Lucca (Italian)

3-6-23 Motoyama Nakamachi Higashinada-ku, Kobe/078-436-7155/ /18:00-Closed Tue/ Yen 5000/6 pickels / ¥¥

A corner Italian eatery in Settsu Motoyama.

The locals must be conspiring to keep Lucca to themselves, because despite having our ear to the ground it escaped our attention until quite recently. This restaurant is simple, but good. There is a counter for 8 and tables for no more than 20. Aromatic steam wafts from an open kitchen, and roughly finished egg-wash walls convey a rustic, almost familial warmth.

Lucca's dishes are uncomplicated but savory. Their appetizers range from authentically Italianate parma ham and marinated octopus to traditionally French foie gras sautee. Usually there are 5 or 6 pastas from which to choose, classics like spaghetti with mushroom cream sauce to the more Japanized dishes such as "peperocini mizuna (Kyoto veg) and flying fish eggs (a local delicacy)". The main courses consist primarily of rustic fare such as roasted young chicken and grilled lamb. Everything is simple and hearty. Those who know real Italian food in Italy, however, may question the authenticity.

Like the food, Lucca's wine list is also Franco Italian. Decent wines can be had by the glass and half-bottle and we found the prices quite reasonable. Service is efficient, but there is no English menu. Our main criticism is the location - this is the kind of place to you want around the corner. Because it is popular with the locals, you had best make reservations.

Food: 6 Service: 6 Ambience: 6 Total: 6 Pickels

HOW TO GET THERE: By car - On Route 2, turn to North (towards mountains side) at Shouji crossing (Yanase car dealer showcase is at the corner). It's on your left in 30 m. By train - Get off at JR Settsu motoyama. 10 min walk from the station.

Ron Steakhouse (Teppanyaki)

Steak Ron Bldg 1F 10-2 1chome Sonezaki Shinchi, Osaka / 06-6344-6664 / Lunch 11:30〜3:00 / Dinner 17:00〜22:30 / Closed on Sunday / Yen 20000 / 7.5 pickels / ¥¥¥¥¥

Bill Clinton's favorite Steakhouse in Osaka

Although there are many excellent Tappanyaki restaurants in Osaka's leading hotels, Ron in Kita-Shinchi remains my favorite. They are proud of having hosted Bill Clinton when he was still governor. Well, as a pleasure loving man he must have enjoyed this.

Ron feels warm and cozy with brown leather couches arranged around the cooking tables, where seasoned chefs will prepare some of the best Teppanyaki around. The menu offers various courses, starting from just under Yen 10000. Definitely not cheap, but all dishes from appetizer to dessert are prepared with the attention to detail that you expect from pricey food. Of course the meat is first rate. The Kobe beef just melts in your mouth.

Their wine assortment includes some of the best bottles from the renowned winemakers in France, but also more moderate offers. On my last visit our waiter was happy to recommend good wines in perfect English, and continued offering a service that was close to perfection. Unobtrusive, but perfectly attentive, everything was there whenever we needed it.

Ron is a safe bet for pleasing your guests and yourself alike. For preserving this state just one hint - let your staff settle the bill.

English menu available, English spoken.

Update: On our recent visit that waiter about whom I raved earlier on, offered a service bordering rude. Maybe it had to do with the fact that we had no reservation and were dressed casually, whereas last time it was a formal business dinner. No smile, no attention being paid to us, English menu only offered upon request, had to ask for the wine list and call him with a loud 'excuse me' after he passed our table several times for getting some advise on the wine. Maybe he just had a bad day, but he shouldn't have too many of those... The good service by the chef at the table made up for that somewhat. Nevertheless for the time being we have to downgrade their rating and pull their star.

Food: 7.5 Service: 7 Ambience: 7.5 Total: 7.5 pickels

HOW TO GET THERE: In Kita-Shinchi along Route 1 (Route 2 from Kobe changes into 1 just before) between Yotsubashi Suji and Midosuji on the right. By train: exit Kita-Shinchi Station of JR Tozai Line, walk to the left for about 100 m. Ron is located on the ground floor along the main road and easy to spot.

Saigon Paris Garden (Vietnamese)

5-13 Omasu-cho, Ashiya / 0797-38-8351 / 11:45～13:30(L.O)/17:30～22:00(L.O)/Yen 4000 / 6.5 pickels / ¥

Fiery food under Ashiya's 2nd yellow star

Saigon Paris Garden is the younger sibling of Saigon Saigon in Nishiyama-cho, one of the rising stars of Ashiya's restaurant scene. From the outside it looks more like a makeshift Vietnamese army barrack than a restaurant. When you enter, that feeling doesn't entirely disappear, but once you look into the many happy faces in this usually crowded restaurant, you know that you have come to the right place.

The biggest advantage of Saigon Paris Garden is that, since the restaurant is only 3 months old, you still may be able to get a table even on a short notice. Saigon Saigon is already so popular that you need to make a reservation probably a week in advance. And although we haven't yet succeeded to dine at Saigon Saigon, we are confident enough to say that the younger sibling has grown fast and must already have reached the level of Saigon Saigon.

We can happily confirm that nothing here is Japanized. This is the real thing. Just order the oyster & squid sauté in spicy sauce and you will see. It's the ultimate conversation killer. And although this dish is so spicy that it sets your mouth ablaze, your chopsticks are curiously drawn to the plate again and again, adding more fuel to the fire. A little less spicy, but still with a tickle, is the morning glory in spicy sauce. For the fainthearted there are plenty of options too, like the catfish in lemongrass and chili, or the chicken in lemon sauce.

Paris has been added to the name of the restaurant since they have a few French dishes on the menu too, which we haven't yet tasted. The drink list includes a small, but adequate choice of wines, the infamous Vietnamese liquor Nep Moi, and Vietnamese beer (among others). The service is quick, efficient and eager to please.

English menu available, English spoken.

Food: 7 Service: 6 Ambience: 4 Total: 6.5 pickels

HOW TO GET THERE: Take the north exit of Hanshin Ashiya Station, cross the street and walk to the north. At the junction turn right and walk until you reach the next big junction. Saigon Paris Garden is across the street on the left. By car from Kobe: on Route 2 cross Ashiya river. After about 200m turn right at the next big junction. Drive down this road until you reach the next traffic light. Saigon Paris Garden is on this junction on the left.