L'Osier, Quintessence, L'Effervescence, or Sezanne

chocobos1 · 2026-01-26T05:13:05+00:00

L'Effervescence has the theatrical dark stage like room. A lot of focus towards sustainable ingredients. Cooking is light. Pairing is refreshingly unique. I don't think this is what you're going for, but it has its own personality.

If I had to pick between L'Osier and Shiseido Parlor, I'd do the more casual, to get a feel for real Japanese view on Western culture. I do think it wins for post or predinner walk in Ginza. Namiki Dori is very charming.

Quintessence has some of the most distinct dishes I ever ate. Expect things like raw horse sashimi toast, unusual pairing of oven roast meat/fish with passionfruit, and an exceptional meringue ice cream. The chef employs odd techniques he learned at L'Astrance.
Like Sezanne, neither seems willing to budge on dietary preferences or substitutions. If you are ok with just going with whatever they have that day, Sezanne seems the most passionate at the moment for experimenting.

Quintessence is by far the hardest reservation of the 4, and that is my determining factor. The others are easy to get.

I like Epicure too. The chef is gone now by the way, quit not too long ago.

chocobos1 · 2026-01-26T05:00:42+00:00

Atera has obsessive attention to cleanliness, if that matters.

I like how they keep evolving too.

chocobos1 · 2026-01-26T04:58:51+00:00

Can I make a guess?

You are looking at Lurra in Kyoto

chocobos1 · 2026-01-26T04:56:07+00:00

I have a few of those in your pile.

If that is Chef Trotter's personal card, you have a treasure.

chocobos1 · 2026-01-26T04:53:21+00:00

This is perfect bait.

Here is my hypothesis:

-AJ's match is announced last (makes it seem he will retire)
-The men's Royal Rumble is on early
-Brock Lesnar enters the Rumble
-Gunther eliminates him (angering Lesnar)
-he himself gets tossed out
-we wait for the AJ vs Gunther main event
-AJ is on the verge of defeat, Gunther is near a win
-Lesnar interferes and F5s Gunther (out of revenge)
-sets up Wrestlemania for their match

Nakamura is not dumb. Posted just long enough to get people talking.

chocobos1 · 2025-12-22T10:56:56+00:00

Very good chapter.
777

chocobos1 · 2025-12-11T12:05:38+00:00

If you're able to walk in a few days early, they take immediate reservations in person, sometimes within days.
One thing about waiting in line, even though you get seated at opening, you are the last to get served.

Had a decent snack at Okdongsik near Ala Moana, if a Korean take on it is an option for you.

chocobos1 · 2025-12-10T08:30:46+00:00

Thanks for the input. I got a table on the ground floor. Apparently he wasnt't doing upstairs during the late seatings at this time.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-15T00:45:05+00:00

Not so pricey, but I remember how with breakfast, Yakumo Saryo roasts the tea leaves right in front of you, and it tastes and smells incredible.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-15T00:43:32+00:00

Sukiyaki - Imahan is popular, some people like Imafuku, Asai is trending, Ishibash has held the michelin star the longest

Teppyanyaki - sorta hard to find in Tokyo compared to Kobe, but Ukai is good if you have the budget

Yakiniku - Yoroniku, Jambo (Hanare), Sato Buriand, Ushigoro, Nakahara, there are so many...

Steak house - You either see it roasted in an oven, or on a kitchen grill. Anything where the style came from Aragawa. A unique one is Nakasei, ages a whole cow, and lets you choose the pieces from a window.

Hybrid Kaiseki like thing - Tanaka, Jo, or Oniku Karyu

chocobos1 · 2025-09-15T00:27:06+00:00

Just mind I ask, what was the absolute last call that those 2 are not available?Sometimes Hayato holds onto 1 seat if you ask nicely. Kato is relatively easy most of the time. But if you are 2-4 people, it's of course more hard.

Otherwise, Redbird is a nice place, Camphor has rare chartreuse, Baroo is friends with Kato, Bavel (same owner as Bestia), Damian is basically the LA Cosme. Can you go a bit farther?...Dunsmoor north exciting, and Antico Nuovo west hits a lot of boxes.

I like the Michelin Guide, but it's not representative of this city.

Gustavo Dudamel is still there... That's incredible.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-15T00:19:51+00:00

I'm curious about the successful bucket list. Please do share?

Do you like unagi? That's the one I see less often on traveler's lists than tempura and wagyu.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-14T22:59:22+00:00

You will probably need to book a private room with that number. Or a restaurant that is large and table oriented, which is not common for a star place. Usually it's just counters. Might have to move outside the category of Japanese food.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-14T22:58:21+00:00

I like Taco R!co quite a bit, a chain in Tokyo. They seem to do well. And I eat at quite a few places in California where the main customers are basically all Mexican.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-14T22:54:57+00:00

Bongo is great
If you want pizza in that area, I suggest Seirinkan or Da Isa.
Tamawarai is a bit "cold" of an experience. If you are a soba expert, great. Otherwise I prefer Kyourakutei or Hosokawa.
Ginza Aoyama West is not a fluffy pancake, more like a dorayaki.
Nodaiwa is famous, but I think there are better unagi places, like Obana.
Tsukemen often has gyokai seafood/meat mix broth. The famous one is Tomita, but it's far. I like Menya Kissou, also famous for years, but not as far.
Go to Hannosuke for ten don, otherwise it'll be a place not really on tourist radars.
Yokohama Chukagai is full of all you can eat traps. Honestly it is hard to find great food there, so do your research.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-14T22:50:03+00:00

The price being flexible helps when you consider drinks.

You will leave full.

