すくすくぱんだ
I made a reservation for my birthday dinner with my parents! It's located about a 10-minute walk from Nogizaka. The area seems to have many stylish hidden gem restaurants! Upon entering the restaurant, there's a waiting area upfront where we were seated on a sofa until our table was ready. They served tea in small wine glasses that looked like they could be used for dessert wine. Chic, right? (laughs) I always find it amusing that with innovative fusion restaurants, you never quite know what to expect until the dishes arrive, which adds to the excitement!
Course: 22,000 yen
- Sakura Trout with Green Peas and Osetra Caviar
- Tuna with Black Truffle and Swan Turnip
- Spring Fish with Wild Vegetables and Wasabi
- White Asparagus with Chicken Egg Sauce
- Pufferfish with Rice and Bamboo Shoots in a Curry-flavored Kataifi
- Wagyu Beef with Truffle and Spring Vegetables in a Rich Madeira Sauce
Dessert consisted of two items, both served in adorable plates, offering a slightly unconventional yet delightful experience.
- Mugwort, Rosemary, and Lemon "Dry Landscape Garden"
- Chamomile Citrus and Limoncello "Arrival of Spring"
They also provided a selection of petit fours including macarons, butter sandwiches, financiers, petit jellies, and chocolates, along with herbal tea, of which we indulged in a second cup!
While we debated on opting for the drink pairing, we ended up choosing one champagne, one white, and one red wine, each priced around 16,000 yen per bottle. Though a bit pricey, it seemed to be the norm. Instead of a wine list, we relied on the sommelier's recommendations, which were presented one bottle at a time. This was a bit surprising, as we're used to having more choices, but our usual preference for selecting wines wasn't accommodated here (laughs).
Additionally, despite reserving a whole cake through Tabelog, it was forgotten due to insufficient reminders and oversight on the restaurant's part. While it didn't bother me much as the one being celebrated, my mother seemed disappointed. High-end restaurants tend to raise expectations, and although they made some thoughtful gestures towards the end, it left us feeling a bit underwhelmed. As a family who enjoys hearty and voluminous French cuisine over innovative fusion, we were reminded of our preferences. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable to experience innovative fusion cuisine after a long time. Thank you for the feast!