Aubergine, yuba and uni.
Hamo and soumen.
Squid and karei(flatfish). The chef told us to just squeeze the sudachi and add a bit of salt, instead of adding soy sauce. Portion is for two.
Suzuki(seabass) and anago. Portion for two.
Simmered octopus, winter melon and pumpkin.
Ochatsuke with tai(sea bream) mixed with sour plum.
Matcha sorbet, red beam and shiratama(rice flour dumpling).
A famous washoku/kaiseki restaurant in the middle of Ginza with 6 counter seats and some private rooms. Until 21:00 the 9-course dinner is 13650yen. From 21:00, 8-course dinner is available for 10500yen. We went for the latter, thinking it is of better value, but the difference between the two courses is quite big and the 13650yen is definitely much more worth it.
All the food is very standard traditional Japanese with no non-sense modern touch. Taste is very mild, simple, with the faintest amount of seasoning so that you can truly taste the fresh ingredients. Though I must admit that as much as I am used to Japanese healthy cooking style, I was tempted to ask for salt at some point. The chef told us that no oil is used in the cooking at all. Nothing is fried. That is fine with me but I wish the anago and suzuki fish were more fatty and less dry. My favourite part of the course are the super sweet squid sashimi, the very soft simmered octopus and the ochatsuke.
The drink list includes the usual sake, and also wine and champagne. The price is not written on the drink menu. I had 1 small bottle of sake and my friend had a glass of white wine, and two of us paid a total of 6000yen for the drinks. Certainly not cheap!
Even though our dinner started late, the whole course was delivered in only an hour and a half. We sat at the counter so we chatted with the chef until quite late. The chef is still very young, and very friendly and talkative. Apparently tourists who stay in the hotels nearby will come here to try Japanese food so he is used to serving foreigners. It is opened til 2am so when we left around 11:30pm, there were still customers arriving.
銀座小十
Add: 8-5-25 Ginza, Chuo-ku
Tel: 03-6215-9544
Pork rillette. Bread is nice and warm.
イワシとジャガ芋の重ね焼き、トリュフ風味。
本日の魚料理： マナガツオのポワレ、キュウリソース。
Grilled layers of sardine and potato, with truffle flavour.
Today’s fish dish: Managatsuo(a kind of bonito) in cucumber sauce.
These two dishes are easily the tastiest thing I have had recently! The truffle fragrance is strong and appetizing. The sardine and the potato match so amazingly well. There is a bit of melting butter on top. The little cup is warm, milky and smooth potage with sardine flavour. The fish dish is juicy and fatty, grilled to perfect crispiness on the outside. The cucumber sauce is a wonder too, full of herb taste. I mopped every bit of the sauce with bread, which kept coming, and my friend simply drank the sauce to the last drop with a spoon. It was that good. The onions, cucumber and other vegetables are fresh and sweet and juicy. Simply perfect!
グランテ： 八角のシャーベット。
鴨肉のコンフィ、パイ包み焼き。
Anise sorbet.
Grilled duck confit pie. The duck meat inside the pie is mixed with herbs and vegetables. Quite good but not as impressive as the fish dish. The veggy on the side are delicious though.
お口直し： カルバドスのシャーベット。
Marinated beet came separately later…maybe they forgot?
Apple brandy sorbet.
チョコレートムースとチョコレートアイス。
Chocolate mousse and chocolate ice-cream. Super rich chocolate flavour…a bit too rich for me though.
We had the 6000yen lunch. The cheaper 3600yen lunch doesn’t include the sardine and potato appetizer which I really wanted to try. Wine is 1200yen per glass.
At first I thought the price range is a bit towards the expensive side, but the food is just fantastic and all worth it - fresh and tasty vegetables ARE expensive. The portion is generous, the service is friendly, the atmosphere is warm and homely. The chef came out to say hi at the beginning and again when we finished our food. On the day we went, most of the customers were madams and old ladies and they mostly ordered fish instead of meat. I asked the waiter if fish is the chef’s specialty and he said meat dish is just as delicious. But meat dishes like lamb chop, pork roti etc. are only included in the 7800yen lunch course.
Lunch menu(J) here.
La Blanche
Add: 2-3-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
Tel: 03-3499-0919
5000yen prefix dinner course. There is only one course and no a la carte menu.
Maguro’s chin meat Tartare, grilled aubergine, endive and white truffle oil.
Kinmedai(a kind of bream) carpaccio, with water buffalo mozzarella cheese, zucchini, turnip etc.
Steamed octopus with potato.
Soramame(broad bean) chilled potage with ricotta cheese.
Homemade thin pasta(forgot name) with bream and basil.
Grilled pork with pistachio paste spread on top. Sauce is maguro karasumi sauce.
Simple spaghetti with tomato sauce. You can choose how many grams you want. I had 30g.
I’ve come here before(see tag) and was very impressed with the food. Second visit was no less satisfying. Nuts(almond, pistachio etc.) and herbs and olive oil are used abundantly in almost every dish but I like the strong and rich flavour. Some dishes are the same as last time like the maguro tartare and octopus. Everything is delicious except the pork which is a bit too salty. The course doesn’t include dessert and coffee. We were really full so we just ordered coffee and herb tea which turned out to be 800yen each.
The service is friendly. The manager remembers me from last time…err. ^^;;; Definitely will go back.
RISTORANTE SICILIANO (リストランテ・シチリアーノ)
Add: Ginza Stella Bldg. 2F, 6-2-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061
Tel: 03-3572-8623
Open: 18:00-02:00
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