crown-bird
Michelin Guide 2019-2020 one-starred Akasaka Sushi Matsumoto, which specializes in crab and eel, has opened a new branch in Gotanda. As it had been a while since I dined out, I was confident that I could enjoy my favorite foods, crab and eel, at the same time. The location is a 2-minute walk from Tokyu Oimachi-Hirokoji Station. It is also about a 3-minute walk from JR Gotanda Station on the Yamanote Line. If coming from Oimachi-Hirokoji Station, exit the ticket gate and turn left, then turn right at the first traffic light towards Gotanda Station. Turn right at the second corner and you will find the entrance to the Gotanda ex Building on the 6th floor. If coming from JR Gotanda Station, exit from the nearest ticket gate to Tokyu Gotanda Station, turn left, and continue straight. Cross the bridge and you will see the building at the second corner. Turn left and you will find the entrance with an escalator on the right side. I started with a sparkling wine (Simone Feuillatte Cremant de Bourgogne) for a toast. The chef's omakase course included yuba tofu, simmered abalone, golden eye snapper rice sushi, firefly squid and rapeseed in vinegar miso, red sea bream with sake lees and mascarpone. The golden eye snapper rice sushi received a "delicious!" right away. It was indeed delicious. The smooth yuba tofu, tender abalone, firefly squid and rapeseed in vinegar miso offered a variety of flavors. The red sea bream with sake lees was a first for me, and it went well with mascarpone, making it easy to drink. I started to feel like having some sake. The crab assortment featured a crab shell filled with plenty of crab meat. The smoked bonito was served with condiments. I enjoyed the freshly fried crab tempura with seaweed salt. The salted koji grilled amberjack was also delicious. A crab and shark fin steamed egg custard was served, hot and fresh. It was luxurious to have crab and shark fin topping the steamed egg custard. I thought it might be time for eel, so I ordered a domestic sansho gin and tonic. The refreshing scent of sansho filled the air. The eel rice bowl and miso soup were served, along with rice decorated with salmon roe and crab in a glass. The salmon roe and crab rice had a popping texture that added a nice touch. The eel rice bowl was consistently delicious. The miso soup with shallow clams and green vegetables included two types: grated nagaimo with mustard and pickled daikon radish. I was surprised to see rice in the glass with the eel rice bowl, but then I remembered the restaurant's name includes eel and crab. Everything was perfect until the end. Finally, I had matcha mousse, with layers of matcha and red bean sweetness, along with tea. Thank you for the meal. The restaurant has private rooms, which I used, so I'm not sure about the back area, but it's nice to be able to enjoy a meal without any worries. I was able to enjoy my favorite eel, crab, and salmon roe all at once, and I had a relaxing dining experience after a long time.