I visited the lovely restaurant "Armonia" in Oe-cho, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, recommended by my trusted friend Mairebi. The restaurant is run by the owner chef and his wife, with occasional help from their children. "Armonia" means "harmony" in Spanish, and the restaurant operates on a reservation-only basis with no fixed holidays. We opted for the 5500 yen course menu, which excludes drinks. We purchased non-alcoholic sparkling red wine (grape juice) from the attached wine shop. The meal started with a toast and included a variety of dishes like appetizers, fish carpaccio, homemade focaccia bread, seasonal soup, paella, Kobe Takami beef steak, dessert, and coffee. The highlight was the impeccable service provided by the chef couple, with the chef even playing the piano for us after dessert. It was a truly heartwarming and satisfying dining experience. Thank you to the chef couple and the other guests for making it a memorable lunch!

This restaurant is located in the old Oe-cho area. From Prefectural Route 55, take the T-junction with a sign pointing to the "Yatsu" area and head east for about 900 meters. You might think, "Is there a restaurant in such a place?" It is tucked away in a remote village. The parking lot in front of the shop can accommodate 3-4 cars, with easy parking thanks to the barriers. Upon entering the shop, you'll find a grand piano and a drum set in the dining area. There are four 4-person table seats available for small groups. According to the shop's website, "There are no regular holidays, but reservations are required, so please make a reservation by the day before." I made a reservation the day before and ordered the 5000 yen course. The course includes: Appetizer Assortment, Fresh Fish Carpaccio, Seasonal Soup, Bread, Paella, Kobe Takami Beef Steak, Dessert, and Coffee or Tea. The appetizers included: oil-cooked shiitake mushrooms, smoked firefly squid, vegetable pickles, Iberico chorizo, and mini stewed hamburgers. The mini stewed hamburgers were incredibly delicious! I wanted to try a regular size portion. The fresh fish carpaccio included salmon, firefly squid, tuna, sea bream, and yellowtail, each with 2 slices, providing a generous portion. It goes well with sliced onions. The bread was homemade focaccia, lightly toasted and very delicious. I thought it would go well with the soup, so I left some. The soup was a new onion and paprika potage, generously served. It tasted great when dipped with the leftover homemade focaccia. The following dish was the paella, filled with clams, squid, and even chicken, very hearty. The broth was flavorful and delicious. Despite its deliciousness, I left some as I knew I wouldn't have room for the main course and dessert. The main course was a steak made from Takami beef raised at Takami Ranch. It was tender and had a wonderful beef flavor. It was served with bamboo salt and wasabi, enhancing the flavor of the meat. I had the urge to eat more. Finally, I had cherry blossom chiffon cake and herbal tea, feeling full and satisfied. I took the leftover paella home. It was my mother's birthday, so I requested a surprise. Her chiffon cake was made as a birthday cake, and she was surprised with a birthday song, live piano performance, and wonderful singing by the owner chef. My mother was moved to tears. We received exceptional hospitality and I am deeply grateful. My mother said, "I want to come back again." It was a truly delicious and pleasant experience. It's a hidden gem of a restaurant. It seems to be popular with many fans, so I hesitated to share it, but I decided to introduce it here. If it causes any inconvenience, please let me know, and I will delete it. We had a truly delicious meal. Thank you.

Almonia is a wonderful shop with a lovely owner and family. I had a happy time there. ✩.*˚

The food was delicious and the atmosphere was lovely. The dishes were very carefully prepared.