This was my long-awaited return visit!I stopped by "sai," one of the top Italian restaurants in Nagoya!While Il Aoyama is overwhelmingly popular in Nagoya, when I asked fellow foodies about their favorite Italian spots in Aichi, this restaurant was mentioned with high frequency!They recently won a bronze award at the Tabelog Awards, marking a significant rise in popularity!Despite being a popular place, reservations are relatively easy to secure if made in advance, which is quite convenient!This time, I joined a counter gathering with my fellow food enthusiasts, whom I always appreciate!The restaurant is located about a 10-minute walk from Tsuruma Station, in an area known for its hard-to-book restaurants.Look for the white walls, wooden door, and classic sign as your landmarks!The interior has a slightly dark and chic atmosphere, primarily featuring a counter, but there are also table seats and private rooms available for various occasions!After greeting the chef, I took a seat at the counter and ordered a non-alcoholic drink to start the course.**Chilled Corn Soup** First up, a refreshing cold appetizer perfect for this season! This corn soup is enhanced with corn ice cream and white clam marinated in basil, creating a delightful dish with a rich sweetness and a crunchy texture from the clam, complemented by the aromas of basil and corn! Although the sweetness of the corn has mellowed a bit as the season progresses, it still had a solid sweetness!**Lobster Croquette** The second appetizer was a bite-sized croquette! Inside, it contained a bisque béchamel sauce made from lobster heads and scallops! I decided to break it open before taking a bite to avoid a messy situation! The unique aroma and flavor of the lobster spread gently in my mouth! The crunchy texture of the okahijiki (seaweed) underneath added a nice touch!**Hamo and Japanese Pear** This dish features hamo (pike eel) paired with Japanese pear and a peanut sauce! The hamo was grilled over charcoal, giving it a tender texture! The Japanese pear, marinated with shallots, capers, and green onions, had a sweet yet slightly spicy flavor, combining beautifully with the nutty peanut sauce and the umami of the hamo for a complex taste!**Grilled Mackerel Pike with Eggplant Tartare** This refreshing dish features grilled mackerel pike topped with ice cream! Underneath is a delicious eggplant tartare, providing a smooth texture and flavor, while the mackerel pike, grilled over straw, releases a smoky aroma as it enters your mouth! When enjoyed with the cucumber and shiso sorbet, the refreshing scent of shiso adds to the overall experience!**Ayuy Risotto** Before the main course, we had a rice dish made with "Ryuu no Hitomi" rice from Gifu Prefecture! This risotto was cooked with ayu (sweetfish) broth and paired with edamame, featuring a refreshing yuzu aroma and a subtle bitterness from the ayu, making it a perfect dish to accompany drinks! It really makes you crave Japanese sake!**Mikawa Beef Sirloin Shabu-Shabu Style** This dish features sirloin quickly cooked in kombu broth, wrapped with vegetables! Normally served as steak, this time it was prepared shabu-shabu style for easier eating in the heat! The sirloin had a good amount of marbling, providing a tender texture, and when wrapped with the accompanying vegetables like Manji peppers, winter melon, and a daikon radish mixture with anchovies and capers, it lightened the richness of the meat!**Truffle Gelato with Cheese Tart** As a palate cleanser before the pasta, we had a bite-sized tart made with plenty of truffle and cheese! As the cold truffle ice cream melts in your mouth, the fragrant aroma of summer truffles spreads, blending beautifully with the richness of the cheese for an incredibly decadent flavor! I found myself wanting a sweet Sauternes to go with it!**Aori Squid with Genovese Sauce** The final dish was Genovese! It’s rare to pair fresh aori squid with warm pasta! Using spaghettini, which is slightly thinner than regular spaghetti, it had a perfect al dente texture, making it satisfying to eat! The rich basil sauce paired well with the tender aori squid, creating a perfect harmony!**Peach Fruit Punch** This dish features seasonal white peaches with vanilla ice cream, topped with sparkling water for a refreshing fruit punch style! The sweet peach, combined with the slightly melted vanilla ice cream, and the fizzy sensation from the sparkling water creates a refreshing experience!Finally, I enjoyed three types of tea sweets with herbal tea before leaving.It had been two years since my last visit, but every time I come, I discover new delicious dishes at sai! Since it’s been quite a while since my last visit, I plan to return soon and enjoy some wine as well!It was a great meal!