カヨカヨ
I walked along the Uji River from Keihan Uji Station in Kyoto, for about 15 minutes, to a steakhouse located in the ryokan "Hanayashiki Ukifuneen." Since I was on a day trip, I only used the restaurant for lunch. The area around the station was bustling with various shops and tourists. This place is a bit secluded along the Uji River, with a quiet atmosphere. Passing through the gate, you are greeted by a stone pavement and a lush garden leading to the entrance of the restaurant. The entrance was at the end of the stone pavement. The thatched roof added a touch of elegance. I took off my shoes and sat at the sunken kotatsu counter. The entire restaurant had only counter seats, with 15 seats in total. Today, it was reserved just for us (*'▽'). Sitting on tatami mats, the restaurant exuded a traditional Japanese atmosphere. I noticed the plate with the restaurant's name and the tanuki chopstick rest. We toasted with draft beer and red wine. The lunch menu offered two options: A lunch with appetizers and plenty of meat, and B lunch with just meat. Being greedy, we chose the A lunch with extra meat. It included an appetizer platter, salmon carpaccio, spring vegetable terrine, cheese-baked shrimp, salad, mushroom and potato potage, grilled vegetables, and beef fillet. We added extra portions of beef, ranging from 100g to 150g each (additional charge). Today's beef was lean meat from Aomori Prefecture. For the beef fillet, we requested it to be cooked medium rare. They cooked it in two rounds. Unlike the usual teppanyaki, all the meat here was fillet, offering a consistent taste throughout. The second round of cooking involved slightly finer cuts, adding a different texture. The meat was tender and flavorful, with a natural taste and a light seasoning. Various sauces were provided, including garlic chips, salt, peanut butter-flavored sauce with garlic, ponzu, and wasabi. The peanut butter-flavored sauce was unique and added a different twist to the meal. The rice dish included either white rice or ochazuke, with the beef hidden beneath the seaweed. For dessert, we had rum raisin gelato and fruit gelato, which had a sophisticated flavor. Coffee or tea was served after the meal. Dining at a teppanyaki-style steak restaurant designed like a tea room, while overlooking the green garden, was a delightful experience. The serene and traditional atmosphere was typical of Kyoto. The nearby ryokan "Hanayashiki Ukifuneen" offers accommodation as well. I hope to visit again for dinner someday.