あさしょ
Located in Nihonbashi, this steakhouse is just a 3-minute walk from Nihonbashi Station. The restaurant is known for ranking 2nd in the national steak rankings, winning the 2020 Bronze award, and having a Foodlog rating of 4.47 (as of September 2020). It is also the restaurant where the "udon as a staple food" marketing scandal originated, making it famous for both good and bad reasons. I made a reservation for the 30,000 yen course (excluding tax) at 19:30 through the omakase website.
Upon arrival, there were 4 groups of customers already seated. We started by ordering drinks, although there was no drink menu available. I ordered a soft drink, while my companion ordered tea. Following this, we were shown the daily ingredients, which included:
- Abalone (from Ohara, Chiba)
- Surf clam (from Oshamanbe)
- Japanese eel (from Tohoku)
- Hair crab (from Funka Bay)
- Black rockfish
- Horse mackerel
- Smoked salmon
- Bordier butter
- Hokkaido sea urchin
For the meat, we had a choice of sirloin, ribeye, tenderloin, or chuck flap tail, and we chose sirloin and ribeye cooked to medium-rare. The meal started with a pumpkin potage served with croutons and Italian parsley, followed by a seafood platter featuring various delicacies such as king crab, yellowtail tuna, horse mackerel, seared black rockfish, smoked salmon, pickles, and Hokkaido sea urchin topped with caviar.
Other dishes included a Mita beef risotto with chuck flap tail, black truffle, and egg yolk sauce, a colorful salad with salt dressing, and the highlight of the meal, the sirloin and ribeye steak cooked to perfection. The steak was prepared using a special stove that allowed excess oil to drain off, resulting in a crispy exterior and juicy interior. The chef even brought the meat to the table to slice it in front of us, adding to the dining experience.
To finish off, we enjoyed a dessert called "Bonè," a chocolate pudding popular in Turin, Italy. Overall, the meal was a delightful experience with excellent food quality and presentation.