Today, I had a course lunch at KIMAGURE ITALI庵 黒猫 in Fukushima Ward. This restaurant had everything I look for in a dining experience: great taste, value for money, hospitality, and originality. Among all the delicious dishes, my favorite was the pasta that tasted like ramen!

I have dined here several times for dinner, but this was my first time having lunch. The amuse-bouche cold soup had a two-layered presentation with a clear broth jelly at the bottom. It was light when sipped alone but had depth when mixed. The appetizers were too cute, with a variety of small dishes that were a delight. Each dish came with a cute illustrated explanation. I heard they change with the seasons, so I'm looking forward to trying them again. Both the poêlé with beurre blanc sauce and the grilled fish with sauce were delicious. The truffle butter for the bread was also too good, I needed more bread! The ramen as a finale had a strong broth but was still light and easy to eat. The dessert with kinako (roasted soybean flour) gelato was gently sweet and a perfect ending. The rich peach cocktail was also delicious.

The small restaurant had very narrow table spacing, but the food was very well-prepared and delicious. The clientele was mostly women, and it was clear that they had strong support from female customers. I remember that the palette appetizer was very delicious, but there were too many items to remember what I ate. Maybe they should reduce the number of items a bit. The wine was very reasonably priced and they had a good selection on the menu, which made me happy! ❤️

Next to it is Kuro Neko Fukushima Main Store. I chose this restaurant because I liked the one in Kitashinchi and was drawn to the fresh pasta. The lunch set was 2200 yen and included pumpkin potage, tomato and cod fresh pasta, and grapefruit pudding with yogurt gelato. The thick and chewy fresh noodles were good. The pasta was a bit bland, I wished it had more tomato flavor. The dessert was the best part. It felt a bit lacking to only have soup as an appetizer, a salad would have been nice.

The location is Fukushima. If you're looking for a stylish Italian dinner, a relatively casual option is 'KIMAGURE ITALI庵 黒猫'. It used to be called GIGI. I had been to Shimiru the week before, which is right next to this restaurant. The course menu includes appetizers, fish dishes, meat dishes, and dessert for 6600 yen. With drinks included, it might be just over 10,000 yen. The appetizers started with pumpkin nuts and popcorn & pumpkin soup, which were quite delicious. Then came a colorful plate with various dishes, such as Isagi carpaccio, spring rolls, mozzarella cheese, snow crab cream gratin, red cabbage sauce pasta, sushi rolls, scallop and angel shrimp tartare, Milanese-style cutlet, taro root flan, among others. I can't remember all of them, but honestly, the appetizers seemed more focused on presentation rather than taste. For the main course, I chose the pan-fried cod with clam chowder, which was mild in flavor. For me, I prefer slightly stronger flavors, but it was still tasty. The roasted French duck breast was exceptional, tender and juicy, perfectly matching the sauce. I also tried a bit of the steak, which was also delicious. The dessert, a soufflé with Ehime mandarin orange compote, was okay, but I probably should have just gone with the pudding. With about four drinks each, the total bill for two people was 16,830 yen. Considering the course menu and the drinks, it wasn't too expensive. If the appetizers had a bit more flavor, it would have been perfect. Overall, it's a recommended place for enjoying casual Western cuisine.

I went to Kimagure Bistro Gigi, recommended by a friend! It's a cute restaurant with a cat theme. The food is authentic despite the cute appearance. The dishes are elaborate and very delicious!! We ordered the Special Dinner for ¥6,600, with options for fish dishes, meat dishes, and dessert for an additional fee. Here is what we had: - Amuse-bouche: Popcorn and corn soup with caramel nuts and coffee aroma - Gigi's special "Summer" palette appetizer: - Angel shrimp citrus marinade with paprika sauce - Carpaccio of fresh fish with lemon and caper sauce - Yamagata pork benie in sweet and sour style - Marinated conger eel with plum and tomato jelly - Confit of young chicken thigh meat with guacamole - Melon cold soup with watermelon jelly - Mackerel and olive spring roll with sour cream sauce - Italian salad with eggplant and oil sardines Fish dish: - Sauteed cutlassfish with shrimp mousse, tomato, and vermouth sauce Meat dish: - Miyazaki black wagyu steak with grated radish and red wine sauce with wasabi flavor Dessert: - Peach compote and lychee granita with mint jelly and yogurt gelato The palette appetizer had a variety of delicious and beautiful dishes, which was very exciting. The steak was particularly delicious, very tender with a great flavor from the wasabi sauce and grated radish. The portions overall were a bit small (could have used more bread), so it might be more suitable for women. I would love to try other dishes as well! Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I made a reservation for the lunch course at ¥3500 starting at 12:30 on a holiday. There were a total of 4 groups of customers and the restaurant was fully booked. There was quite a bit of time between each dish. The course included soup, amuse-bouche, fish, meat, bread, and dessert. I paid an additional ¥1200 to upgrade the meat to steak and changed the dessert to cake.

