Recommended Lunch Restaurants In Shizuoka Prefecture: French (November 2013)

Fricassee de Poulet at Ema L’Estaminet in Hamamatsu City!

Many people only have time to visit restaurants at lunch and it is certainly not easy to find a restaurant with a better lunch with all those cheap diners around!
Here is the first installment of a series of reports on recommended lunch restaurants in Shizuoka Prefecture which will be classified as follows:
-French
-Italian
-Western (American, European, et al)
-Japanese
-Asian
-Vegan & Vegetarian
-Ethnic
-Healthy

Obviously some restaurants will find their niche in more than one classification.
Moreover, the listing not being exhaustive, will be expanded or amended regularly with dates cited!

PISSENLIT

Service: Excellent and very friendly.
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Superb washroom (mouthwash and toothpicks provided!)!
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive, very good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products, especially organic vegetables and Shizuoka-bred meat and caught fish.

PISSENLIT
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 2-3-4
Tel.: 054-270-8768
Fax: 054-627-3868
Business hours: 11:30~14:30; 17:00~22:00
Closed on Tuesdays and Sunday evening
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

TETSUYA SUGIMOTO

Service: Highly professional and friendly
Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Beautiful washroom
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Freshest produce and ingredients only, mainly from Shizuoka Prefecture. Organic vegetables, top-class Shizuoka-bred meat and Suruga Bay seafood. Seasonal food only.

Tetsuya SUGIMOTO
４２０－００３８ Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Umeya,２－１３，１Ｆ
Tel./Fax: 054-251-3051
Opening hours：１１：３０～１４：３０，１７：３０～２１：３０
Holidays: undecided
Credit cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

RESTAURANT BIO-S (FUJINOMIYA CITY)

Service: Professional, welcoming, very attentive and smiling. Great explanations.
Facilities & Equipment: Extremely clean. Superb separate washrooms.
Prices: Reasonable considering the extravagant quality.
Strong points: Mainly local products including wild vegetables and meat. Vegetables mainly organic and grown by the staff. Menu changing for the most part every two weeks.

MAP (Japanese)

RESTAURANT BIO-S
419-0303 Fujinomiya Shi, Oshikakubo, 939-1
Tel.: 0544-67-0353
Fax: 0544-67-0098
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:00~20:00
Closed on Tuesday Night and whole Wednesdays
Reservations highly recommended!
Credit Cards OK
Parking for 8 cars
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

BISTRO GAWA

Service: Friendly
Facilities: old but very clean. Very clean washroom!
Prices: very reasonable
Strong points: Excellent French cuisine without ostentation. Great local products from the land and the sea
Entirely non-smoking!

Bistro Gawa
411-0856, Shizuoka ken, Mishima Shi, Hirokoji Machi, 1-37, 2F
Business hours: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~
Closed on Sunday, Thursday lunch and Saturday dinner
Tel.: 055-972-5040
Cards OK (+5% handling fees)

HANA HANA

Service: Very friendly. Slow food
Facilities: Very clean all over. Enormous beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Classical French/Italian Cuisine of very good value. Good list of wines and Japanese sake. Great lunches!
Non smoking at lunch!

Hana Hana
〒420-0037Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Hitoyado-cho, 1- 3-12
Tel.: 054-221-0087 ‎
Business hours: 11:30~15:00, 17:30~22:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit cards OK

GENTIL

Service: very professional
Facilities: Very clean, superb facilities.
Prices: Slightly expensive to expensive
Strong points: Beautiful and fresh ingredients presented and combined to perfection. Local ingredients whenever possible. Superb wine list. The best cheese trays in Japan! Everything thoroughly and kindly explained!

Restaurant Gentil
420-0031 Shizuoka Shi, Gofuku-cho, 2-9-1, Gennan Kairaku building, 2F
Tel.: 054-2547655 (Reservations advisable)
Fax: 054-2210509
Opening hours: 12:00~14:00, 18:00~last orders for meals at 21:30. Bar time 18:00~23:30. Closed on Mondays.
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

FRENCH BAKERY & RESTAURANT: EMA L’ESTAMINET

Service: Extremely friendly and attentive
Equipment: Supreme cleanliness and beautiful amenities
Prices: Reasonable. Very good value
Strong points: French gastronomy conceived mainly with local seasonal products. Beautiful bread baked on site! Parking available.
Entirely non-smoking!

