"malca" @ Gaienmae (☆彡) https://malca.svolta.co.jp/ This is a reservation-only restaurant run by Chef Tsukasa Kitano, who honed his skills at "sfida" in Osaka and "TACUBO" in Daikanyama. During lunch, they offer a course menu, but at dinner, you can indulge in a la carte dishes as much as you like. Address: Minato-ku, Minami-Aoyama 2-27-16, Shinozuka Building B1F Phone: 03-6804-3748 Closed: Sundays and Mondays Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5 PM to 12 AM There are stairs on the right side of the building, just a short walk from Gaienmae Station. The first floor features a bar called "Ando Svolta." The restaurant has a gray exterior with its name displayed. Upon descending the stairs, you enter a beautifully designed space with a wooden door. To the right, there’s a glass-walled wine cellar and counter seats facing the kitchen. It seems there are private rooms on the left. A circular art piece inspired by blue and white waves adorns the back wall. On the table, there’s a blue display plate, which turns out to be a serving dish for the food, resembling a placemat. Visited on the night of August 28, 2026. With a reservation starting at 9 PM, I arrived by 8:30 PM, despite the distance, and waited at "Ando Svolta" before moving here just before 9 PM. I planned to order a variety of pasta dishes. As an appetizer, we were served salted green olives. Chilled Corn Soup from Suzuki Farm in Koriyama, Fukushima - JPY 2600 A simple soup made with just salt, water, and corn. It allows you to enjoy the pure flavor of corn without cream or onions. The soup is topped with a granita made from the same soup and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. Bluefin Tuna, Burrata Cheese, and Bruschetta from Yamako - JPY 3400 This is a signature dish that can be considered a specialty. On a crispy base, there’s a generous serving of tuna tartare, complemented by crunchy pickled beets and capers. Topped with creamy, milky burrata cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and beautifully vibrant beet powder. It’s quite large to eat by hand, but it’s delightful and truly satisfying. Homemade bread with a strong aroma and a hint of salt. We ordered three types of pasta, sharing 1.5 servings among four people. Ayugai from Wakayama, Grilled Eggplant and Cucumber, Chitarra - JPY 3800 This is Chitarra pasta, which turned out to be more tender than expected. It’s served with a ragu of tender ayu, grilled eggplant, and cucumber, with a strong cucumber flavor. Red Shrimp, Zucchini and Mint, Handmade Squid Ink Tagliolini - JPY 4200 Handmade black tagliolini infused with squid ink. Topped with a zucchini puree mixed with chopped mint, sliced zucchini, and succulent red shrimp. The mint flavor is quite pronounced, which is unusual as it’s mixed in rather than just garnished on top. Ragu Sauce with Squid from Hyogo, Handmade Tagliatelle - JPY 3800 This is Chef Kitano's recommended dish. It features wider, flat tagliatelle, resembling kishimen, with a tomato-based ragu sauce containing shredded squid. Purebred Tajima Beef Tenderloin from Awaji Island, 124 months - JPY 14000 Cooked rare, the tenderloin has a rich red meat flavor that is delicious, showcasing the skills honed at "TACUBO." Served with grilled green bell pepper. Accompanied by Basque salt and black garlic paste from Awaji Island, which has a balsamic flavor and a hint of acidity. Mont Blanc (Chocolate Mint) from malca - JPY 1400 Ordered by a friend. It’s topped with mint cream and has mint gelato on a base. Shaved chocolate is sprinkled on top. The flavor of this Mont Blanc changes with the seasons. Pudding from malca - JPY 1200 Recommended by a friend, this pudding features a rich caramel sauce and is lighter than it appears. It has a smooth texture with a delightful egg flavor. The bittersweet caramel sauce has a shimmering rainbow effect. Fresh Mango and Lychee Gelato - JPY 1600 A gelato made with fresh mango and lychee, topped with chocolate crumble and meringue. The mango sauce has a refreshing acidity that awakens the palate. Uffu Cold Brew Rooibos Tea "Soleil" - JPY 1200 This was the first drink I had. Mandarin Juice - JPY 900 Next was this, which was very delicious. The service was exceptional, as expected. Being able to order as much as you like while chatting at the counter is also a plus. I regret focusing too much on the cost-performance and pasta with ragu. I believe my rating is lower than average due to that.