Today after karaoke, I went to an Italian restaurant called "Rapintai-ka," which was selected for the first time as a "Bib Gourmand" in the Michelin Guide Kyoto・Osaka 2023. I decided to have some alcohol since I can drink a bit more now. Can you tell me what "Aperol" is? It's similar to Campari. I'll have it with orange juice. For starters, I would like the "Duck and Pork Pate" and the "Country Chicken and Shrimp Galantine." Aperol, please. It's sweet and easy to drink. Let's start with the pate. Mmm, delicious. The purple cabbage on the side is also seasoned well and tasty. You can even eat the accompanying leaves. The galantine seems satisfying too. It's a dish where ingredients are rolled in aspic. This is also delicious. For pasta, I'll have the "Spaghetti with Smelt and Bottarga Sauce" and the "Orecchiette with Squid, Scallop, and Broccoli." Let's start with the spaghetti. The sauce is delicious. "Bottarga" is like Karasumi in Japan. The orecchiette has tender broccoli. It's well-cooked and a suitable size, mixing well with the other ingredients. Orecchiette is an irregularly shaped pasta. It might be homemade. Aperol was delicious, so I might have another. This time, with soda. Ah, it's certainly similar to Campari, but unlike Campari, the alcohol itself has quite a bit of sweetness. For the main course, I'll try the "Roasted Ezo Deer Sirloin." It's quite gamey. For dessert, I'll have the "Bonet (Piedmont: Cocoa-flavored Pudding)" and the "Passion Fruit Panna Cotta." Both are decorated with a Christmas theme. Let's start with the Bonet. Mmm, delicious. It comes with some kind of sorbet on top. The panna cotta is described as a regional creme brulee, but here it is served as ice cream. It uses passion fruit, providing a nice acidity without being overpowering. Thank you for the meal. I would definitely visit again if I have the chance.

Recommended by an acquaintance, I made a reservation based on their suggestion. I was told to definitely order the appetizer as it was generous in portion, so I decided to just order that. The location is near Heian Shrine in Higashiyama, with a relaxed atmosphere in the evening. It seemed like there were reservations on Saturday, but the ambiance was sophisticated and pleasant. I later found out that this restaurant was also selected by the Bib Gourmand. We ordered the appetizer, roasted duck, pasta pescatore, and dessert (which was a little complimentary treat!). We enjoyed some wine as well, and the total bill for three people was around 6000-7000 yen, which was quite reasonable. The meat was incredibly delicious! The caramel ice cream had a slightly bitter taste that paired well with alcohol.

The restaurant is so delicious. I wonder how many times I've been here. The appetizer platter is a must-try, it all tastes so good and comes in a generous portion. I also tried the pasta with the fish of the day, ginger, and mitsuba (it was like linguine but maybe it was written as spaghetti) and the pork dish (the top one on the menu). Everything was delicious. This is definitely a restaurant worth revisiting.

It's February, cold and snowy, and the streets of Higashiyama Okazaki in Kyoto are quiet with few tourists around. Finding a place for dinner with the family is a challenge as most restaurants have limited options and poor service. There are only a few places that are non-smoking, child-friendly, and offer menus that kids would enjoy. The area has a few stylish restaurants that may not seem very child-friendly, but city-raised girls seemed to appreciate the cool atmosphere. The interior design is chic and perfect for a stylish adult date. We started with some delicious prosciutto that received high praise from everyone in the family. The prosciutto was not too salty, but had a subtle savory flavor that everyone loved. It was so tasty that it disappeared quickly, showing that good food always sells out fast.

I was guided to an Italian restaurant called "Lapintaika" located at the intersection of Higashioji-dori Street and Niomon-dori Street. It has been selected as a "Bib Gourmand" in the Michelin Guide Kyoto/Osaka 2023. You can choose from the daily menu written on the blackboard and enjoy it with a natural wine that pairs well. With only one staff member, you can relax and have a great time with ample portions.

A perfectly atmospheric Italian restaurant in Higashiyama. I love solo-owned places like this. I heard the pasta is delicious, but the appetizers were amazing. The portion size is impressive. The pasta was a bit on the salty side! Lunch in the 2,000 yen range is usually pricey, but it's just right for a weekend treat. The cozy ambiance of the restaurant is also very calming.

Night visit. You need to make a reservation to get in. The cuisine is rich in flavor, so I definitely want to come back again. However, since it's run by just one person, it's best to aim for less crowded times. This time, I went on the weekend and it took almost 3 hours to eat everything due to the full house. It might be the perfect place if you want to relax with friends. Now, about the food. Horse carpaccio, steamed mussel in white wine, pasta with oysters and turnips, chestnut mousse with espresso gelato, gianduia and caramel gelato - all had deep and rich flavors. This kind of restaurant makes you want to become a regular. They seem to excel in seafood. The desserts were quite generous. The chestnut mousse probably had a hint of rum, which I really liked. And the caramel gelato had a nice bitterness to it, which made it delicious.

The chef manages everything alone and has a wide variety of Italian wines. You can express your preferences and choose from a variety of wines. Highly recommended for wine lovers. The dishes may look simple, but each one is carefully prepared with high-quality ingredients, making them more special than a fancy Italian dish that costs tens of thousands of yen. In particular, the sauce made with kikuna (chicory) used in the horse meat carpaccio was delicious. Also, a dish that may look plain, but the stew of white kidney beans, bacon, and bread was incredibly tasty. It seems that the chef is currently running the restaurant alone, so it is recommended to make a reservation in advance.

