りょんこ
I finished a meeting in Umeda, and before I knew it, it was already late lunchtime. Since everyone is in summer vacation mode, I decided to have lunch at a restaurant that I don't usually visit. I targeted this restaurant, run by a chef that I often see on TV, and was looking forward to it.
1. The nearest station is Fukushima Station, right? I walked from Umeda Station. The stylish exterior is made of glass. Since there is no big signboard with the restaurant name, it's best to look for the blackboard menu placed in front of the store when visiting for the first time. Inside the restaurant, there are table seats as well as counter seats, so you can enter without hesitation even if you are dining alone.
2. As it was my first visit, I ordered the most affordable "pasta lunch." You can choose from 2 types of pasta. On that day, the options were: - Spaghetti with boiled whitebait and broccoli in oil sauce - Spaghetti with Yanbaru Island pork and mushrooms in ragout tomato sauce I had a hard time choosing, but I went with the ragout tomato sauce. Soon, the set came with soup and salad. The seasonal soup was a cold potage of peach and cauliflower. It had a smooth texture, and you could faintly taste the gentle sweetness of the peach. The salad consisted only of lettuce, but with plenty of Parmigiano cheese on top, it had a rich flavor. Then came the pasta. Of course, it was freshly made and piping hot. Along with the steam, a nice aroma of Parmigiano cheese rose up. The spaghetti, cooked perfectly al dente, paired well with the slightly acidic tomato sauce. The umami of the mushrooms and the sweetness of the Yanbaru Island pork melted into the tomato sauce. The overall balance and harmony in the mouth was well done! Finally, I added an "iced lemon tea" for an additional 100 yen to finish the meal. It was quite filling, and I left with a full stomach.
3. The staff at the restaurant consisted of 3 women managing the hall. Their greetings and seating guidance were done with a bright and polite manner. The communication during the waiting time was also done properly, so I was able to wait without any stress. The only downside was that the menu explanation was fast-paced and a bit quiet, so I couldn't hear it well. Other than that, there were no particular concerns.
4. It's a famous restaurant, so I was a bit skeptical about the actual quality, but the pasta, as well as the soup and salad, were all carefully prepared without cutting corners, showing the true craftsmanship. The atmosphere of the restaurant and the staff's service were also pleasant, so overall, I think the cost-performance ratio is good.
5. It was lunchtime on a weekday, and I was surprised and impressed to see Chef Takeuchi himself vigorously shaking the pan.