Favorite Fukushima's Whimsical Bistro Gigi was as popular as ever, with table seats fully booked as soon as it opened. Cheers with white wine and peach juice. Weekday affordable lunch set (2,800 yen) started with an amuse-bouche of purple sweet potato chips and Naruto sweet potato puree mille-feuille - so delicious, I wanted to eat 10 of them. The clear soup with Hokkaido seaweed and Makurazaki bonito flakes was luxurious. Then, a special appetizer palette was served, resembling an afternoon tea set. It included marinated bonito and grilled eggplant, tomato farshee, saury escabeche, mochi flour chicken with BBQ sauce, roasted chestnuts, shiitake mushroom truffle gratin, fig butter sauté with prosciutto, mussel imperial sauce, German potato-style bacon and taro stewed in bouillon, pork skewers with mustard sauce, Chiba peanuts and escargot sauce, saffron-cooked daikon and miso, sashimi carpaccio, seared hairtail with ponzu jelly, roast beef and avocado roll, confit duck breast crepe wrap, salmon and corn tart. Then came the main courses: pike eel poêlé with tomato and vermouth sauce, and roast French duck breast. For dessert, there was Black Cat's famous grapefruit pudding and yogurt gelato, served with a plate decorated with paw prints and sugar shaped like cats. It was a lunch enjoyed while being stared at by black cats from above.

◇Kimagure Bistro Jiji◇ 050-5596-6462 102 Royal Heights Tango, 1-2-37 Fukushima, Fukushima-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture 【Tabelog】https://tabelog.com/osaka/A2701/A270108/27107534/ Visited for lunch and tried 2 types of fresh pasta lunch set: - Coarsely ground pork mince and bean sprout Japanese-style fresh pasta - Mozzarella cheese and basil tomato sauce Comes with salad, a bite-sized soup, and bread Price: 1000 yen including tax The Japanese-style fresh pasta was well-balanced in terms of portion, aroma, saltiness, and richness. The salad was standard with a good balance of vinegar without being too acidic. The first bite of the pasta was just right. However, I was a bit unsure if the intention was to eat the bread alternately with the pasta or to save it for later. The saltiness level was a bit strong for my taste, but overall, the flavors were good. Overall, it was a pleasant lunch experience, and I would like to visit again to try their dinner menu. The restaurant has a casual bistro vibe and is easily visible from the outside. The Fukushima area is truly interesting. Thank you for reading this lengthy review till the end!

I finally got to visit a restaurant I've been wanting to go to for a long time! I arrived around 1:00 pm for lunch. The interior of the restaurant is small, with 8 counter seats and about 3 table seats. I chose the lunch set with fresh pasta for 1000 yen. You can choose from a variety of pasta options that change daily. First, a small pumpkin soup, bread, and salad were brought out. The pumpkin soup was delicious! I forgot to take a photo of it, unfortunately. When the pasta arrived, I took a bite - it was incredibly tasty! The pasta was perfectly chewy, and the sauce coated it well, spreading delicious flavors in my mouth. Even as a slow eater, I was happy that the chewiness of the pasta lasted until the end. I think I might get addicted to this... I'll definitely come back soon! Bye for now!

I had a lunch course with a colleague from work. The presentation was lovely and, of course, everything was delicious. I didn't want it to end. The restaurant had a glass interior, which felt open and airy. There were cute black cat decorations and paintings scattered around, which was a dream for cat lovers.

I couldn't make a reservation at the popular chain stores, so I decided to use this place for my friend's birthday lunch celebration! The atmosphere of the restaurant was open and very nice. I think it was a full course lunch? I called to confirm if they could accommodate my dietary restrictions due to COVID, and they kindly said OK, which was great. The food, including the palette, meat, and fish, was all very good.