This is a shop located 4 minutes walk from Higashiyama Subway Station, facing Higashi Street. The exterior gives off a cafe-like atmosphere and looks very inviting. We used it as a second stop after having a light drink. The appetizer assortment exceeded our expectations, and as we enjoyed beer, beer, wine, the drinks kept flowing. Nowadays, many places offer similar appetizer assortments, and I often find that the menu in the photo I took doesn't match the actual menu of the restaurant. However, the appetizer assortment at Lapintaiika was exceptional and matched perfectly. Not only was it delicious, but it also left a strong impression of elegance. The pasta was also perfect for pairing with the drinks. The wine kept flowing. I could tell that they must have a strong dedication to their cooking, as the flavors were so intriguing. I thought this place was perfect, better than being in the middle of town.

I made a reservation for one person for lunch at 12:00 on a Saturday in November before the opening hours, and visited the restaurant. It was about a 10-minute walk from the National Art Center. I arrived just as they opened at 12:00 and was the first customer. Later, three couples arrived. The area around Heian Shrine is always busy, but in November, the surrounding roads felt even more congested. The restaurant has 6 counter seats, 2 four-person tables, and 2 two-person tables. I sat at the counter at the back. The counter was lined with stylish white plates, giving a sense of aesthetic. I ordered the pranzo A lunch set (1,500 yen) where you can choose pasta and a drink. I chose the Shirasu and cabbage aglio e olio peperoncino pasta and the anchovy-flavored chicken and mushroom pasta. For the drink, I chose espresso. The appetizer arrived at around 12:15. The beautifully presented appetizers lifted my mood. Just by tasting the bean dish, I knew that this restaurant was a good choice. The appetizers, featuring two types of ham, duck loin, and fish, were subtly high-quality and enjoyable. Olive oil and bread followed. The warm bread was also delicious. The pasta, chicken, and mushroom anchovy-flavored pasta arrived on a chic flat plate. The well-seasoned pasta had a balanced composition and was very satisfying. I ended the meal with an espresso. I thought maybe I should have added the dessert for an extra 300 yen, but I decided to save it for next time. When I put on my coat, the owner's wife brought the tray for payment to my table. The total bill was 1,500 yen including tax, and I left feeling very satisfied. This restaurant will definitely make it into my top three favorite restaurants that I discovered in 2018. I would like to visit again when I have business nearby. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

To my favorite restaurant, Lapintaka on Higashiyama Street near Niomon Gate. It's a stylish and cute place. It's a cozy spot where families can also enjoy. The dishes that were super delicious were the Kumamoto horse meat carpaccio and the salad with Sadohara eggplant. Perfect for the hot weather, the cold dishes were much appreciated. The horse meat was incredibly tasty and the seasoning was just right. Oh my goodness - the pasta with homemade smoked scallops and grilled eggplant cold Fedeini was so delicious. Among all the dishes I've had recently, one that stood out was the Sicilian-style stewed Kyoto pork shoulder. It had a nice tangy flavor and the meat was so tender. I also loved the Nishin Escabeche, a southern barbarian-style pickled fish. For dessert, the Bonne (rich chocolate pudding from Piedmont) with raspberry sorbet was delightful. It seems they have a la carte options at night, so it's easy to drop by casually. Definitely a place I will be visiting often. ✨

The PesCATOrA was so delicious that it was to die for! The choice of wine was also nice with natural options, and the assorted appetizers were outstanding!

The lunch was also good. There were plenty of appetizers and each one was delicious. You can choose from two types of pasta. I chose the Amatriciana because it uses homemade ham. It was delicious, but I think I prefer the dishes with seafood at this restaurant.

Italian restaurant located in Higashiyama. The assorted appetizers were outstanding! The pasta with surf clam and karasumi was delicious. The duck meat was thick and had a good chewy texture. 😊

The wine and the food were delicious!

I went to this restaurant for the second time at night, after being taken there for the first time a few months ago when it had just opened. The place is clean and has a soft atmosphere. I was surprised by the portion size of the dishes the first time, so this time I chose dishes that seemed to have a more moderate portion. The salad was delicious, and the braised beef cheek as the main dish was excellent with a perfect balance of fat and sauce. Everything I ate, including dessert, was really delicious. The hospitality and cost performance are excellent. I definitely want to go back again!

I found out about this restaurant from my favorite blogger who loves to eat and explore around Kyoto. The lunch deals they shared were too good to resist, so I just had to come here! I mentioned it to my friends who have a monthly drinking party, and they immediately made a reservation for us. We arrived on a Saturday morning, and even though it was the off-season in Kyoto, there were still a lot of people... The restaurant is about a 10-minute walk from Higashiyama Station. We got there before opening time, and there were already about 10 customers waiting outside. It's clear how popular this place is. The restaurant opened right at noon, and all the people waiting in line seemed to have reservations... We were seated at the counter, which had a cute and clean interior. There are two lunch sets available: Pranzo A (¥1500) includes an appetizer platter, pasta, homemade bread, and coffee/tea/espresso, while Pranzo B (¥2500) includes a main dish in addition to the items in Pranzo A. We both chose Pranzo A. I had the pasta with shrimp, zucchini, and black olives in tomato sauce, while my friend had the pasta with small dried fish, cabbage, and anchovy flavor. We started with a sparkling wine toast and were served a variety of appetizers including salami, prosciutto, marinated beans and peppers, marinated herring, quiche, gorgonzola canapé, sweet potato, zucchini, and pork tongue, among others. The appetizer platter was beautifully presented and made us excited to dig in. The pasta dishes were delicious, with the tomato sauce one having a unique flavor due to the olives, and the anchovy-flavored one being more to our liking. The shrimp had a nice texture, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The homemade bread was soft and tasty, and the espresso after the meal was aromatic and satisfying. The restaurant is run by just two people, so the service is a bit brisk, but understandable given how busy they are. The value for money at this place is really good, and it's no wonder it's always fully booked. I'm sure the atmosphere would be different if we visited at night. Overall, it's a lovely restaurant with a great balance of everything.