EMA L’Estaminet
431-3115, Hamamatsu City, Higashi Ku, Nishigasaki, 1088-1 (within walking distance from Nishigasaki Station, Entetsu Railway Line)
Tel.: 053-433-7700
Business hours: !0:00~16:00 (Bakery)
11:30~ 13:00, last orders (Restaurant)
Closed on Sundays and last week of August

BEAU CIEL

Service: Pro and attentive
Facilities and Equipment: Extremely clean. Superb separate washrooms!
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Elegant restaurant and French gastronomy. Superb panoramic view of Shizuoka from Mount Fuji to the Suruga Bay.
Building entirely non-smoking!

BEAU CIEL
25F Sky Restaurant
GRANDAIR Bouquet Tokai
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi, 17-1, Aoi Tower, 25F (right across from Shizuoka JR Station North exit)
Tel.: 054-273-5250
Fax: 054-273-5251
Opening hours: Lunch 11:30~14:30, Tea Time-14:30~17:30, Dinner-17:30~21:00
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

BISTRO OKAMURA

Service: Friendly if a bit shy.
Equipment & Facilities: Japanese traditional restaurant very clean overall. Cute washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fish! Gastronomic bistro-style. Extensive use of local products and catch. Reasonably-priced wine list
Entirely non-smoking!
Private rooms available.

BISTRO OKAMURA
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 1-5-2
Tel.: 054-669-2087
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:30~23:00
Closed on Sundays and Monday lunch
Credit Cards OK
Counter: 5 seats, 4 private rooms (up to 8 seats each)
Entirely non-smoking!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie

Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting reasonable wine and cider list.

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00 (last orders, 21:30)
10:00~21:00 on Sundays (last orders, 20:30)
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG</strong> (Japanese)
Non-smoking until 15:00
Credit Cards OK

CHEZ SATSUKAWA

Service: Very friendly and easy-going, more professional in the “room”.
Facilities: Very Clean and beautiful washroom!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: French food in Izakaya style. Great sake and wines! Extensive use of local ingredients!

CHEZ SATSUKAWA
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kooya Machi, 4-9, Matsunaga Kooya Machi Bldg, 2F
Tel.: 054-205-5133
Business hours: 12:00~14:30, 17:30~23:00 (22:00 on Sundays)
Closed on Mondays and Tuesday for lunch
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

GRILL KURAMOTO

Service: A bit shy but friendly
Equipment: Great general cleanliness. Beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Interesting combination of French and Japanese bistro-style cuisine. Traditional tarts and cakes.
Entirely non-smoking!

Grill-Kuraramoto
420-0081 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Gofuku-cho, 2-5-17
Tel.: 054-255-3090
Business hours: 11:30^14:00, 17:30~20:00
Closed on Wednesdays and 3rd Tuesday
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

LAVIGNE (French Wines & Food Stand Bar)

Service: Very friendly and easy-going
Facilities: Very clean. Large beautiful Washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: French wines only. Great snacks.
Entirely non-smoking!

LAVIGNE
420-0852, Shizuoka City, Aoi-Ku, Kooya Machi, 17-2, 1F (2 minutes walk from JR Station)
Tel/fax: 054-205-4181
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

HARMONY

Service: Easy-going and friendly
Facilities: Good general cleanliness
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Most of ingredients are local!
Entirely non-smoking!

HARMONY
438-0831, Shizuoka Ken, Iwata Shi, Kamishinya, 499-1
Tel.: 0538-21-1511
Fax: 0538-21-1515
Business hours: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~21:00
Closed on Mondays, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays
Big parking available
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

HENRI GALETTE

Service: Kind and easy-going
Facilities: very clean overall. Clean washroom (shared with another shop)
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: True French-style galettes and crepes! Cidre available. Local vegetables used.

HENRY GALETTE
470-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 1-12-1, Aobaen Bidg., 1F
Tel.: 054-260-6116
Opening hours: 11:00~18:00
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Hot Springs Spa Resorts in Shizuoka Prefecture: Yoshiharu Hotel in Izu Peninsula! 2: Dinner

Service: Smiling and attentive
Facilities & Equipment: Traditional and ancient, partly renovated, but extremely clean. Great washrooms. Spacious lobby with free coffee et al.
Prices: Appropriate to expensive. Cheaper on weekdays and in low seasons.
Strong points: Great baths overall. Private outdoors bath in rooms. Local gastronomy with local products.

