Ryu

• Location: Meiwa-cho ( Route 37 beside Max Valu, across from Lumbini)
• Style: French, local
• Lunch: 1350 yen ~
• Dinner: 3500 yen ~
• Closed:Wednesdays and 2nd Thursday
• Contact: 0596-52-6440
• Website: http://www.restaurant-ryu.com/index.html

First up is my favourite restaurant: Ryu, in Meiwa. Local ingredients, French technique and the creative mind of Chef Ryusuke Ogura result in a delicious meal that I keep going back for. Starting at 1350 yen for a course lunch and 3500 for a course dinner, it's also unique food at a reasonable price.

I went for dinner a couple of weeks ago, and ordered the Ryu のディナーコース　(Ryu's Dinner Course) for 4800 yen. The 8 courses of this meal build nicely on one another, and are proportioned to be satisfying but not too heavy. Chef Ryu starts with an amuse bouche he calls a "one spoon", followed by a seasonal soup (black bean cappuccino soup the night I was there).



Next is a plate of small appetizers, which always includes a salad with Serrano ham, and then truffle risotto.

The fish course was butter-roasted tai (Pacific red sea-bream) served with anchovy butter and a couple of sauces. Before the main course is served (which the customer can choose from a list including quail, duck, pork, lamb and for an extra 1000 yen, Matsusaka beef), there is a palate cleansing seasonal fruit sorbet. For the main course, I chose quail, a new addition to the menu (my favourite, duck breast was unavailable this particular night), and was pleasantly surprised.

The quail body was de-boned and stuffed with cheese before being roasted whole and served with a white wine gravy and seasonal vegetables. Absolutely delicious. To finish the meal, I had the choice of a hot or cold dessert. I wanted something light so I chose the strawberry mousse. It was fresh, airy and very flavorful. My only gripe is that Ryu doesn't offer coffee (I'm a coffee addict), but the black "Musica Tea" from Dojima, Osaka that they serve is so good, I'll forgive them this one thing. The 3500 yen dinner is similar, but doesn't include the main dish (instead, the fish dish is a bigger portion) and the appetizer plate is smaller.
Ryu is great for a tasty lunch, or a romantic date. Even with all the fantastic Japanese food available, I can't help but call this my favourite restaurant whenever anyone asks.
Bonus: the chef speaks French, so if you can too he'd love to chat with you.