◆Visit Rating 4.31 Ranked 1st in Iwate Prefecture Ranked 65th in Japanese Cuisine Nationwide 3 Tock in Gault & Millau ◆About the Restaurant Founded in 1850 (Kaei 3), this historic restaurant operates by reservation only. The 7th generation owner, who trained at the prestigious Kyoto restaurants "Hyotei" and "Hiragiya," offers authentic kaiseki cuisine that beautifully blends the delicacy of Kyoto dishes with the rich seasonal ingredients of Iwate Prefecture. This renowned establishment has a history of hosting notable figures, including Prime Minister Takashi Hara, who organized Japan's first formal political cabinet during the Taisho era. There don’t seem to be many good hotels nearby, so many guests tend to stay around Mizusawa. ◆Impressions I made a reservation by phone (followed by a table check) before my visit. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is that of a magnificent mansion, and I was surprised to learn that this room is often not used due to its grandeur. The counter seating has a special feel, reminiscent of a chef's table, and I personally think the owner chose to limit it to six seats to ensure all guests receive attentive service. Even when a guest arrived 15 minutes late, they were treated with the same kindness, showcasing the owner's warm character. After the meal, the owner kindly gave us a tour of the private rooms and the entire mansion, making for a truly wonderful experience. The counter seating is a newly designed area where you can remove your shoes, making it very comfortable—absolutely delightful. The proprietress was also very approachable and charming. The prices for drinks were quite high, reflecting the quality of the cuisine. The dishes showcased the essence of Tohoku and Iwate, featuring many high-end ingredients. The portions were impressive, and each dish was straightforward yet packed with delicious flavors. The variety of accompaniments for the rice was among the best in Japan. The ambiance was pleasant, the drinks were delightful, and I had a wonderful time. ◆Meal Cost (Tax Included) JPY 25,000 + 10% Service Charge ◆Dishes Served (Food Only, Tax Included) ✔︎✔︎ Black leaf tea ✔︎✔︎ Corn Chawanmushi With rapeseed oil and matcha egg Seasoned with sansho, it was both original and very delicious. ✔︎✔︎✔︎ Rare Grilled Suzuki from Ofunato With kinome (Japanese pepper leaves) and marukatsu wasabi The quality of the Suzuki was excellent and extremely tasty. ✔︎✔︎ Just Egg ✔︎✔︎ Abalone from Sanriku with sesame dressing With a white eggplant from Hitotose and myoga (Japanese ginger) Very satisfying. Kinmedai caught in Miyako, steamed with small onions With okahijiki (a type of sea vegetable) from Kitakami ✔︎✔︎ Horohoro chicken from Hanamaki, thigh meat, and gizzards ✔︎✔︎ Scallops from Kamaishi ✔︎✔︎✔︎ Grilled Anago (conger eel) from Ofunato With semi-dried tomato dipping sauce Extremely delicious with a rich broth. ✔︎✔︎ Grilled Akita Turban Shell ✔︎✔︎ Smoked and grilled Horohoro chicken thigh ✔︎ Horohoro chicken gizzards ✔︎✔︎ Old pine brothers from Towa, Oita, shiitake mushrooms, grilled walnuts ✔︎✔︎ Water octopus from Mr. Sasaki in Kamaishi ✔︎✔︎ Grilled okra with plum miso ✔︎✔︎ Sweetfish, dried overnight ✔︎✔︎ Sliced green pepper All were delicious. ✔︎✔︎✔︎ Makogarei (flatfish) from Ofunato ✔︎✔︎✔︎ Swimming scallops ✔︎✔︎✔︎ Ainame (a type of fish) from Ofunato ✔︎✔︎ Cucumber ohitashi (blanched) With Tosa soy sauce and chirizu All were exquisite and delicious. ✔︎ Ainame with jelly ✔︎✔︎✔︎ Just Egg with Shuri shell dashi rice The broth was incredibly delicious. ✔︎✔︎ Fruit tomatoes, yuugao (a type of gourd), edamame, Miyagi's aotsubugai (a type of shellfish), with plum vinegar dashi The dashi was delicious, and the tomatoes were exceptionally tasty. ✔︎✔︎✔︎ Sea eel from Kamaishi, young corn tempura from Kitakami, with dashi and green chili Absolutely delicious. ✔︎✔︎✔︎ Nagaimo (Japanese yam) somen with uni The uni was delicious. ✔︎✔︎ Nibana (a type of vegetable) ✔︎✔︎ Accompaniments for rice and three servings Mackerel with sesame sauce Makogarei Ainame Mibuna (a type of vegetable) Bamboo shoot tsukudani (preserved bamboo shoots) Matcha egg Iwate's meiji tuna sashimi ✔︎✔︎✔︎ Corn rice Very delicious. Although it was for takeout, I had a little. ✔︎✔︎✔︎ Ice cream made from Yamagata dairy milk, peach, blueberry The ice cream was delightful. ◆Notes ◆Disclaimer * Michelin and Gault & Millau ratings include past and current information. * Prices are listed with tax included. ⭐️Rating Criteria Based on dining experiences across the country, considering local characteristics, etc. For example, in Tokyo, slightly higher prices are understandable. The overall score is generally determined by the average of taste and cost performance. Ex. Taste 4.2, Cost Performance 3.8 would yield a score of 4.0. Taking the prices into account: ⭐️ 3 stars or below: Satisfied after one visit ⭐️ 3.5 stars: Delicious, generally satisfied ⭐️ 4 stars: Very delicious, would recommend ⭐️ 4.5 stars: Exquisite/Will return/Highly recommend ⭐️ 5 stars: The pinnacle of deliciousness/Will visit for life/Absolutely recommend * Ratings are carefully considered to one decimal place. * When discrepancies in standards are noticed, I occasionally review past ratings. ◆I sincerely hope that my followers enjoy delicious meals at the restaurants I review. I place the utmost importance on location conditions and satisfaction relative to the amount paid. ◆I strive to maintain the reliability and objectivity of the content I provide, and I generally include meal costs.
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