Since visiting "ca'enne" in Chino, Nagano in March this year, the word "charcoal-grilled" has been stuck in my head. At that time, I came across information about this restaurant that opened in March, and with a wide selection of natural wines, which reminded me of the wine I had at "Shichiroubei Coffee" in Nozawa Onsen, Nagano. So, I couldn't resist and decided to take a short trip to the amazing Ohara. The restaurant has a lovely atmosphere, with a view of Mount Suisho and Mount Kinpira. Beyond them lies Mount Kurama. It's a wonderful place, but being a popular tourist spot with places like Sanzenin Temple, access is convenient with buses running every hour from Kyoto Station and Kokusaikaikan Station. The menu is primarily prefixed (à la carte is also available). The basic A course includes 2 appetizers, a main dish, and dessert for ¥5,300 (tax included). For those looking for something lighter, the B course offers 2 appetizers, a main dish, and dessert for ¥4,600 (tax included). For those wanting more, there's the Chef's Special course for ¥6,600 (tax included). I opted for the A course. Today's additional menu item was a game item, which I had been hoping for. Amuse Salad: Underneath the radish is fromage blanc, with a hint of fresh ginger. A promising taste from the first dish. Appetizer 1: Pate de Campagne - With deer meat included, it had a rich and flavorful taste, and the portion was generous. It was my first time trying such a tender and flavorful pate. The bread is made from spelt wheat from Daichido in Shiga. The butter, although smoked, didn't have a noticeable aroma. Appetizer 1 (additional): Roasted ham of Kyoto Inoshishi - The game flavor was less than expected, but it was delicious nonetheless. I should have tried the other recommended red wine. Appetizer 2: Winter Ohara Vegetables Charcoal-grilled Assortment - The winter vegetables were incredibly delicious, each with its unique taste and texture. The orange wine paired well with the vegetables. Main Dish: Ohara Deer Charcoal-grilled Thigh Meat - Served with winter strawberry sauce and Andes Red potatoes. The portion was exceptionally large, and the deer meat from Kyoto was incredibly tasty, juicy, and lean. Dessert: Chocolate Terrine with Ginkgo Nuts and Oak-Aged Miso White Miso Sauce - The fried ginkgo nuts paired surprisingly well with the chocolate terrine. The dessert was a delightful end to the meal. For the after-meal drink, you can choose from coffee, tea, herbal tea, or upgrade to the specialty coffee for an additional fee. I opted for the specialty coffee, which had a fruity and fragrant taste. The total bill came to ¥11,760, with beer costing ¥750. The additional charges for the dishes were ¥1,000 and ¥200. The three glasses of wine totaled ¥4,510. The price was reasonable considering the delicious food and excellent wine selection. This restaurant in Kyoto has created a wonderful local gastronomy. The owner is considering whether to continue as a bistro or transform into a restaurant, but either way, success is guaranteed.

Next time I go to Ohara, I decided to make a reservation while checking the weather forecast. As I entered the restaurant, I was impressed by the solid, large stone counter table, the modern interior, and the cozy fire in the wood stove, which gave a fresh atmosphere to the touristy area. I opted for the standard lunch course, and while the menu was as shown in the photos, the variety of ingredients and seasonings made me curious about what would come next. The dishes had a clean and refreshing taste, allowing me to savor the complexity of flavors from the ingredients and their combinations. Overall, the French cuisine was well-balanced. The wine selection was also impressive, and I chose the recommended glass wines, which paired perfectly with the dishes. Sitting at the counter, I enjoyed chatting with the chef and the sommelier, making the experience even more pleasant. In hindsight, I realized that it would be better to visit the restaurant with the main focus on the meal, rather than as a side activity during sightseeing. I plan to come back again, perhaps in a different season, following this approach. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

After visiting Ohara Sanzen-in, we found a French restaurant on our way back and decided to enter immediately. We visited on Sunday at 3:00 pm with 2 people. We were asked to choose a bottle of wine from the cellar, so we went to see the selection. We selected a Côte de Jura Pinot Noir for 10,500 yen. For snacks, we had Jambon Blanc, Leson, and a salad with shaved dressing. The wine and food were perfect. We had a great time chatting with the chef in French. We will definitely visit again!

