Carmina
When it comes to finding a Japanese restaurant in Ginza on a Sunday, I often struggle with limited options. However, this place is open on Sundays, which is very helpful. The owner, Mr. Yamazaki, worked as a chef at "Uchiyama" when it first opened, and then served as head chef at "Tsuyama" for about 5 years. I was drawn to visit not only because they are open on Sundays, but also because of Mr. Yamazaki's impressive culinary background. I opted for the 15,000 yen course, which may seem pricey, but considering the location near Nishi-Gofukutegai Street and Miyuki Street, the amount of food served, and the service provided, it is worth it. The meal started with delicious sesame tofu, followed by a cold corn soup that captured the essence of the season. Despite being a unique choice for a Japanese course, the sweetness of the corn was brought out well, and with dishes like the simmered conger eel and matsutake mushrooms that followed, the course was well-balanced and satisfying. The course included a variety of seasonal ingredients such as sea urchin, conger eel, and matsutake mushrooms. Although it may not be evident in the photos, the final dish, grilled conger eel with matsutake mushroom tempura, was quite substantial per person. While high-quality ingredients do not always guarantee satisfaction, the variety of cooking methods used here allowed us to enjoy seasonal ingredients without getting bored. However, I must point out that some dishes were overly salty. Since I did not drink alcohol that day, this may have contributed to my sensitivity to the saltiness. Proper seasoning is crucial in Japanese cuisine, so this may be a point of contention for some diners. Lastly, we were offered a traditional "tai chazuke" dish as the final course, with the option for seconds. Unfortunately, we were already full by this point, so we had to decline the offer. As we left the restaurant, we were even given a parting gift, adding to our overall satisfaction. The young staff members even rushed down the stairs to bid us farewell at the ground floor, which was a humorous and unexpected touch. Despite the slight issue with saltiness, I left with a high level of satisfaction and look forward to visiting for lunch next time.