Otowa Restaurant

We found a beautiful book of Chef Otowa in a bookshop. We knew the name of the restaurant for a long time but we always thought going to Utsunomiya only for the restaurant was too much. But the book, which is his statement that he commits himself to Utsunomiya and it's produces, we wanted to give a ...try. And we are so happy that we did. We had Menu Relais&Chateau, the largest menu. From the amuse to the dessert, it was well balanced, authentic, local and had good taste. Authentic top French cuisine, deeply rooted in Japanese culinary culture and products. This is a perfect place for people who loves high quality French cuisine in western countries and want to try French in Japan. Chaud froid of local trout, Homard and beignet of cavolo nelo and ris d'agneau, Amadai fish in nage de Nori seaweed....Amadai, a kind of Mullet, is a special fish both in Japan as in France its scale can be eaten together with its flesh if it is cooked properly. Here the seaweed sauce, slightly sour with deep umami taste, a bit like sunomono, demonstrates perfeclty how Chef Otowa wants to bring Japanese and French cooking together. So tasty, beautiful and well crafted. After the meal, we had an opportunity to talk with the chef Kazuki Otowa and his three children, the elderly son in the kitchen and the second son and the daughter on service. Whole family is committed to run this great restaurant. It was a bliss to visit this restaurant. Because it is in Utsunomiya, it is not mentioned in Michelin guide. And maybe that is probably a much for you because you will see that the locals appreciate the restaurant. It is not a kind of restaurant aiming at the Michelin guide followers.

Visited January 2020

There are 3 courses varying 6000, 10,000, and 15,000 yen. I recommend 6,000 yen course because it's 5 dish meal if I remember correctly (including dessert) and it fills you quite well, but if you have a big appetite then you can try 10,000 yen one. Tell them which course you want when calling to mak...e a reservation. They have a huge collection of wine and there are always at least 2 Sommeliers so you can ask for their recommendation. I saw an English-speaking couple the other day but the waiters speak English quite well so you won't have a problem there. The chef uses produces from local it's quite nice :) 6000円、10000円、15000円のコースがありますが、普通の大人は6000円のコースでお腹いっぱいになります。10000円のコースだとメインが肉と魚で2品になります。20代男性は食べれるかもしれない。いつも大体2-3人のソムリエがいますので、ワインのお勧めは彼らに聞くといいです。地元の食材をふんだんに使った料理がとても美味しいです。

Visited March 2016