Right from the beginning of a very pleasant dinner one understands that Yoshiharu Hotel does make an effort to use local products as much as possible!
Mind you, it is not too difficult when you know the wealth of the land and the nearby seashores!

No, this is not the main dish, but the main appetizers!

Salmon, salmon roe and grated Japanese yam.

Marinated scabbard fish.

White-flesh fish sashimi, sweet shrimp and raw cuttle fish.

A general view also featuring a small cup of umeshu/Japanese plum wine, and portable hot pot.

Local Fuji no Kuni Pork!

Scallops balls!

Umeshu!

Stewed persimmon, gingko nuts, deep-fried kabocha, shrimp caviar, yam, fried rice talks and vegetable tofu!

Deep-fried scabbard fish.

Oyster rice!

Shark fin and egg soup.

Pork cooking in its pot!

Home-made pickles.

Red miso soup with scallops balls.

The stewed pork with vegetables and red miso is ready!

Home-made sorbet!

See you at breakfast next!

YOSHIHARU HOTEL
Izu No Kuni City, Nagaoka, 989-10
Get down at Izu Nagaoka Station along the Izu Hakone Railway Line (leaving form Mishima City). Take a taxi (under 1,000 yen)
Tel.: 055-948-1212
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

French & Italian Gastronomy: Seminar by Wasabi No Kai in Shizuoka City!

Asabi No Kai or Wasabi Meetup is a non-profit association of chefs, producers and gastronomes based mainly in Central Shizuoka Prefecture.
The basic purpose of this Meetup is to promote the products and gastronomy of Shizuoka Prefecture as well as visiting producers and make their products better known and to promote Shizuoka Gastronomy in general to the public.
A regular event is held on the last Tuesday of every month.

On October 29th, most members met at Il Castagno Italian Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City for a seminar to share cooking techniques and ideas.

The seminar had started at 11:00 a.m. and due to work I could join only an hour later and missed a fes demonstrations including the above wild boar tagliatelle,wild boar sauteed and amago trout soup!

An attentive auditoire composed of some of the most famous chefs in central Shizuoka Prefecture, be they specializing in French, Italian, Sapnish and even Chinese gastronomies!

Chef Kakiyama of Al Forte Restaurant!

Wild Boar Belly Confit!

The wild boar had been confit to soften its fat and had been pasted with a mixture of cheese, breadcrumbs, mustard.
Served with sauteed fresh shiitake mushrooms and cress, with a persimmon sauce!

Chef Onoda of Caravin!

Amagi Shamo quenelles!

The quenelles (as of the fish or meat dumplings prepared in Lyon, France) had been made with various parts of Amagi Shamo Chicken bred at Horie Poultry Farm in Amagi, Izu Peninsula. The soup had been made with fresh shiitake mushrooms from Amagi!

Ballotine of foie gars and Amagi Shamo chicken breast served home-made pain d’epices (Dijon-style ginger bread).

Beautiful design! Ballotine made with foie gras and chicken is difficult because of the different texture!

Amagi Shamo Chicken beats lacquered with steamed pilaf!

seasoned with finely shredded fresh wasabi root!

Chef Sugimoto of Tetsuya Sugimoto Restaurant!

Amago trout, marinated between “knse” sheets and aromatic herbes over minced satoimo/taro root and gobo/burdock!

Includes olive oil, white wine vinegar, orange olive oil, and salted water jelly!

Amagi Amago trout pre-cooked (5 minutes) and maronated, sauce tapioca, salt, olive oil, sesame seeds, breadcrumbs, salt seaweed/shio konbu, shirasu/whiting!

Sudach1 lemon mousse, with sauce made of sesame oil, salt, balsamic vinegar. Wasabi zuke sorbet. Tomatoes marinated in salt, white wine vinegar and olive oil!

Sauce similar to a home-made mayonnaise. Fresh herbs include dill, lsauteed ucolla roots, taragon!

Chef Sugimoto holding “Komotake” also called “Makomo” or “Hanagatsumi”/”Manchurian Wild Rice” stems, a great vegetable only started to be actively grown in Shizuoka Prefecture!

The venison was first marinated in liquid bamboo charcoal to give it the aspect of a black round stone!”

Venison with Komotake!

The komotake was served both steamed then fried. Th venison was seasoned with milk sauce!

Fried komotake chips astride the steamed stem of the same!

The shiitake were cooked in fond de veau/veal stock, red wine vinegar and Madeira wine!

See you next month!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City