栗まんじゅう
2011-01-02 16:25:51 deluxerascal's post
Theme: Restaurant/Cuisine
Last year, my husband and I went to Utakaido for dinner. Wanting to have some proper Japanese cuisine, we chose this place. Utakaido is often located inside Isetan, which gives a sense of security. Since it was lunchtime, we opted for a lighter course called "Crab Bento". Despite it being a year-end party, we ordered hot sake for lunch. They served us tea and snacks first, which helped prevent us from drinking too much sake later. The sashimi was salmon and amberjack, both very fresh and delicious. The tempura was crispy and delightful, consisting of crab claws, eggplant, shishito peppers, and pumpkin. The vegetable tempura was not greasy and had a light taste. The vinegar dish wasn't overly sour, leaving a refreshing flavor. Cucumber, crab, seaweed, shrimp, and jellyfish were included, making it very healthy. The crab rice was just right for a woman's portion, with chewy rice and a fluffy texture from the crab. It was incredibly delicious; I even wanted seconds (^∇^). The chawanmushi had a strong broth flavor, perhaps a bit too strong, but it harmonized well with the creamy egg and was enjoyable. Afterward, I had coffee, but my husband was still a bit hungry and had more udon. While I was very satisfied with the Crab Bento, men might find it lacking in volume even if the taste is good.