VOICE3
It has been a while since I got off at Shinbashi, but when I entered a side street in Shinagawa Ward, I still felt a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere of the downtown area. I managed to make a reservation at "Makino" in Shinbashi, so I visited the restaurant for a short time. Upon arriving at the restaurant and mentioning my reservation, I was seated at a table. As expected, the early hour meant there was only one group of customers. I ordered a draft beer, and soon a small appetizer was served. "Appetizer @300-400 yen?" It was a cold dish of pumpkin and squid. The pumpkin resembled a Mont Blanc dessert, with sweet seeds, and the jelly served with it had a slight acidity, making it refreshing. I couldn't help but look forward to the dishes to come. When I expressed my desire for sashimi to the chef, he kindly offered to prepare a single serving for me. I was genuinely pleased. The sashimi served included shrimp, amberjack, yellowtail, flounder, and tuna. The shrimp was lively, still moving its legs. I was advised to save the head for grilling later, which I duly did. "Potato Salad (Half) @price unknown" Since I was dining alone, I opted for a half portion. It was a common izakaya menu item, but the creamy potatoes made it a perfect palate cleanser. "Live Anago Grilled @2,980 yen" I really wanted to try this dish. The freshly prepared conger eel was incredibly lively, its entire body quivering. It was almost regrettable that I couldn't convey this through a video. Grilling the eel on a charcoal grill caused its flesh to curl up, so I had to use chopsticks to hold it down while pouring sake with my other hand, making it quite a busy process. If I let my guard down, the eel would quickly curl up (laughs). But that entertainment factor made it quite fun. The flesh was moderately fatty, with a meaty texture. I was recommended to try it with wasabi and sansho pepper, but it was delicious even when eaten simply with salt. Oh, and I made sure to enjoy the head of the shrimp as well. Half of the eel was served as sashimi. It had a crunchy texture and a different impression from the grilled version. It was quite light. I enjoyed it with ginger soy sauce, but it's so mild that ponzu sauce would also be a good match. "Fugu Karaage @1,440 yen" The blowfish karaage tasted like chicken and was delicious as well. It had a strong umami flavor that you wouldn't expect from fish, making it quite satisfying. Before I knew it, it was time to leave. The restaurant also had a wide selection of sake, and they would recommend rare brands if you had the time. I asked the landlady about the reservation availability for a leisurely visit on the weekend, but she informed me that they were fully booked until Christmas. Since I couldn't wait that long, I'll try again at an early hour on a weekday. Thank you for the meal.