トモサク
I wanted to have a somewhat luxurious meal, so I did some research and managed to make a reservation for one at a Japanese restaurant called "Onmi". According to the Tire Shop Gourmet Guide, it has gone from 3 stars to 2 stars. It is located along Nakajima Park in a quiet area, with a calm atmosphere both outside and inside, thanks to the soothing lighting. The spacious counter seats had a few solo diners, and there were also some private rooms. Inside the counter, several chefs were bustling around, creating a lively atmosphere even for solo diners. Now, I'll quickly list what I had: Appetizer "White fish, white asparagus, azuki beans, plum sauce", Small dish "Taimaki and mugwort dumplings inspired by Children's Day", Soup "Ainame", Sashimi "Kombu-marinated sea bream and live botan shrimp", Appetizer plate "Lightly simmered beans in dashi, firefly squid and taranome with udo yolk soy sauce, warabi fern with sesame miso, anglerfish liver with pepper, seared bachi, squid and salted sea urchin", Steamed dish "Yuba ankake, sea bream shirako", Grilled dish "Blackthroat seaperch, grilled wheat gluten, fava beans", Simmered dish "Sesame tofu, bamboo shoots, bracken fern", Rice dish "Jidake and Hinai chicken mixed rice", Dessert "Orange jelly, shiratama dumplings, strawberries, black beans". From the appetizer onwards, I had a feeling, which was confirmed around the soup course, that the overall taste was gentle, possibly due to the influence of Kyoto cuisine. There was a subtle quality to many of the dishes, especially noticeable in the fish, where the sashimi didn't quite capture the full flavor of the fish itself, and the blackthroat seaperch in the grilled dish, while fatty, lacked a satisfying taste. When eaten with the grilled wheat gluten, it had a more balanced flavor that I personally enjoyed. If each restaurant has a "flavor intensity" line, then I felt that this restaurant's line didn't quite match my preferences. Of course, there are people who may prefer this style, and they might even be the majority, but personally, I found it lacking. I was looking for that extra something, an impact or punch, whatever you want to call it, just a little more oomph. This isn't a matter of good or bad, just a matter of personal taste.