This is a bistro located south of Hankyu Fukushima Station, which is a sister store of the French restaurant Kuro Neko. They offer a lunch set for 1000 yen, which includes a choice of two types of fresh pasta, salad, a small soup, and bread. You can also add coffee, tea, or grapefruit pudding for an additional 300 yen. I tried the mozzarella and basil tomato sauce pasta and the grapefruit pudding, both of which were delicious. The pasta was chewy and tasty.

This bistro serves delicious pasta lunches that are a definite repeat. The lunch includes salad, soup, bread, and pasta. The soup, usually a creamy potage, is really tasty, but I wish they gave a bit more. The salad, with pickles, was also delicious. The pasta, made with fresh noodles, is always different and addictive. The atmosphere is comfortable with a mix of counter and table seating. The service is attentive and they offer a lunch stamp card. The lunch set costs 1000 yen, with an extra 200 yen for a large portion. It may be a bit pricey for Kansai, but I'm satisfied with the taste. Thank you for always serving delicious pasta.

I was invited by a friend to visit a restaurant I wanted to try, the popular French cuisine restaurant "Kuro Neko" in Fukushima and Kitashinchi in Osaka, which is the sister store of "Kimagure Bistro Gigi". This time, I used a coupon for the "180-minute all-you-can-drink dinner sharing course" for 5,000 yen (tax included). This course includes the most popular special "Palette Hors d'oeuvre" with a full course of fish, meat, and dessert. The interior of the restaurant is casual, stylish, and cute, with counter seats and table seats available, making it suitable for various occasions such as after work, girls' night out, dates, or as a second bar option. - Amuse: Seasonal soup and small dish - Hors d'oeuvre: Gigi's special Palette Hors d'oeuvre - Bread: Soft baguette, 2 slices per person - Fish dish: Pan-fried ○○ with fish fumé sauce - Meat dish: Yamagata pork shoulder loin steak with mustard-flavored red wine sauce - Chef's special Carbonara - Dessert: Pear tart - Coffee or tea The all-you-can-drink menu includes beer, highball, plum wine, cocktails, wine, and soft drinks for a generous 3 hours! The sparkling wine and vodka tonic were delicious. Whether you're having a lively gathering with friends at a table or a romantic date at the counter, this place is perfect. In addition to the course, the à la carte menu is also extensive, so you can enjoy a little extra on the side. It was a delightful experience, thank you for the hospitality.

Today, I attended a meeting in Osaka and my lunch break was only 20 minutes, so I had to settle for a bento box from a street vendor. However, it turned out to be okay because I visited a restaurant called "Kuroneko" next to the popular "Palette Oeuvre" in Fukushima and Kitashinchi. I ordered the shared course for 4000 yen (excluding tax) and started with a small soup. The cut tree stump appetizer was a hit, but the portions were tiny finger-sized bites, so it was over quickly. The grilled sea bream and Iga pork steak that followed were also small in portion and lacked distinctive flavors. The service and cost performance were low, and the restaurant was empty despite being newly opened. The only saving grace was that I went with my family. Overall, I felt that the restaurant was overpriced for what was offered. If I'm going to pay this much, I would expect to be satisfied with the quality of ingredients, food, service, and ambiance. Unfortunately, Kuroneko fell short of these expectations. I felt like it was a missed opportunity, as we only had one drink each and ended up paying 14,000 yen. It was a disappointing experience considering the price we paid.

I entered the restaurant around 12:30. On that day, there were mostly women, so I felt a bit out of place. I ordered the daily lunch special, which was quite delicious. I might visit again if I happen to pass by, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. It's a good place to enjoy tasty pasta if you work nearby.

