Revisit: First visit after relocationI made a web reservation two months ago. The previous location was close to the station, but now it’s in a charming area with old houses, about a 15-16 minute walk from the station, past Matsumoto Castle. It seems they found a great property and decided to move.I entered the restaurant at 12:00. At the same time, there were two groups of four people. Five minutes later, the restaurant was fully booked. Inside, there’s a straight counter with 5 seats and two tables for 4, managed by the owner and three staff members. The dining area is spacious (as seen in photo 14), and the well-maintained courtyard, which seems larger than the dining area (photo 15), left a strong impression.My companion and I ordered: ① JPY 6500: Shirayaki (grilled eel) - shared with my companion ② JPY 6800: Kabayaki Set Meal JPY 6800: Unaju (eel rice box) - for my companion JPY 1500: Ponshu (Daishinshu Jun Gin) - shared It took 15 minutes for the first dish and 40 minutes for the second. Here are my impressions of the meal: - The heat source I glimpsed through the noren (curtain) was a grill (uncertain if electric or gas). There was hardly any smoke... - ①: The eel was thick and larger than before. It was dramatically more delicious than what I had previously tasted. The richness and umami of the fat between the skin and flesh were astonishing. The shine of the skin was worlds apart from before. The two regulars seemed satisfied with just the Shirayaki as their final dish. - ②: There was a slight bitterness from the char, but it was within acceptable limits. The fat wasn’t as pronounced as in dish ①, possibly due to the sauce, but it was still good. The glaze of the sauce here is completely different from before... I also tried some fresh wasabi (with a milder sweetness) and compared it with sansho (Japanese pepper). If there’s still fat left, I feel sansho pairs better, but it’s a matter of personal preference. - The eel is the "Deshiko Unagi" from Lake Hamana, which has been frequently mentioned lately. It was branded in 2024, so perhaps what has changed is the eel, the sauce, and the grilling technique?If you visit with two people, it might be reasonable to order the Shirayaki Set Meal (with rice and other sides to follow) and the Kabayaki Set Meal to enjoy both dishes.
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.
