Aoike

AOIKE -- a recent addition to Kyoto's huge collection of fine restaurants -- offers superb meals, elegantly presented at fairly reasonable cost. Located in a beautifully remodelled private house just south of the Imperial Palace park, it's a bit hard to find and requires the help of a detailed map ...and a clever taxi driver. But it is well worth the effort of seeking it out! Chef/owner Hiroyuki Aoike, with the help of one or two assistants, prepares original dishes and European classics with a fresh contemporary flair, and serves them slowly, Kaiseki-style, one-course-at-a-time, each presented on perfectly selected plates and bowls. A meal progresses dramatically, with each dish complementing the one before or contrasting with the one to follow. Ingredients are sparkling fresh and in harmony with the seasons. This is not the place for anyone seeking a quick bite or a rushed meal. Guests should be prepared to spend a full evening savoring Aoike's delicious artistry. Among chef Aoike's relatives are several of Kyoto's finest domestic architect/designers and the beauty of the restaurant reflects their extraordinarily refined taste. The interior is quiet, unostentatious, sophisticated with an understated elegance. I have enjoyed meals only at the downstairs counter; the few tables upstairs are similarly refined, with a view down over the small Kyoto garden at the back of the restaurant. Compared to other first-class Kyoto restaurants, Aoike's prices seem quite modest. Considering the mastery of the chef and the elegance of the setting, Aoike is a relative bargain in a city were fine cuisine is highly appreciated and often commands astronomic prices. At Aoike, an "o-makase" or table d'hote lunch of 5 or 6 small courses ranges from about $35 to $50 per person; dinner of 6 courses is about $60, or 8 courses at about $85 (not including drinks). I have dined at Aoike on three separate occasions, and each time left absolutely delighted and with renewed admiration. I look forward to many furute visits!

Visited November 2018