Last year, a friend who went together with me wanted to go to the same place again during this visit, so I made a lunch reservation this time. It seems they offer course meals, but I preferred ordering a la carte like last time, so I made a reservation for seats only. Being pregnant, I appreciate this format because I don't have to go through the hassle of specifying what I can't eat in a course meal, and I can't eat that much in one go. We started with a sparkling apple juice toast. It's a refreshing juice with no added sugar. Since I can't drink alcohol now, just having the bubbly juice in a champagne glass lifts my spirits. I end up drinking it all in one go. For the dishes, we had: - Okra and pancetta cheese omelette: Baked slowly in the oven, it's fluffy like a soufflé. With tomato sauce at the bottom, scooping it up with a spoon from the base is incredibly delicious. - Cabbage anchovy butter sauté: This is incredibly delicious!!! The luxurious aroma of butter and the saltiness of anchovies are amazing. The slight bitterness of the burnt parts enhances the sweetness of the cabbage, making it very tasty. The core is soft, and it's all delicious. - Western-style doteyaki: One of the dishes featured on an evening gourmet segment. It's usually eaten with raw egg, but I asked for the raw egg on the side due to my pregnancy. It's very rich. A celebrity who came for the interview described it as "Osaka to France," and it does have a Japanese and Western fusion taste, which is strangely addictive. - Apple pie and honey gelato: A limited dessert for this period. A hot, sweet and sour apple pie with apple skin jam, apple flesh, and custard inside a spring roll-like rectangular pie crust. The honey gelato served with it is incredibly smooth and rich, making you want to eat it endlessly. It's so smooth, it just melts in your mouth. The taste is still delicious! However, I felt the drinks were a bit pricey. Well, it's our fault for gulping it down like we were drinking alcohol... haha. I would like to try the lunch course next time.

Kimagure Bistro Gigi is a French & Italian restaurant known for its popular chewy fresh pasta lunch set. On weekdays, you can choose from two daily pasta options for 1,000 yen including tax. Located near Shin-Fukushima Station, this bistro is a more casual alternative to the popular French restaurant Kuro Neko. Unlike the elegant atmosphere of Kuro Neko, Kimagure Bistro Gigi has a more casual vibe with its glass-fronted design. The lunch hours are from 11:30 to 14:00 on weekdays (closed on Wednesdays). The weekday special fresh pasta set includes salad, a bite-sized soup, and a baguette for 1,000 yen including tax. The options available during my visit were Porcini Mushroom Cream Sauce and Amatriciana (bacon and onion tomato sauce). Additional options such as coffee, tea, and grapefruit pudding are available for an extra 300 yen each. I decided to try the Porcini Mushroom Cream Sauce pasta, which I love. I arrived around 1:30 pm, so the restaurant was empty and I was able to order my pasta right away. The salad and soup were served promptly. The salad was generous with lettuce, shredded cabbage, tomatoes, bell peppers, and a unique wasabi dressing. The soup was a creamy and sweet purple sweet potato soup that was comforting and delicious. The warm and crispy baguette complemented the creamy pasta sauce well. The Porcini Mushroom Cream Sauce pasta arrived shortly after, and it was aromatic and flavorful. The creamy sauce was rich and velvety with plenty of porcini mushrooms and a hint of truffle oil. The freshly shaved cheese added a nice touch. The pasta was chewy and perfectly cooked, making each bite a delight. Overall, the meal was simple yet satisfying, and I would love to visit again to try their other pasta options.

I went to lunch and it was delicious at the third branch of Kuro Neko, Gigi. I chose this place for a year-end party with my close friends. We had a shared course. We started with a seasonal soup amuse-bouche, a small foie gras dish full of flavor, and a pumpkin soup. The appetizer was Gigi's special palette, which was a cute tree stump dish with 10 different bites to enjoy, including tomatoes. The fish dish was sea bream, and the meat dish was Yamagata pork steak, both of which were delicious. For dessert, we had pear tart and tea. The course was satisfying from start to finish with generous portions. There are also many other tempting à la carte dishes, so I'll try those next time.

I visited a new casual bistro that specializes in black cat-themed dishes. The restaurant is located next to the Black Cat cafe, and it offers a lunch course for 2600 yen by reservation. I opted for the pasta lunch set for 1000 yen, which came with salad, soup, and bread. The soup was pumpkin soup, and I also added the anchovy cabbage dish for 400 yen. The fresh pasta was delicious and had a nice texture. For dessert, you can add coffee or tea for an additional 300 yen each. The restaurant quickly filled up with office workers at noon, so it's best to make a reservation or come after 1 pm if you haven't. The bistro is a great place for a casual wine and a la carte menu in the evening as well. The foie gras takoyaki dish was recently featured on a TV show, so it's definitely worth a try. I heard there is another Black Cat bistro in Shinchi, so I'm looking forward to visiting that one too.