ロセッティ―
Well, this time I had plans in Kyoto with a friend, so I decided to try out a riverside dining experience. I found a reasonably priced place with a course under 10,000 yen, but unfortunately, they couldn't offer the all-you-can-drink option on the day, so we settled for a 7,000 yen course. The location was along a narrow street from Kiyamachi to Pontocho in Kyoto. Surprisingly, there were only foreigners on this street, hardly any Japanese people. It felt like a foreign country. Anyway, we arrived at the restaurant, passed through the tatami room, and finally made it to the riverside dining area. The low beams in Kyoto's traditional houses made me bump my head a lot (I'm 184 cm tall). As for the riverside dining experience, it was just hot, but the tables around us were occupied by Chinese, Taiwanese, Koreans, and Caucasians – hardly any Japanese people. Our budget-friendly course began, while the Asian diners around us were ordering courses over 10,000 yen. The first order was for a beer, which cost 1,100 yen for a small bottle – quite expensive. We were surprised. The meal included appetizers, sashimi, grilled sweetfish, tofu hot pot, rice, and dessert. The flavors were not exceptional, but it was traditional Kyoto cuisine with subtle flavors. The dessert of bracken rice cake was a nice touch of Kyoto. The service was mostly by students, who were quick to respond but had to check with someone if they didn't know something – modern service, I suppose. Overall, it was a unique experience, and considering the cost, it was worth it. I may avoid places with mainly foreign customers for a while, but this riverside dining experience was definitely interesting. Thank you very much for this experience.