Located about a 10-minute walk from Kokura Station, this Italian restaurant is situated on the first floor of a building near the Tanga Market.With just a small sign in front, it has a cozy hidden gem vibe that makes you wonder what kind of place it is if you’re not familiar with it.I had heard about this restaurant from my visit to Hirovana in Nagoya and had been eager to check it out. I was fortunate enough to finally visit this time.The interior features a completely open kitchen, allowing diners to watch the chefs and staff prepare the dishes up close.There seems to be a private room in the back, as I occasionally heard voices coming from there.The main seating area is undoubtedly at the counter. The thick, single slab counter made from zelkova wood is incredibly impressive.Dining here, you can feel the vitality of the wood, which must have taken hundreds of years to grow.On this day, I enjoyed:- Mango- Corn soup- Shimaaji (striped jack)- Tart- Camaroni wrapped around sweetfish with prosciutto- Melon sorbet- Octopus from Kanmon- Potatoes- Peperoncino- Charcoal-grilled Isaki (grunter) smoked with straw- Kiwi sauce- Fried tripe with tomato sauce- Truffle- Kittara with pesto- Tenderloin of Kagoshima beef- Young corn- Additional pasta- Linguine with red beef ragù sauce- Tiramisu made with rice- Yogurt ice cream- CoffeeI do enjoy Italian cuisine, but my preferences are quite narrow, so I don’t often visit new restaurants.However, this place was absolutely perfect for my taste. They focus on natural ingredients, quality produce, and cooking methods, and the combination of these elements is harmoniously elevated.It’s rare to find a restaurant of this caliber even in Tokyo or Nagoya.If it were closer, I would want to visit every month because it was that delicious.Though it’s a bit far in Kitakyushu, I would definitely love to return if I have the chance. It was a wonderful encounter with a fantastic restaurant.
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.
