This restaurant is notoriously difficult to book, but I had my first visit this time thanks to an invitation from a friend. It's an innovative restaurant that has been selected as one of the top 100 restaurants and also received a bronze award. The location is about a 5-minute walk from Ushigome Kagurazaka.The entrance to the restaurant is a bit hard to find. It's located on the first floor of a condominium, with a door that looks like the entrance to a bar.Upon entering, you find a bar corner. Here, you can enjoy an aperitif while settling the bill! The drinks, including tax, came to JPY 29,800. It's very transparent pricing!While sipping sparkling wine, we waited for the show to start. When the time came, we were guided to the counter seats. The dinner has a theatrical format, adding an element of entertainment to the experience.The meal includes pairings (non-alcoholic options are available as well). The dishes primarily feature ingredients from Noto, where the chef hails from.The amuse-bouche to start was a chocolate shaped like a heart! This dish is often seen on Instagram. We toasted with this and a gin and tonic to kick things off!I won't go into detail about the dishes, but there were several appetizers, followed by a main course of fish and meat, and finally a Vietnamese-style rice dish. For dessert, there was ice cream made with liquid nitrogen, which was not only fun in presentation but also incredibly delicious. Above all, the chef is an excellent storyteller, captivating us throughout the meal. There was even a game at the end!Chef Yabunaka is said to have trained at El Bulli, which was the most celebrated restaurant about 25 years ago. Now, not just in the innovative scene but also in French, Italian, and Spanish cuisines, the culinary world is evolving at a digital pace. Using liquid nitrogen (which is quite expensive now) to instantly make ice cream feels somewhat outdated. Thus, I believe the greatest charm of this place is Chef Yabunaka himself. He is such a wonderful chef that you can't help but want to return!
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