koutagawa
(2022.01.06) Just outside of Yakuin-Odori Station, on the second floor of a complex building with tenants and offices that opened about a year ago, there is a pasta restaurant called 'Pasta Dining amabile'. Although there are no menu signs on the street, making it less noticeable, I felt a sense of aging from the outdoor stairs, and the dimness due to the yakitori restaurant on the first floor not operating during the day made it difficult to enter. Not satisfied with the spaghetti I had at the end of the year, I decided to give it another try here. Even after going up to the second floor, I couldn't see inside the restaurant, so I cautiously opened the door to find a warm smile welcoming me and guiding me to a living table in the back. The concrete ceiling, which felt cold, was decorated with dried flowers, creating a warm atmosphere, and the 20 or so seats with dining and living tables made for a cozy dining experience. Looking at the menu, there were creative spaghetti dishes using matcha, miso cream sauce, and salt koji. After some hesitation, I was drawn to the allure of the anchovy-based peperoncino. As a starter, I had the "Vegetable-packed Salad Plate," with a unique visual of lettuce covered with prosciutto and garnished with trevis and carrot rapeseed on the side, making it not only visually appealing but also delicious. The peperoncino menu stated "not spicy," so I asked if they could make it spicy, and they kindly agreed to try. The dish was generously topped with red onions, kaiware, and Italian parsley, adding a crispy texture and aroma that complemented the deliciousness of the peperoncino. The anchovies were well dissolved, coating the noodles well, and the generous sprinkling of breadcrumbs absorbed the oil sauce, making even the sauce enjoyable to eat.