In Ikebukuro, the sister restaurant of the beloved bistro iitoki, "kawasemi," has opened in Otsuka. It features a bistro with a wine shop, offering a wide selection of wines. The former head chef of iitoki is now the head chef at "kawasemi," and is friendly and easy to talk to. We ordered a la carte at the counter, and they recommended dishes and adjusted the speed of service to match our pace, just like at iitoki. It's a bistro where you'll want to come back again. Reservations are a must on Fridays and Saturdays at this popular spot. It's a great choice for wine lovers and adult bistro dates. The atmosphere is geared towards those in their late twenties and older, giving a more mature impression than iitoki. ORDER: - Bottle of Sparkling Wine - Charcuterie Plate with 5 types of meat - Braised Beef Cheek with Parmesan Mash - Baked Puff Pastry with Shrimp and Scallops in Bisque Sauce - Bolognese Pasta (6,000 yen per person) You can choose wines from the menu book or have the sommelier recommend one for you. We chose a well-balanced and easy-to-drink sparkling wine, which was a great choice. They also have iitoki's famous baked puff pastry here, so be sure to try it! STORE: kawasemi (カワセミ) 5-45-6 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo - 7-minute walk from Otsuka Station - 5-minute walk from Shin-Otsuka Station - Bistro: 18:00-23:00 - Wine shop: 13:30-15:00, 16:00-22:00 - Closed on Sundays, holidays, and the first Monday of the month Thank you for reading until the end. I mainly share delicious gourmet experiences in Tokyo on Instagram. Please follow, like, and comment @qk0501.

Tamaya Ooyama, Tamaya Suidobashi, Ikebukuro iitoki, and Naturelle - these were the four successful establishments run by President Yamanaka. For his new venture, he chose the town of Shinyotsuka. Located just a short walk from Shinyotsuka Station, down Kasuga Street towards Ikebukuro, the new establishment is a combination wine shop and bistro. Here, you can enjoy delicious French tapas paired with fine wines. While the menu is primarily course-based, you can also order a la carte. Following President Yamanaka's recommendation, we opted for a course that included pasta as the final course. Starting with an amuse-bouche, followed by appetizers, soup, main course, pasta, and dessert, the meal was a delightful progression of flavors. The consistent quality and variety of dishes left us feeling content and satisfied.

Delicious wine, delicate and beautiful dishes, and refreshing service made for a relaxing time at the end of the day!