野良パンダム
Initial visit. A very popular yakiniku restaurant with several locations in Asagaya. Known for its high-class yakiniku style, where all meat dishes are served in course format and all the meat is grilled by the staff, unlike the traditional DIY yakiniku style. The newest addition, Shichiban, is a solo dining restaurant, which is a unique feature compared to other affiliated stores. Payment is only accepted via credit card (cash and Web money not accepted), so be cautious. Personally, I have never been very interested in yakiniku. I always felt uneasy about leaving the most important aspect of cooking, the grilling, to the customers in yakiniku restaurants. Despite occasionally visiting yakiniku restaurants, I have always felt the immaturity of the yakiniku genre with my poorly grilled dishes. I believe that the grilling process is crucial in meat dishes, and entrusting it to amateurs in yakiniku restaurants is not something I agree with.
Recently, I became interested in a few yakiniku restaurants, one of them being SATO BRIAN. I was intrigued by their trademarked "Bri-Ikari" taste, where skilled staff meticulously grill each piece of meat. However, I was always hindered by the reservation policy of at least two people. But the news of a new solo dining restaurant from SATO BRIAN changed everything for solo diners like me who were interested in visiting. I immediately tried to make a reservation.
Reservations are difficult, with only a 4:30 pm time slot available, which is impossible for working individuals like me. However, I was fortunate enough to secure a reservation by spending a summer vacation day at SATO BRIAN. The reservation was an omakase course, booked in July, with an 8:30 pm slot available in August as well.
On the day of my visit, I walked from the station to the restaurant amidst the scorching heat. Along the way, I passed by several affiliated stores of SATO BRIAN, which made it confusing for first-time visitors. The interior of the solo dining restaurant was not very spacious, with only three counter seats available. However, the spacious seating arrangement made the atmosphere very comfortable. There were two staff members in the kitchen inside the counter area, one veteran male staff and a younger-looking male staff, grilling meat for the three customers. Feeling thirsty from the walk, I ordered a draft beer first. After a brief explanation of the course by the staff, the dining experience began.
Course:
- Shichiban Omakase Course (14000 yen)
- Draft Beer x2 (1560 yen)
- Small Rice (complimentary?)
- Additional meat Tomosankaku (complimentary?)
Total: 15560 yen
Impression: The level of deliciousness was so high that I can't go back to DIY-style yakiniku restaurants anymore! It was like I was transported to a completely different world, compared to the yakiniku I had been eating before. It was truly a different level of deliciousness. I couldn't help but wonder, what was the yakiniku I had been eating all this time? This world of yakiniku was unbelievably delicious. It felt like I had been reincarnated into a parallel universe. The veteran staff member was truly talented.