any form of cheek - beef, veal, grouper, squirrel, what have you. The cheek is one of the most succulent and under-appreciated cuts. One reason for this is that it is rather difficult to extract, which is why I’m guessing it arrived still attached to the bone. And to think, before receiving it, that I wondered to Husband if it would be cleaned to my specifications! The entire piece was about 9 inches long, and shaped like a triangle. There was some digging and bone-sorting involved, but I just couldn’t recommend this enough. The meat is meltingly tender, and so sweet that you could cry. I think it even shut me up from my Kirin-induced chattiness for a good 5-7 minutes.
I suggested to one coworker that he try the teriyaki salmon and tempura, which is a little boring, but I am not sure about his adventure level, and in a restaurant where you might receive a piece of gristle-ridden skate on a bed of cold udon doused heavily in Sriracha, you can’t be too careful. Fortunately for me, he received 3 shrimp that he wouldn’t eat, and I got to benefit from their good tempura method.
Another coworker ordered the short ribs and allowed me to nibble on the bones on the side, which were full of lovely meaty juices and bits of beef clinging on. Husband ordered bulgogi, which is always good, although this time it seemed to lack the usual amount of scallions that are stir-fried in.
The tab for dinner for 5 was $200; we balked a little, considering that we usually end up eating chili dogs at the Thurman or the best wings ever at Barley’s when we get off from work, but alas, we had eaten well and had drunk all the Kirin and sake, after all, so we couphed up. After a little discussion, we settled on a 15% tip. This is almost unheard of for 5 people in the restaurant business, but under the circumstances, we felt that it was our only option. Even the owner had to track down our server and give him a stern talking-to, just out of earshot.
I woke up the next morning thinking about my hamachi kama. I talked about it all evening at work, to the chef. I talked about it with husband last night over our after-work beers. The truth is, even though the service left more than a little to be desired, I am perfectly willing to go back next Friday, and do it all again. Husband and I even decided that we would try the tripe stew the next time. You can be sure that I will report on that experience.
info: Silla 1802 Henderson Road Columbus, OH 614.459.5990 One of the best things about Silla is that it is open, every day, from 4pm until 2AM!! That’s right kitties, 2am.
