りきお0505
Located on the north side of Minami-Kata Station, this restaurant is tucked away on a side street to the right near Kanpachi-an. It may be difficult to find if you're wandering around looking for a drinking spot. I decided to give it a try based on positive reviews from followers. I visited on a Friday around 7 pm, and the counter had plenty of seats available while the raised seating area in the back was quite busy. Eventually, the counter also filled up. I started with a draft beer, which was a bit pricey at 500 yen. The appetizer was a mix of five beans, which had a slightly unusual taste. It was just okay. As I was finishing my beer after the appetizer, a dish of lemon-marinated celery arrived. It looked oily, like a marinade. The taste was excellent, with the celery retaining its crunchiness while being well-flavored and slightly tangy, thanks to the oil. The black pepper sprinkled on top added a nice touch. The beer was almost finished, so I switched to sake, which paired perfectly with the dish. Despite its appearance, the portion was generous, making it perfect for lingering. I also ordered a sashimi platter with three types of fish. The chef asked if I had any preferences, and I mentioned that I liked squid and octopus, so he included a roll of Aori squid wrapped in shiso leaves, along with two pieces each of amberjack and tuna. At 880 yen, the portion seemed a bit small, but the Aori squid was delicious, with the shiso leaves adding a nice touch. The amberjack had a good balance of firmness and fat, while the tuna was high-quality and not watery, with a slightly fatty texture. It was perhaps aged tuna, as it didn't have the usual strong red meat taste. I also tried the charcoal-grilled dishes, including charcoal-grilled Oyama chicken and eringi mushrooms. The Oyama chicken came with a Caesar salad-style assortment, and the chicken was tasty with a nice crispy skin. Personally, I found the salad to be very delicious. The eringi mushrooms were also tasty, served with grated daikon radish and ponzu sauce, offering a light and refreshing flavor. I also had some cold tofu, which was flavorful and firm, served with a dashi salt seasoning that enhanced the taste. The sake selection included familiar brands and possibly some exclusive ones, but the prices ranged from 680 to 980 yen per serving, so it may not be the most cost-effective option. I tried the Bijofu and Suigei sakes, with the Suigei being particularly delicious. For dessert, I had grilled rice balls and sea bream miso soup. The grilled rice balls were carefully cooked over charcoal, crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, with a nice sprinkle of bonito flakes. The accompanying pickled Chinese cabbage was also delicious. The sea bream miso soup was served in a small bowl with a piece of sea bream, more like a clear soup than a rich broth. It was tasty but lacked the full flavor of sea bream, focusing more on the soup itself. Overall, the food was delicious, and the sake selection was good, but there seemed to be a significant gap between portion sizes and prices. With all the dishes I ordered, I expected the total bill to be over 6000 yen.