大哉心乎
This steakhouse located in Nijo-Yagai Baba is still one of my favorite restaurants. It's a valuable place where you can enjoy a meal in a slightly luxurious mood at a reasonable price. One of the nice things about this type of restaurant is that you can watch the chef's work in front of a large iron plate while eating. At the request of my wife and daughter, we visited for lunch as a family of three. We ordered the "Hand-rolled sushi and Miyazaki beef steak set" this time. You can choose from Ichibo, sirloin, and top sirloin for the steak, and we chose the most reasonable Ichibo and added 60g of meat. The price for this was 3,600 yen (including tax). After being seated, we were given hand towels and cold water for COVID prevention, and the chef's cooking in front of us began. The first dish to come out was a small dish of Miyazaki beef cutlet simmered in soy sauce. The different cuts of meat had a good mix of textures, some with a chewy texture and others tender from being stewed, all well-seasoned. The simmered meat was so flavorful that it made us want some rice right away. When the Ichibo steak and vegetables in front of us were cooked, the main plate and hand-rolled sushi were served. The chef kindly included a seared sea urchin with the sirloin as a complimentary bite, adding a touch of luxury to our family lunch. The rich taste of the sirloin with marbled fat combined with the creamy sea urchin in the mouth was an incredibly luxurious flavor. This kind of rich meat is best enjoyed in small bites, as we felt when we started eating the Ichibo steak. The lean red meat was packed with flavor and had a firm texture, with a crispy, fragrant seared surface. I enjoyed it lightly seasoned with wasabi, salt, and garlic chips, allowing me to eat a consistent amount of this delicious meat. The grilled vegetables included pumpkin, lotus root, asparagus, and broccoli. Lightly seasoned with salt, you could enjoy the natural flavors of the ingredients. This seemed like a well-balanced way to finish off the rich meat with vegetables. The hand-rolled sushi was an assortment of 8 pieces. It included Miyazaki beef sirloin, lamp meat, radish and plum, egg, salmon, scallop, etc., all beautifully arranged and vibrant, sure to be a hit on social media, as my daughter praised. The vinegar in the rice was subtle, allowing you to clearly taste and feel the texture change with each bite. After finishing the main meal, dessert and coffee were served. The dessert was French toast with vanilla ice cream, and it was incredibly delicious. When I asked the chef, he explained that the bread was soaked in egg and milk for 3-4 days and then cooked on the iron plate with butter without losing its shape. It was finished with honey and powdered sugar, making it not only delicious but also visually stunning. When you took a bite with a knife and fork, the unexpectedly fluffy and creamy texture and elegant sweetness spread in your mouth. You can truly experience a taste sensation that you can't get anywhere else. This was my second time having this French toast, and my wife and daughter were also extremely satisfied and amazed. We all agreed that this French toast is something that can't be replicated at home. Dinner is also of high quality and reasonable, but the value and satisfaction of lunch surpasses that. Surrounded by the chef's gentle manner and smiles, as well as casual conversation, we were able to spend memorable time with our family. The location may seem like a hidden gem, but it's a restaurant that I highly recommend. Thank you for the wonderful meal.