【Atmosphere & Service】 Located about a 3-minute walk from Akasaka Station, this Japanese restaurant presents a dignified appearance just off Akasaka Street. The interior features a calm space with only 7 counter seats, allowing for a close interaction with the chef and a focused experience on each dish. 【Cuisine】 - Seasonal Omakase Course 【Taste】 ■ Appetizer & Assorted Dishes What stands out first is not just the dishes themselves, but how they express the essence of summer through the presentation and plating. The assorted dishes allow you to enjoy a variety of flavors and textures, each one distinct. Incorporating seasonal ingredients like summer vegetables and seafood, the initial courses offer a delightful range of tastes, including cold dishes, aromatic elements, and a touch of acidity, making for an interesting start. ■ Soup Personally, I find the soup particularly noteworthy in Japanese cuisine. The moment you lift the lid, the aroma of the dashi (broth) is striking, followed by a clear umami flavor that unfolds. The dashi, primarily made from bonito, has a well-defined profile without being overly salty, enhancing the flavors of the ingredients. ■ Sashimi The seafood impresses not only with its freshness but also with the skillful knife work and temperature management that enhance its texture and umami. Delicate fish showcase subtle sweetness, while fatty fish are prepared to highlight their rich flavors, without overpowering them with soy sauce or condiments, which is a nice touch. This sashimi allows you to appreciate both the ingredients themselves and the chef's craftsmanship. ■ Grilled Dishes The grilled dishes are notable for their smoky aroma from charcoal grilling while retaining moisture in the ingredients. The surface has a delightful char, while the center remains moist. In Japanese cuisine, avoiding overcooking is crucial, and the balance here is exquisite, allowing the umami of the ingredients to unfold with each bite. ■ Rice The rice served towards the end of the course is not just a simple conclusion but stands as a well-crafted dish in its own right. Carefully prepared, considering the dashi and the rice cooking technique, it beautifully encapsulates the lingering flavors of the preceding dishes. 【Conclusion】 Akasaka Ogino is a place to visit when you want to enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine with a sense of the seasons in Akasaka. The July omakase focuses on summer ingredients, with meticulous attention to detail in dashi, aroma, cooking techniques, and presentation. The dashi in the soup, the grilling of the fish, and the seasonal essence of the assorted dishes left a lasting impression, allowing me to feel the strength of the fundamentals of Japanese cuisine throughout the course.
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