This is the first time I've been taken to this amazing restaurant since transferring to Tokyo! It's become quite difficult to make reservations compared to the past! This time, my friend made the reservation, and I was finally able to visit my long-awaited spot. I'm so grateful to my friend! ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉQuintessence is a three-star French restaurant led by Chef Shuzo Kishida. As I opened the heavy door and stepped inside, I found a space that is a bit different from the typical glamorous grand maisons. It’s a simple yet sophisticated adult space, stripped of extravagant decorations. The interior was designed by the renowned craftsman, Kanji Ueki. The calm color palette and spacious table arrangements create a quiet and elegant atmosphere. The lack of flashy decor adds to the sense of specialness.The staff are all incredibly kind and attentive! While three-star restaurants can be a bit intimidating, they provided thoughtful service that was both polite and comfortable, without any stiffness.Each dish was explained in detail, allowing us to enjoy our meal at a leisurely pace. It’s wonderful to have a pleasant experience that encompasses not just the food, but also the ambiance and service.The menu consists of a single omakase course featuring seasonal ingredients!The dishes are crafted based on the day’s ingredients, and they are particularly famous for their delicate cooking techniques that bring out the natural flavors of the ingredients.And of course, Quintessence is known for its signature dish, the "Goat's Milk Bavarois"! I was looking forward to this!Photography is generally not allowed in the main dining area, so this time I focused on savoring the dishes and the atmosphere in front of me.Here’s what we enjoyed during our meal! I’ll note down what I remember as a usual tipsy person!【Sea Bream, Girolle Mushrooms, and Green Onion Tart】With the first bite, a refreshing acidity spreads, complemented by the delicate flavor of the sea bream and the aroma of girolle mushrooms. A small bite packed with various flavors and scents.【Sorbet, Basil, and Cold Squid Soup】A sharp acidity paired with the refreshing aroma of chopped basil, enhanced by the sweetness of the squid. The combination of cold soup and sorbet is intriguing! A refreshing dish perfect for the hot season!And then, the moment I had been waiting for! The signature dish of Quintessence, 【Goat's Milk Bavarois】A plate combining lily bulb and macadamia nuts. This is delicious! The creamy flavor of goat's milk, the gentle sweetness of the lily bulb, and the nuttiness of the macadamia nuts. Despite its simple appearance, the flavors of each ingredient are distinctly present. It’s no wonder this dish represents Quintessence! I didn’t shed any tears, but I was left in a daze from the wonderful flavors. :*:(´- `*)ｳｯﾄﾘ:*:. Next, I was particularly impressed by the dish, 【Mussels from Mont Saint-Michel, Cream Puff, Egg Mushroom, and Red Mountain Mushroom】From the moment it arrived, the delightful aroma of garlic and parsley filled the air! And it was piping hot!! The rich umami of the mussels combined with the aroma of mushrooms and seafood broth foam, filling my mouth with flavor! Not just the aroma, but the temperature was delicious too! (//∇//) I definitely want to eat this dish again!【Beef Prosciutto, Zucchini, Dried Tomato, and Herb Fritter】This was also delicious! The batter was crispy! Inside, it was piping hot! The texture of the zucchini combined with dried tomatoes, green chili, and onions created a burst of flavors in each bite. Crispy! Hot! A dish that is fun in both texture and aroma!【Baked Couscous, Australian Truffle, Scallop, and Sea Urchin Tart】What a luxurious combination! And the aroma of truffle is incredible!ヾ(*´∀｀*)ﾉWith scallops, sea urchin, and Australian truffle! The moment it enters your mouth, the rich aroma of truffle spreads instantly. A luxurious dish packed with high-quality ingredients in a small tart!【Grouper, Polenta, and Corn】A fragrant sauce made with dried champignon and Vin Jaune. The thick grouper combined with the umami of mushrooms, the sweetness of corn, and polenta. It’s interesting how the aromas and flavors change throughout the dish! There are discoveries in how the ingredients are combined, making you think, "So that’s how you pair them!"And for the main dish, 【Blessed Duck】Served with a fragrant sauce made with red wine, Armagnac, and pepper, accompanied by an almond tart. The cooking technique here is truly remarkable! It retains the rich flavor of the duck while maintaining a moist texture. With each bite, the flavor of the duck spreads, perfectly complementing the aromatic sauce! This dish truly showcases the cooking techniques that Quintessence values.As the course approached its end…I was surprised to find that there were four desserts! More and more dishes kept coming! (laughs)【Cacao Ice Cream and Black Cherry】Rich cacao paired with the fruity flavor of black cherry. A dessert with a mature taste! 【Passion Fruit Macaron, Passion Fruit, and Sweet Orange】The vibrant aroma of passion fruit combined with the refreshing sweetness of sweet orange. The balance of sweetness and acidity is delightful! 【Plum and Semi-Dried Grape Pie with Melon Sauce】A dish packed with fruits. The concentrated flavors of plums and grapes are layered with the aroma of melon. 【Meringue Ice Cream with Noto Seaweed Powder】Ice cream made with meringue and seaweed!? I wondered what it would taste like, but it was light and melted in my mouth with a hint of seaweed flavor.There were surprises until the very end with combinations I never expected!Throughout the course, I felt that each dish was meticulously crafted in terms of ingredient combinations, aromas, textures, and even temperatures.Rather than being overly decorated, the dishes seem to confront the ingredients themselves, pursuing how to make them delicious.Looking around the restaurant again, I noticed that the food and the space share a similarity.Both embody simplicity, retaining only what is necessary rather than adding extravagant elements.I could feel the world of Quintessence not just through the food, but also through the ambiance.Quintessence continues to maintain its three-star status.With each dish, there was a sense of excitement wondering, "What will come next?" I enjoyed various surprises all the way to the last dessert!The food, the quiet and sophisticated atmosphere, and the kind, attentive service from the staff all contributed to a truly wonderful experience that lived up to its three-star reputation!Thanks to my friend, I was able to visit this hard-to-book restaurant and have the precious experience of tasting Quintessence’s dishes with my own palate!Thank you for the wonderful time! It was a great meal! ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉThank you for reading until the end! Your "likes!", "follows", and "saves" are very encouraging and make me happy! Thank you! （╹◡╹）♡I have videos on Instagram! Paku Paku Gourmet (Cicciolina Chibi) cicciolina__chibi Paku Paku Travel Gourmet (Cicciolina Chibi) mro_0405 I have over 2000 posts on Tabelog! Cicciolina Chibi https://tabelog.com/rvwr/021636190/