むむ美
I visited a restaurant that was featured on TV for its rice tasting event! I arrived around 14:10, even though the reception ends at 14:30 on weekdays. There was only one group waiting outside, but on the tablet, it showed that there were 7 groups waiting. The place seemed popular, but the restaurant was half empty inside. Perhaps it was an issue with their operation. While waiting, I was scolded for looking at the rice cookers displayed outside and told to sit and wait. Then, suddenly two groups returned and were seated at exactly 14:30. We were told to wait for someone to guide us, but then a staff member gestured for us to go in. It was confusing. Even though there were only 4 groups inside, they seated everyone next to each other, which was odd.
The menu had three types of rice dishes: sea bream, pork, and chicken. I chose the pork, but it was wrapped in thick slices of fatty meat with basil sauce, which seemed strange. The meat was too thick, making it difficult to eat, and it got cold quickly. The side dishes like the celery salad and plum-flavored hijiki were unique and delicious. The sea bream sashimi with sesame dressing was amazing, and the sea bream rice soup at the end was flavorful and satisfying.
My companion had the beef cutlet, which was delicious with its crispy coating and tasty sauce. The rice, which I was most excited about, was disappointing. The "normal" rice was just like home-cooked rice, nothing special. The "sticky" rice was indeed very sticky, and I preferred it as I like sticky rice. I wished they had changed the rice varieties throughout the day, so we could try different types.
As the closing time approached at 15:00, they started cleaning up early, and the tea and rice refills were taken away before the time ended. It felt like we were being rushed to leave, which was unsettling. Despite the empty restaurant, we had to wait for 20 minutes, and then they quickly cleaned up and served dessert, making us feel unwelcome.
Overall, the restaurant had potential with its variety of rice dishes and sides, but the service and operation need improvement. I may consider going back if they address these issues, but for now, I'm not eager to return.
