白ひげ海賊団
I happened to find this restaurant while strolling through the gourmet spots in western Japan. I don't often go to Namba, but in the past, I used to visit to find delicious restaurants in Hozenji Yokocho. I haven't been there in a while. When I went down there after a long time, I realized, "Oh, this is Namba." It has that kind of atmosphere. There are so many young people. Young people are... showing their old lady vibes from the Showa era, haha. Even though it's Namba, it looks like a fancy sushi restaurant that could be in Kita-Shinchi. Even though it's Namba, it looks like a sushi restaurant with a very professional vibe. Such a contrast might exist in this restaurant. First of all, it's located in a mixed-use building next to Bic Camera Namba. It's hard to imagine that it's here. This hidden gem feeling adds a cozy atmosphere to the place. When you enter, there are a counter and several private rooms. The interior is filled with a sense of cleanliness. Above all, the staff is friendly and extremely attentive. They stand out for their attention to detail, such as changing the towels and chasers. Most importantly, the head chef who makes the sushi is excellent. He listens carefully to requests about the size of the rice and even asks if there are any ingredients you don't like. French cuisine? I was surprised by such detailed inquiries. Anyway, I decided to try the course menu. It includes both tempura and sushi, so I was looking forward to it. Although I didn't have high expectations for the tempura, what I received was roughly like this. I can't provide detailed reviews of each dish, so here's a general overview. Tempura: I didn't have high expectations for the tempura, so I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was. It was seasoned with salt from France, allowing me to enjoy the sweetness and firmness of the shrimp, along with the perfect level of frying. Steamed dish with matsutake mushrooms: The aroma of the first matsutake mushrooms of the year was fantastic. It felt like I was at home, with a warm and comforting feeling, even though it was a steamed dish. Whale sashimi: Wait, is this really whale? I couldn't detect any unusual flavors. It felt like I was eating tender beef or pork. Fried eel: It was hot and fluffy, and delicious. I prefer to eat eel in a box, though, haha. Uni and ikura rice bowl: The ikura was wonderfully plump, and the uni was generously placed, making it delicious. Sushi parade: Overall, the rice was modest. But whether the rice was more or less, they listened to such detailed requests, which was nice. And most importantly, the toppings were delicious. The squid that came first was outstanding. After finishing everything, I realized that I hadn't dipped any of the sushi in soy sauce. I felt the sweetness of the toppings with salt, and the flavor was concentrated with pickled ginger... as I ate, I could feel that the ingredients were carefully prepared to bring out their best. I was surprised by the Korean nodoguro! But when I heard it was "plump and fresh," I was relieved. It was incredibly delicious, with a lot of fat and very tasty. And I was so happy to see torotaku in a roll. And since it wasn't included in the course, I added "anago." Steamed with salt and wasabi, it was... "Anago" is usually served with sauce, but "steamed" and "salt"... Wow, it was incredibly sweet. It was so delicious, almost melting in my mouth... the subtle sweetness was enhanced by the salt. This was amazing! I felt so happy to be able to eat while talking about the origin of the ingredients, the dishes, and the preparation. This was all thanks to the hospitality of the head chef. Thank you very much. If I were to make one request, it would be to improve the level of the appetizer platter. Other than that, I was completely satisfied with everything. It's a wonderful restaurant, so please consider my request.・Appetizer platter・Steamed dish with conger eel, shrimp, and matsutake mushrooms・Tempura of shrimp and seasonal vegetables (from Kumamoto & Tokushima)・Whale sashimi・Fried eel・Uni and ikura mini rice bowl・Squid (from Kyushu)・Striped jack (from Uwajima)・Rockfish (from Goto Islands)・Japanese bluefish (from Goto Islands)・Blackthroat seaperch (from Korea) & sablefish (from Chiba)・Tsubugai shellfish (from Hokkaido)・Shrimp (from Kumamoto)・Rolls (torotaku) & bettara pickles・Egg custard resembling pudding・Steamed and grilled conger eel・Dessert (homemade)