AI94
I visited this restaurant that opened last year, and it seemed to have good reviews, so I went there the other day. It is a seafood restaurant located on the 6th floor of Maru Building, close to Tokyo Station. The exterior has a slightly high-class feel with a white curtain with the restaurant name written on it and cedar balls hanging. When I arrived a little before 11:45 am on a weekday, there were still seats available, but I was informed that a reservation was coming in at 12:45 pm, so I was seated at a table until then. The kitchen is on the right, counter seats are on the right front, and bench seats are along the front and back walls. The restaurant is spacious, relatively new, so it has a sense of cleanliness, and the seats are comfortably spaced out. There also seemed to be private rooms in the back and on the right side.
First, warm hojicha (roasted green tea) and a wet towel were provided. The lunch menu is as follows:
- Seafood: all 1,620 yen
Kishu-style sashimi set meal
Kishu-style simmered fish set meal
Kishu-style seafood bowl set meal
Kishu-style charcoal-grilled fish set meal
- Mountain ingredients: all 1,620 yen
Susami Inobuta (wild boar) pottery steamed set meal
Kishu Umedori (chicken) fragrant plum tempura set meal
Susami Inobuta (wild boar) budou sansho (Japanese pepper) grilled set meal
Kishu Umedori (chicken) Nankou plum sukiyaki set meal
Wakayama Kishu mountain and sea set meal 2,700 yen
Lunch course menu 4,320 yen, 6,480 yen, 9,720 yen
Today's sashimi consisted of about five varieties, and the grilled fish included sea bass, striped jack, black sea bream, and gurnard, giving a wide range of choices. I hesitated a bit but decided to go with the Kishu-style sashimi set meal. The hojicha had a smooth mouthfeel and was comforting to sip while waiting. Soon, a serving of homemade tofu was brought out. The homemade tofu was generously portioned in a larger-than-expected bowl. I decided to enjoy it with the special soy sauce and ground sesame seeds on the table and the freshly grated ginger that came with it. The silky smooth tofu had a rich soybean flavor, making it delicious on its own! The special soy sauce had a sweet taste, almost like a concentrated soy sauce. With the added dashi, when paired with the tofu, it became very mellow. I also enjoyed the change in flavor by combining it with ground sesame seeds and freshly grated ginger.
Next, a three-variety plate was served:
Kishu-style boiled shirasu (whitebait)
Tempura side dish with squid, pumpkin, and green beans
Salad with soba rice crackers
The sashimi platter and rice set arrived. The daily sashimi platter featured thickly sliced pieces, which surprised me! (From left to right)
Red snapper: The thickly sliced flesh had decorative knife cuts. The part near the skin was firm, indicating its freshness.
Tuna: Sliced with a sharp knife, the surface had a cool and smooth texture. The fresh red meat was juicy (not watery).
Yellowtail: The tender flesh was fatty and full of umami. The fat was not overpowering and there was no fishy smell.
Flounder: A chewy texture with a sweet and savory taste. There were some bones left (common in flounder).
Sillago: The thick flesh provided a firm texture with an elegant umami taste. The freshly cooked rice was made with Hinohikari rice from Wakayama. Since the main and side dishes were quite filling, I asked for a smaller portion. The glossy rice had a sticky and chewy texture with a strong sweetness, making it very delicious. The pork soup made with Umebuto (plum pork) was served. It contained pork belly, cabbage, and onions.