karaksa hotel colors 东京八重洲

A restaurant under the supervision of Niko Romito, whose unique philosophy is blazing a trail through the Italian culinary world. From the concept of ‘authentic yet contemporary’, Il Ristorante - Niko Romito brings together fare from every region of Italy. Vegetable soup is prepared without water; instead, moisture is extracted from the ingredients, yielding a pure expression of flavour. Spaghetti pomodoro features concentrated essence of tomato. The pursuit of the flavours and essence of Italy.

Satoru Asahina pursues a gastronomy of ‘traditional heritage with modern innovation’. He delves into the history of French cuisine to reconstruct ancient recipes with his own interpretations. The prix fixe meal begins with a colourful amuse-bouche and proceeds to plates adorned with multi-layered culinary creations. Consommé pressed through a siphon with a flourish and desserts paraded on trolleys catch the eye. Classic cuisine tuned up to point to the future.

A tempura eatery run by a father and his two sons. Supplied with fish in season and fresh vegetables, The chef expresses the turning of the seasons through his ingredients. Items are lightly battered and fried in cold-pressed sesame oil to bring forward the flavours of the tempura pieces. Two friers at different temperatures are used according to the needs of each dish; occasionally an item is double-fried, first in medium-hot oil, and then in hot oil. With the experience and skills of a craftsman honed over many years, the chef unerringly delivers the flavours of each season.

In Kyoto, the chef acquired knowledge of Japanese cuisine; in his native Shiga, the uniqueness of fondly remembered country cooking. The sprouting of flowering plants, the spirit of wild animals, the shifting of the seasons in the rural hillscapes, all have their say in the menu. The vividly colourful hassun platters are lavish yet delicate. The intention in hot-pot cooking is to bring a party together through the magic of a single flavour. Gracious service, sparing no detail, is the true pleasure here.

A sign with a crane’s head in profile against the sun marks the modern Japanese exterior. Enter the dining room, and piped jazz music fills an interior decorated with Western paintings. Red and white keynotes in the décor denote the rising sun. Cuisine is ‘modern classic’, a theme born of the sensibility the chef cultivated overseas. The aim is to offer modulation in temperature, beguiling aromas, and a light, comfortable feeling after dining. Refined items of refreshing originality suggest the future of Japanese cuisine.

An old wooden sign catches the eye: ‘Unagi – eat this, and there is no need for medicine.’ This reflects the founder’s belief in eel as a nourishing food. The fourth-generation chef honours tradition while adapting to the present. The Unatsugu-ju carries the spirit of passing eel culture to the future, with efforts to release juvenile eels into the sea to replenish wild stocks. In step with the times, a counter seat offers a view of the craftsmen at work.

A restaurant by Dominique Bouchet, an advocate of ‘tradition with progress’. The kitchen is entrusted to a Japanese chef. The two menus offer distinct concepts: ‘Générations’ expresses a particularly Japanese sense of seasonality through the ingredients, while ‘Héritage’ comprises specialities from his time in France, reflecting Bouchet’s desire to pass his legacy on to the next generation.