Takaoka, ranked 2nd in the sushi category in Chiba Prefecture.I made a reservation for Friday dinner about two months ago, and there were still many open seats, so I think it’s relatively easy to book even at the last minute.I had previously visited when the head chef was at a Tokyo location, and today I happened to have business in Chiba, so I came partly for the stamp rally experience and partly to confirm the chef's skills again.All the ingredients, except for the sea urchin, are sourced from Chiba Prefecture, mainly from Futtsu, Choshi, and Katsuura. I learned during my meal that Choshi Fishing Port has the highest catch volume in Japan. It makes sense that a complete omakase course can be created using only ingredients from Chiba. The chef undoubtedly sources top-quality ingredients from Chiba; for example, the horse mackerel caught in Futtsu just this morning at 11 AM had a noticeably vibrant red color.Now that I’ve shared the highlights, I’d like to mention a few points that concerned me. The most notable issue was that the course structure hardly changes. The dishes I had this time were almost identical to those I enjoyed two years ago in the fall. From other reviews, it seems that most of the menu remains fixed throughout the year, with only a few ingredients changing. While it’s impressive to consistently offer the same dishes regardless of the season, it does inevitably diminish the seasonal feel. For instance, I was personally looking forward to having abalone, a summer delicacy in Chiba, but it wasn’t offered this time, which was a bit disappointing. Nevertheless, I was satisfied with the overall quality.What left a stronger impression than the "all Chiba" ingredients was the chef's attitude towards service. He was incredibly humble, polite, and attentive. His level of humility was such that he personally brought over the sake cups for me to choose from, poured the sake for me, and even cleared the dishes. Moreover, he called my name every time he served a dish. When he noticed that the coaster under my glass was wet, he promptly replaced it with a new one. Each of these gestures left a deep impression on me.The sake selection is primarily local Chiba sake, and I doubt there’s another place with such a wide variety of Chiba’s sake. The prices are also very reasonable.In summary, this is a reliable restaurant where you can enjoy consistently delicious sushi. However, if the course content doesn’t change frequently, my motivation to return multiple times diminishes significantly. Of course, the chef's wonderful personality and service are undoubtedly another major attraction of this restaurant.Today's menu:【Appetizers】Octopus (Choshi)Bonito (Choshi)Aoyagi (Futtsu Kanaya)Red Sweetfish (Tokyo Bay) *No photoAnkimo (Choshi)Horse Mackerel (Futtsu, caught at 11 AM)Clam Chawanmushi (Tokyo Bay)Kamasu (Futtsu)【Nigiri】Kinmedai (Katsuura)Kohada (Edo Bay)Tai (Futtsu)Akami (Katsuura)Chutoro (Katsuura)Otoro (Katsuura)Kensaki Ika (Kamo River)Hamaguri (Futtsu)Kuruma Ebi (Futtsu)Bafun Uni (Hokkaido)Anago (Futtsu)【Rating Criteria】5.0: A restaurant that stands at the pinnacle of its genre. A strongly memorable experience that makes me eager to return. (This is not an absolute comparison with other genres; for example, a 5.0 ramen may not necessarily be better than a 4.9 sushi.)4.5 and above: An exceptionally excellent and unique restaurant in its genre. Difficult to substitute, worth the special trip.4.0 and above: A restaurant with outstanding features and charm.3.5 and above: A standard level. No dissatisfaction with the taste.3.0 and above: A restaurant to visit only when there are no other options.*The ratings are completely personal and based on my impressions during the meal. While taste is the primary criterion, very kind service, attentive hospitality, a rare and reasonably priced selection of sake, and a refined interior are all positive factors.I am currently studying Japanese, so there may be unnatural expressions or grammar. I appreciate your understanding if there are any difficult parts to read.
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.
