Wine, women an' song
One day, I returned to Kyoto from Shiga later than expected and checked into a nearby inn around 7 pm. In the past, I would have easily headed out to Gion, Kawaramachi, or Kita-yama at this time, but I must be getting old...feeling lazy or maybe my body is just tired. I tried to find a restaurant near the inn since it was a Friday. I checked out Yamamoto Manbo nearby, but it was not possible. As a last resort, I called this place and they said it was okay...probably because of my good deeds haha.
Located in a small alley south of Kyoto Station's Hachijo exit, there was a small restaurant called Kasen. The owner, who showed Kyoto's stubbornness in his expression (I mean this as a compliment), and probably his daughter were in charge of cooking, while the mother and a young staff member were providing service. I started with beer and appetizers, sashimi platter, moved on to sake, nanban pickles assortment, toriten, nori chazuke, and dessert. I was full by myself with these dishes. There was no flashiness, but each dish was carefully prepared with skillful techniques, knife work, seasoning, and cooking. Occasionally, I heard the daughter speaking in Kyoto dialect, which was pleasant. In the past, I admired a woman who spoke in Kyoto dialect and chose a school in Kyoto after leaving Hokkaido, so I have a soft spot for it. By the way, my wife speaks in Okayama dialect (laughs).
It was almost an impromptu visit, but I was satisfied with the taste, atmosphere, and price. Moreover, on that day, a comedian who claimed to have never made a joke but had countless recipes was sitting at the table next to mine, enjoying himself. We even took a photo together. I will definitely visit this place again when I come to Kyoto next time. This time, I want to come with my wife.