Redfox
It's been a while since I visited Ark Hills. Before I knew it, many restaurants had changed. On this day, I went to Dos Escenas, a modern Spanish restaurant and bar located in front of Suntory Hall, for a summer refreshment. The restaurant is frequented by the Spanish ambassador and staff, and even by Spanish people who visit three times a week. The terrace seats facing Karajan Square were too hot, so we opted to sit inside. But by the time we left, the temperature had dropped a bit, and we saw a few foreign customers. The name Dos Escenas means "two scenes" in Spanish, representing the two different atmospheres of the restaurant and bar. The entrance has two doors, with "Restaurant & Tapas" written above the wooden door on the left, and "Bar & Lounge" written above the glass door on the right. However, both areas are connected inside, so it's okay to enter from either side. The restaurant has a simple and chic atmosphere where you can enjoy your meal without feeling too formal, with table seats and counter seats facing the open kitchen. The bar, on the other hand, is covered with hand-drawn letters on the walls, creating a more casual and inviting Spanish bar atmosphere. There is also a lounge area separated by curtains at the back, making it not two but three scenes in total, as explained by the staff with a smile. We started with a pre-dinner drink while waiting for our friends to arrive. Before the aperitif, we were served a Lemon Mint Ice Herb Tea. It was very hot, close to 7 o'clock, so the ice-cold herb tea was a delightful touch to quench our thirst. The drink content changes depending on the season. For the pre-dinner drink, we had Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine. The bottle design with white and gold letters was modern and stylish. It had a refreshing taste, perfect as an aperitif. We had made a reservation for the omakase course (7800 yen) this time, but the tapas from the group's party menu in the lounge area looked so delicious that we asked to change the appetizer to tapas. The Spanish omelette with Iberico ham aged for 36 months was soft and fluffy, with authentic Spanish flavors. The Iberico ham had a delightful aroma and rich umami taste. The sea bream with white asparagus sauce was delicate and elegant. The house-made bacon with paprika and aromatic vegetables sauce was tender and flavorful, with a perfect balance of sweetness. The bread served underneath was delicious on its own, and eating it together helped balance the flavors. The wines were served by the glass to match the dishes. We had a Verdejo wine, which had a herbal and fresh fruit aroma, and a well-balanced refined taste that paired well with the tapas. We also tried the Hokkaido scallop and Guindilla pepper pickles, served with a special green sauce made from Guindilla peppers and dashi, with fresh scallops on top and sour cream underneath. The sauce had a perfect balance of spiciness and acidity, enhancing the sweetness of the scallops, and it was a visually stunning and delicious dish, perfect for summer. We also had the squid ink Fideuà, where the chef showed us the finished dish. It had ikura, tobiko with wasabi flavor, aioli sauce, and rare tuna on top. The Fideuà, a thin pasta similar to paella, was a dish we had never tried before, and it was a unique and flavorful dish that we highly recommend trying during the limited time it is available at the Ark Hills' summer spicy food competition.