Made a reservation months in advance, as I knew I'd be in Paris for my birthday, and on that day, I wanted sushi.
As it happened, not only did I get my wish, I got some of the BEST sushi (or seafood!) I've had in my life.
Advice: Know sushi, please. Don't go here for your first foray into Japanese dining. It's an insult to the chef to try to move your place setting around, to hold on to dishes instead of eating them as he serves them, or to be loud and raucous in this small, 12 seat omakase restaurant.
Omakase is chef's choice, he'll prepare and serve dishes to you as he sees fit, based on the freshest and most delectable ingredients available. It is acceptable and customary to eat pieces of nigiri with the fingers of one hand, though sashimi and non-nigiri are appropriate to eat with chopsticks provided.
We arrived on the minute on time, and were immediately greeted and ushered in, jackets taken and purse aligned on a small bench behind our seats at the sushi bar. We were given excellent guidance on beverages, and started with glasses of sparkling sake, which was delicious. We subsequently ordered a cold sake they recommended, which was fruity and fresh and light and crisp, and a true winner. We were right to trust their judgement of best pairing.
We opted for the omakase that included the toro and caviar, as we had seen advice to that end. That dish, served first, was incredible. It melted in our mouths, rich and buttery, with perfect complement of the rich oceany intensity of the caviar. The size was worth the price, and we were additionally served a couple other dishes not included with the standard menu later in the meal.
A warm seafood soup was also served, which was the. best. japanese. soup. EVER. It was fresh and flavorful and rich without being overpowering, oceany without being fishy, just a warm, comforting, delicious treat.
One epic standout was the ika sashimi (squid). I never order ika in other restaurants, I find it always chewy and not particularly worth the money in sushi form. I was surprised to be served it here, but had my opinion served to me to eat along with the ika, because it was the most tender, flavorful, delicious bite of seafood I'd possibly ever had. I don't know how it was treated (kombu?) or marinated, or cut, but I remain in awe of that singular piece of food. The chef KNOWS HIS BUSINESS.
Every bite here was bliss. The courses arrived at measured pace, we had ample time to enjoy each, and to eagerly anticipate the next as we watched the chef prepare each morsel. The chef told us each time he provided us with a dish what each piece was, and if we had additional questions, we could direct them to the English-fluent waitresses, who would relay our questions and the Japanese answers for us.
The service was insane. It was so perfect, we both remarked later that we never sought for service. Every need was anticipated, and provided for before we knew we needed anything. Truly a Michelin experience. I would not be surprised to see more stars assigned here in the near future. The chef is a true master, every food item was perfect, from the individual grains of rice, to the grand fish served. The service is superb, and the entire experience was second to none. read more