Gallantique
Bom located in Taito District, Ryusen. A friend from overseas who is a vegetarian wanted to come here, so we decided to try the special meal offered on the day of the summer purification ritual. It has been about 10 years since I last visited, but now it seems to be even more popular with foreign VIP guests who are vegan or vegetarian. It is about an 8-minute walk from Iriya Station through a residential area. It is a charming house near Washijin Shrine. The restaurant has private rooms for all guests, and our room, which could accommodate 4 to 6 people, had a tokonoma alcove and a view of the greenery in the entrance garden from the window. Today, we opted for the lunch course priced at ¥5000. We were welcomed with dried sweets with the restaurant's name engraved in Sanskrit and tea. The course included: - Appetizer - Clear soup - Assorted dishes - Simmered dish - Boiled dish - Sesame tofu - Fried dish - Miso soup, rice, pickles - Fruit The dishes were simple but beautifully presented from start to finish. The June clear soup called "Shantou" had a hint of edamame flavor, and the presentation with ivy leaves on top added a summer touch, which raised our expectations for the following dishes. The assorted dishes called "Shunkan" included items such as sesame tofu, dressed vegetables, fried konjac, and ancient rice dumplings. The boiled dish was a miso stew from Nasu, which we particularly enjoyed. Despite the absence of meat, the use of vegetable oil in the dishes of the course kept the flavors interesting. The fried dish consisted of fried somen noodles shaped like fans, carrots resembling prawns, and burdock root. We finished the meal with rice, colorful pickles, and a dessert of mango jelly with longan, dates, and watermelon. The ¥5000 course was satisfying even for those with smaller appetites. If you want to enjoy a greater variety of dishes, the ¥6000-¥7000 courses might be a good choice (I might try this next time). A friend who had visited in the evening before had the ¥10000 course, which included around 14 dishes, and was so full that they could hardly move. The restaurant offers a wide selection of alcoholic beverages, but we opted for the hojicha tea this time. The total bill for the meal for two, including the service charge of ¥1000 and consumption tax, came to ¥5000. Payment is mainly in cash. Thank you for the wonderful meal!