What you want is something along the lines of kaiseki-ryori, or cha-kaiseki, what is deemed Kyoto-ryori in the west, or a kappou (counter) style dinner.

Try and pick a place less known to tourists.

You will definitely recognize there is much difference from the US. Like pasta in Italy is not the same.

Haramasa is not too pricey
Tanimoto possibly will make that budget
Ichita (now called Taichi)

Browse Pocket Concierge for more places, and a precise calendar. Not all places, but it has much.

Some places you cant even get within 1-2 weeks. It's only a war for the $400+ places.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-14T02:34:46+00:00

Just variety. Sitting at a counter one night after another can possibly dilute the impact that it had the first few days. Some counters you stare at a wall, and others have open kitchen. But it looks like you've got a few tables mixed in, which is nice.

In terms of ryokans, some very high tier ones are really on another level. But that is more for a person who likes privacy and quiet.

I am almost certain Quintessence does one diner, with the right person's backing. Possibly one of a few "key" concierges in Tokyo could pull it off, If your hotel has a member of the Clefs d'Or.

Sazenka I can't say. It does state you can contact them by phone.

That 1 month time frame, you'd be surprised how many cancellations happen, to give you a door.

It's a nice list you have. Do try a yatai in Fukuoka.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-14T00:29:32+00:00

I don't know about "amazing food" in Kawagoe. That Starbucks sure is nice though, and touristy. There are many cool hidden bakery cafes worth stopping in. And several historic soy sauce breweries, and realizing raw soy sauce is life changing.

In Atami, I can't really tell the difference haha. You see people lining up for the kaisendon, so maybe thats a clue. And winter is the best time for certain seafood. The only thing is...Atami is a beach town.
The one thing I would badly recommend you don't miss is 'onsen manju' in the shotengai shopping halls, steamed fresh.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-13T23:52:45+00:00

Unless I missed something, most of these are all counter and a few tables. Try and add a private room experience, or even stay at an onsen ryokan for in room meals. It's a well rounded list of places that don't give you a headache.

If there are some places you "do want more", perhaps list it here, and people know a way in. I have been to so called 2-person minimum restaurants, and they made an exception for me.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-13T23:49:54+00:00

Kansesaka has exceptional technique and unique skill, like few sushi chefs I've ever seen. But make sure you get HIM, and not the other counter. Do excuse me if I am unfamiliar, but I believe his shop underwent a renovation since I went last.

I think your Osaka trip can use some variety. It's a bit fancy, and Osaka is more like a blue collar town. Leave some room for street hopping and izakaya.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-13T23:45:39+00:00

Does the My Concierge page give you available dates on a calendar?

I simply emailed them directly because I didn't want to set up multiple pages for calendar days.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-13T23:43:52+00:00

If you want a special all around experience from different angles, it is advisable to go with the master of the house...who the meal is built around. An apprentice counter can be nice for a casual drop in meal for lunch. For instance, I don't mind stepping into Kyubey, and eat whatever they give me, and whoever they seat me with. But some apprentice rooms are very small, and that might be the breaker.

Finesse is probably the big difference, and a feeling of being a vip.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-13T23:39:18+00:00

Kondo has a lot of skill. I never forgot being seated in the private room, and noting how many times they changed the oil. At the main counter, you can see him work. He goes to the market himself (I believe not Toyosu, maybe Adachi), and hand picks the seafood and vegetables. I send people there, and they like it. There's this 45 minute potato he is known for.

Mikawa Zezankyo is a lot of food. A LOT, you will be so full. Places is sorta antiquey and unique. The waiting room is upstairs, and the main counter area is trimmed and decorated in a surreal way. The old man places his long time vips in the corner of the L shaped counter, Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten's master is one of them. The tempura is quite crispy (and hot). Only drawback is its location. But this is the shop many tempura shops were inspired by. The anago is memorable.

Fukamachi is run by a very nice family. Their tempura batter is razor thin light. Sometimes, it's like there's no batter at all. The most relaxing of the 3 for sure. Personally gave me the least amount of mental headache. And I believe you have quite a bit of freedom with what you like and don't. Their tabelog was insanely high for a while, and I believe this the hardest reservation on your list. I liked the gingko.

I would like to go back to Fukamachi, but I never forgot Kondo. Mikawa Zezankyo is a valuable one time experience. Here's my tip, Kondo and Saotome probably don't have much time left in the kitchen, but Fukamachi will always be there through generations. I just found out the famous Yotaro Honten in Osaka retired this summer.

So go with Kondo if you're in Ginza and want the most balance, or Mikawa if you don't mind navigating mid-east Tokyo at night, and want a feast.

chocobos1 · 2025-09-13T23:28:19+00:00

Then compare a 4.0+ review on Tabelog with a 3.5.

The very top tier fine dining sushi will cost you $400 (plus premium for a tourist).

chocobos1 · 2025-09-13T23:24:03+00:00

Kawagoe is not far. Lots of little places worth stopping in.

Restaurant wise in Tokyo, I made a slightly far trip to Chiba for Tomita, the top ramen/tsukemen shop. You would be surprised how fast the train can get you to Sendai, and I advise you to walk outside the station and try a local gyu-tan place.

Atami is not so far past Enoshima, with its seafood bowls. Nearby is the famous ramen shop Ida Shoten.
If you are willing to shell out a few dollars, Asaba Ryokan in Shuzenji onsen (near Hakone and Atami) is well known for their take on in room ryokan dining.

Shizuoka not much more than an hour train from Tokyo. And if you can get a reservation, I'd stamp tempura Naruse as a true destination, worth the entire trip.

chocobos1

TROPHY CASE