La Buche in Kyoto Ohara is a restaurant where you can enjoy game dishes and locally sourced firewood-grilled cuisine, along with natural wines. Located at the foot of Sanzenin Temple, about 1.5 hours by bus from Kyoto Station, the main offering is a prix-fixe style course. On this particular day, we enjoyed dishes such as "Firewood-grilled Vegetable Platter" featuring cabbage, daikon radish, carrots, and turnips cooked to retain their natural sweetness. The "Firewood-grilled Deer Sirloin from Rakuhoku" was tender and flavorful, served with burdock and red wine sauce, sweet Andes potato puree, and a bottle of Tavel 2019 / L'Anglore (France, Rhone) selected from the cellar. The meal also included dishes like onion mousse, wild boar loin ham, olive marinade, pickled Daikon radish from Shogoin, and carrot salad. For dessert, we had chocolate terrine and a special miso from Ohara. The meal was accompanied by homemade bread and butter. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I went to Ohara with a friend on a last-minute reservation. We usually rent a car, but this time we took the bus. It was quite far, but we arrived early, so we strolled around my favorite Sanzenin Temple. It was the day for Hinode Daikon stew, and my friend accidentally ate it all before our reservation time (it was huge). We finally met up at the restaurant, which had a lovely exterior that caught the attention of passersby. The menu was displayed outside, which was nice for a place like this. I wonder if they accept walk-ins on some days? It's a wood-fired bistro with à la carte options, full omakase, and prefixed courses. We all decided to go for the full omakase course. I had the lighter prefixed course for 4600 yen, while my friend had the one with an extra dish for 5300 yen. They had a great selection of wines, and we could choose from their cellar. We started with homemade ginger ale, olive marinade, Ohara vegetable pickles, and carrot rapé. The 12-month aged prosciutto and homemade bread were delicious. The wood-fired free-range chicken from Momoi Torikou was a favorite of mine, with a good texture. It was quite filling, so I shared some with my friend. We ended the meal with crème brûlée made with Momoi Torikou eggs and a coffee. It was a proper coffee, so we decided to get an extra cup. It was a great experience and worth the trip. The bus ride back was a bit bumpy.

I forgot to mention a certain restaurant for some reason. It happens sometimes. I also have other trips from this spring that I haven't shared yet, so I will gradually post about them. I went with a friend and their spouse to Ohara, where we enjoyed wine from noon. It was a happy day with delicious food. We had Ohara vegetables and venison cooked over an open fire. Venison steak is something I often eat at home, as I always have venison in the freezer. I receive a lot of Ezo deer meat from Nemuro in Hokkaido, so it's not that unusual for me. The vegetables were similar to those I have at home, but the taste of the grilled food was exceptional. We also visited Miyamaso near my house, but it didn't impress me as much as this place did. I'm sorry for being presumptuous about the ingredients. The venison was from Ezo deer, which I often eat, so it was familiar yet different. It was a great deal for game meat. I had always wanted to experience this, so I'm glad we went. My friends, who live deep in the mountains of Kurama, also shared the same opinion. We often eat similar dishes at home, so it was a nice change.

Bistro "Lavush" is located in Ohara, Kyoto. Chef Mori, who grew up in Ohara, runs the restaurant in a single-house style. Inside, there is a spacious counter where you can watch the chef cook Ohara's local ingredients over an open fire. You can choose from a la carte or course menu options. Enjoy classic bistro dishes in the midst of Ohara's natural beauty. From appetizers to meat dishes to desserts, everything is delicious, and you can also select natural wines from the walk-in cellar in the restaurant. Located about a 30-minute drive from downtown Kyoto, this charming bistro is definitely worth a visit. Indulge in the wonderful ingredients of Ohara. They also accept reservations through TERIYAKI Booking, so be sure to check them out!

When I entered the restaurant, the smell of firewood made me hungry. I had the course menu and a refreshing red shiso soda, a local specialty. Watching the flames from the firewood while waiting was a rich experience. The amuse-bouche was a rich-tasting jelly. The appetizer included pate de campagne, ham, liver pate, and pickles, all of which were generous portions and very satisfying. The bread paired well with the dishes, and the smoked butter had a lovely aroma. The vegetable dishes included fried spring vegetables and fromage de tete. The fried vegetables had a hint of bitterness, capturing the taste of spring. They were delicious on their own, but even better with the dip of celery provided. Fromage de tete, a French specialty of fried tripe on top of salad, was a new and addictive dish for me. The main course was chicken confit, made with the owner's special meat which was tender and delicious. The mashed potatoes served underneath were also excellent. For dessert, I had a creme brulee. It was a fantastic meal.

This was a great restaurant that made me consider going to Ohara. As a woman, the course meal was satisfying from the appetizer to the main dish of deer. The wine was also good.