Sa Sa (Modern Japanese)

Gendaiorange Bld 4F, 1-9-1, Minamihorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka / 06-6533-3113 / 11:00-16:00 / 17:00-24:00 / Yen 6000 / 7.5 pickels / ¥¥

A serious contender for the 'most beautiful' food in Osaka

Sa Sa 'New & Traditional Recipes Wafu Table' is located on the 4th floor of Gendaiorange Bld. in Minamihorie, just above the BaliLax. And it's not less spectacular. The interior design combines traditional and modern Japanese elements. They have some secluded tables for your romantic dinner, but I prefer the ones with a view on the pool of BaliLax just below.

The menu offers a large variety of dishes, including more traditional fare. But their 'fusion' cuisine clearly dominates. The food presentation is in a class of its own, with some creations almost too beautiful to eat. Once you dare to destroy this art, you are not disappointed either.

If there is something to improve, it's the service. It's not bad, and everything we ordered was served properly and promptly, but we would have appreciated if a bit more attention would have been paid to us. Maybe it had to do with the fact that we were a group of foreigners and they were scared of us because of their limited English skills.

All in all a great place, making the Gendaiorange building the 'style leader' of Osaka's restaurant scene.

No English menu.

Food: 7 Service: 6 Ambience: 9 Total: 7.5 Pickels

HOW TO GET THERE: By car - On Hanshin Expressway Nr. 3 (Kobe Line) take exit Awaza. Go to the left following Chuo-dori till you reach the junction Naniwa-suji. Make a right turn and go down Naniwa-suji. After crossing Nagahori-dori turn left to Orange Road, which is probably the seventh street on your left. The Gendaiorange Bld is at the end of Orange Road on the left.

Giovanni (Italian)

Ashiya 10 Address Building 1F, 10-10 Kohmitsu-cho, Ashiya / 0797-35-0855 / 11:30-14:30 / 18:00-22:30 (last order 21:30) Closed Wed. / Yen 7000 / 6 pickels / ¥¥

Casual Italian next to Hanshin Ashiya Station

Giovanni is not the place for that special dinner, but one that we often visit when we decide to eat out on a short notice. The ambience is casual and simple, but pleasant. And reservations are usually not required.

The food at Giovanni is a safe bet, with consistent quality and partially creative. They use spices generously, so that food tastes hearty, unlike so many restaurants that believe catering to the Japanese palate means using no salt. The menu includes a la carte and 2 set menus, with the Yen 4000 course clearly offering the best value. It consists of an appetizer, pasta, main course, dessert and coffee.

The wine list offers a decent choice of Italian wines in various price categories. The service is quick and efficient, patiently introducing the Japanese menu from the chalkboard.

No English menu, no English spoken.

Food: 6.5 | Service: 6 | Ambience: 6 | Total:6

HOW TO GET THERE: Take the north exit of Hanshin Ashiya Station, cross the street and walk to the north for 30 meters. Giovanni is on the corner on the ground floor. By car from Kobe: on route 2 cross Ashiya river. Turn right not into the street on the banks of the river, but just after the Koban. Giovanni is on the left corner across the street of the next big junction.→This restaurant was moved to a new location. It is located on the street behind Fratello, along the Hanshin rail tracks.