めいぷる
On this day, I went on a cute date in Kyoto with a junior colleague. We got off at Gion-Shijo on the Keihan line and first had lunch in the Gion-Shinbashi area. While the Hanami Koji area is lovely, admiring the Shirakawa River in this Shinbashi area is also charming. In the early spring, the Somei Yoshino and weeping cherry blossoms are truly amazing, but the quiet season has its own charm as well. The restaurant is located in a small alleyway a little north of the main street. At first, I couldn't find the turn and ended up calling the restaurant for directions (laughs). "Mizudaki Manjiro" is the landmark.
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[Interior]
There is a counter and a raised tatami seating area, with more seating capacity than I expected. The interior, based on black and red, exudes a modern yet elegant Kyoto atmosphere. There is no dedicated service staff in the restaurant, and the male chefs handle both the kitchen and service.
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[Food served]
I had reserved a 5000 yen course in advance. We started with a toast with a glass of beer.
1. Appetizer: Scallop and persimmon sesame dressing - A visual that really evokes the feeling of "autumn" is served. Kyoto's traditional cuisine always manages to convey a sense of the season no matter when you visit, which is really wonderful. The rich sesame dressing, jun-sai, jelly, and zucchini create a delightful texture. The smooth and easy-to-swallow taste is simply delightful.
2. Sashimi: Akashi natural sea bream and Miyagi return bonito, served with plenty of yuba. Both the sea bream and bonito were served in generous portions.
3. Simmered dish: A simmered dish with small potatoes, conger eel, and eggplant. The dish has a deep and gentle flavor, with a slightly thick soy sauce-based broth that goes well with alcohol.
4. Assorted dishes: Kyoto's sticky pork stew, Noto vinegar seaweed, boiled spinach, pumpkin castella, small eggplant Dutch stew, salmon, etc. Each dish exudes the feeling of "autumn" even though the ingredients themselves may not be seasonal. The dishes are elegant and delicious.
5. Rice cooked in a pot with six kinds of mushrooms - The dish is filled with plenty of mushrooms, almost more than rice. The fluffy and slightly sweet dashimaki tamago, subtly flavored red miso soup, and pickles are served together. While the mushrooms provide various textures and flavors, the overall taste may be a bit too mild.
6. Dessert: Homemade "warabimochi" and roasted green tea ice cream. The warabimochi is exceptional as a post-meal treat, with its jelly-like texture and smoothness, complemented by the rich yet refreshing roasted green tea ice cream. It's a fantastic combination! It's incredibly delicious. The attention to detail in the dessert at a Japanese restaurant is truly impressive.
Overall, the meal was a delightful experience with exquisite dishes and a cozy atmosphere.