From the same people behind Standing Sushi Bar at Queen Street and Marina Bay Link Mall, Tanuki is named after a Japanese racoon dog. Inspired by classic American bars, it is located on the 2nd floor of Orchard Central with outdoor seats that overlook bustling Orchard Road and an air-conditioned indoor dining area. A few red metal chairs and green retro lamps stood out against the industrial-looking concrete bar counter and floor. Wooden tables with metal legs were paired with assorted chairs in wood and metal. When my dining companion and I visited on a weekday evening, the understaffed place was packed with happy hours (5-8pm) crowd made up mostly of working professionals. Overheard the couple in front being asked if they would like to sit at the bar counter but was just told there were no available seats when our turn came. So said we did not mind counter seats and sat at a high counter by the glass frontage facing the inside of the shopping mall.
