Nakajima

Only one word: WONDERFUL!!! Food is wonderful, presentation is wonderful, staff is wonderful. One of the best food experience in my life! If you are in Osaka, you should test it!

Visited April 2017

Tonight I experienced the best kappou kaiseki dining has to offer. Not only were the flavors exquisite and the presentations flawless, but the outstanding chef and his two capable staff made our dinner truly special. I've been to my fair share of fine kappou counters and while the food may have b...een excellent, the head chefs were often more like conductors supervising associate staff who cooked & prepared the dishes. Not here. the chef stirred & tasted every soup & sauce; sliced every fish; grilled every portion of meat; and proceeded to plate each dish, down to the exact placement of each micro-green! This was as much precision performance as it was fine dining, And what a performance it was! Fresh, seasonal ingredients and unique flavor & texture combinations at almost every turn- sometimes subtle, sometimes bold, but all delectable. The anticipation and surprise of what imaginative dish comes next was a big part of this wonderful culinary experience. I won't spoil it by listing dishes, but for one - this from the advice of a fellow diner - who heartily approved our choice of freshly made corn rice to finish our meal. When the chef opened the clay pot to show us its contents of bare cob with loose corn kernels on rice, the sweet corn aroma brought smiles to all of us seated at the counter. He then removed the cob and carefully folded the rice and kernels together without breaking a single kernel. Aside from the naturally sweet flavor of the corn infused into the rice, what made this dish outstanding was the contrast in textures of the pillowy soft rice grains and the still crisp & juicy corn kernels. A selection of Japanese pickles was also served, adding more flavors and textures. Needless to say, I went for seconds! The service here is friendly and attentive but not intrusive. Despite hardly speaking any English, the chef insisted he explain to us each dish, so the staff enlisted the help of a smartphone, a notepad and two regular customers with better English skills to translate as he passionately explained each dish's ingredients. The warm camaraderie amongst all was the perfect complement to our meal. After we finished our already memorable meal and said our goodbyes, we asked directions to the nearest subway station. To our great surprise, the young chef insisted that he accompany us on what turned out to be a fifteen minute walk. As I apologized and insisted (all by sign language) that he return to his restaurant , he smiled and shook his head. He then pointed at me then tapped his chest and said, "Family". Looks like I've found my culinary home in Osaka. Can't wait for my next trip over!

Visited September 2015