JPN: De Rode Leeuw @ Huis Ten Bosch

Have you tried Sasebo's specialty dish of lemon steak?

It was fun doing the VR rides and games, as well as exploring the grounds of Huis Ten Bosch in Kyushu, Japan. Before we knew it, it was time for dinner. My BFFs and I decided to have our meal at De Rode Leeuw, a restaurant situated in the Tower City section of the theme park that serves Sasebo style lemon steak.

Don't you think the sight of food served on a hotplate is always appetising?

Lemon Steak ¥1,720 (~S$21.80)

Taste: 7.5/10

The Japanese name of the dish is レモンステーキ. Cooked to medium, the beef slices were doused in brown sauce that was slightly sweet and sour. I appreciated the springy texture of the red meat, but I felt that the sauce could be made more potent. Without trying to sound greedy, I'd also like to have more onions and spring onions. Overall, it was an enjoyable dish, but I found the other two main courses that we ordered more tantalising.

Pork Lemon Steak ¥1,630 (~S$20.70)

Taste: 8.5/10

The Japanese name of the dish is 豚レモンステーキ. We unanimously crowned the pork steak as the champion because it was executed well to the point of being more than tender enough for such thickness. Topped with crispy garlic chips, the pork absorbed the lemon sauce well. It was great to have onsen tamago (lit. hot spring egg) and sweet potatoes as side dishes, although the latter could potentially be charred a little bit to really bring out the natural sweetness.

Hamburger Steak (Demi-Glace Sauce) ¥1,330 (~S$16.90)

Taste: 8/10

The Japanese name of the dish is 特製国産ハンバーグ (デミグラス). The cheapest main course on the menu didn't disappoint at all. The minced beef patty was delectably succulent, while the brown sauce was adequately thick and rich. It was accompanied by potato wedges, carrots and broccoli. I was hoping to see more of the vegetables though. Pika's advice: Not into demi-glace sauce? You can opt for cheese topping with tomato sauce, soy sauce with grated radish or teriyaki sauce?

Western Set ¥390 (~S$4.95)

Taste: 8/10

The Japanese name of the set is 洋食セット. Should you need more carbohydrates, you may want to upgrade your main course into a set that includes a cup of soup and a choice of either bread or rice. I went for the bread, which were served warm with butter. The soup served that evening was cream of corn.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 8/10

Ambience: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

I believe De Rode Leeuw is Dutch for 'The Red Lion'.

De Rode Leeuw @ Huis Ten Bosch

1-1 Huis Ten Bosch Machi
Amsterdam City, Huis Ten Bosch
Sasebo, Nagasaki
Japan

(Mon-Fri: 10.00am - 10.00pm;

Sat-Sun: 9.00am - 10.00pm)

*Prices quoted are nett prices.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)