Sun Dynamic Kitchen & Bar (Modern Japanese)

Nissei Building, Phoenix Tower 27 F, 4-15-10 Nishitenma, Kita-ku, Osaka / 06-6367-5512 / 11:30-14:00 / 17:00-22:30 (LO; Weekends 21:30) / Yen 9000 / 6.5 pickels / ¥¥

This Modern Japanese is an interesting option for business entertainment and a romantic evening alike

The Sun is one of the more interesting restaurants in Osaka. Located on the 27F of the Nissei building with spectacular views on downtown Osaka, the place impresses you once you set foot in it. The ambience is stunning and feels warm despite of the ultra-modern interior design. You have the choice of Tatami rooms and counter seats, but we prefer the tables in front of the counter, which offer the best views.

The menu includes more traditional Japanese fare like Sashimi. However their 'Sun Original' dishes, which one may call Modern Japanese, are where the kitchen really shines. A must eat is the Yosei Tofu, add your choice of condiments and enjoy the creamy and fresh taste of the Tofu.

Most of the menu is in Japanese, but at least the non-seasonal dishes have an English 'title'. And if you are lucky, you may occasionally find an English-speaking waiter. The selection of wines is rather limited, unfortunately. The only downside of the place is the service, which generally is rather inattentive. Also don't come too late, as some products may be out of stock, as it happened to us a couple of times already,

Be sure to make your reservation in advance, since the place is popular. The Sun adds to your bill a Yen 800 table charge and a 10% service charge.

Food: 6.5 Service: 5 Ambience: 9 Total: 6.5 pickles

Website: http://www.gnavi.co.jp/dynac/sun/

over garden (Eclectic)

4-36 Yokai-cho, Nishinomiya/0798-32-2567/11:30-14:00,14:00-16:00 (teatime)17:30-22:00(L.O21:00)
/¥4000-6000/6 pickles/

"o(umlat)ver garden" (pronounced "woo ba rey gor den" ) offers healthy natural cuisine in a breezy modern Scandinavian setting.

It's difficult to find "över gården" at first. It looks like a furniture showroom. Although situated along a typical street of Japanese houses, shops, and warehouses, the interior succeeds in conjuring the spare warmth of scandinavian design. You can see someone put their heart into this place. From a blond wood table, you see only the sleek open kitchen and, through large plate glass windows, a lovely garden in the back.

In keeping with the light touch of the decor, this restaurant offers natural and healthy food in an eclectic French/Italian style. They contract several farmers to get top quality vegetables and eggs. Although not all materials are organic, the approach is decidedly so. Like the room, the food is a not unpleasant surprise. Though not likely to be a smash hit, the restaraunt is deservedly a modest success.

Lunch starts from ¥1500 that comes with salad, pasta, home-made bread, dessert and coffee(or other drinks). On weekends they offer ¥1800 and 2500 yen lunch courses. Their dinner courses start from ¥2,500 (salad, main course (fish or meat), home-made bread and coffee (or other drinks). When we went, we very much enjoyed main courses consisting of "fish farci (foie gras and vegetable puree inside)" and "meat stew (with beef, pork and chicken)". They also have ¥3,800 and ¥5,000 courses as well as a la carte menu. Service is not bad, but not sophisticated or particularly attentive. Their wine selection is small but very reasonable. English is not spoken, and there is no English menu. This one is probably better for lunch - it is particularly nice on a sunny day. Clickhere for their homepage.

Food: 6.5 Service: 5.5 Ambience: 7 Total: 6 pickles

How to get there: It's on Sakagura-dori in Nishinomiya. From Kobe, take R43 and turn right at "Honmachi" crossing (R43/Futaba-suji). Turn left at the next big crossing (Futaba-suji st./Sakagura-dori st.). Pass two blocks and it's on your left. Parking available. (The landmark near this restaurant is a big red sign of Japanese sake brand written " 日本盛"(nihonsakari)).

The Garden Oriental Soshuen (Fusion)

4-7-28 Sumiyoshi Yamate, Higashi Nada ku, Kobe/ 078-851-9898 / Lunch 11:30〜15:00/Dinner 18:00〜22:30/Yen 7500 / 7 pickels / ¥¥

An Asian retreat in 5-min walk vicinity from Hankyu Mikage station.

This restaurant is a sister restaurant of "The House of Pacific" in Kitano (see our review!). It was originally built as a second house for a Japanese zaibatsu family in 1934 and then converted into a Chinese restaurant after WWII before being remodeled into its present form in 2001. On entering, you climb several wide dark-wood steps (in the evening they put small tea candles on those steps) to find a big house standing behind a well-manicured Japanese garden. The effect is dramatic, particularly with tiki torches and candles in the evening. (It was another hot summer day when I went, and could easily imagine we were in Bali!). Inside has something of the feel of a Japanese house furnished by expats, but it's not overdone and quite tasteful. Separated from the main dining areas is a bar where you can even enjoy a post-prandial cigar. They also have a second floor, but it seems that is mainly for wedding parties -- which they promote agressively on their website.

Unfortunately, the Garden Oriental is one of those fashionable places that puts more emphasis on "total experience" than food. All dishes I tried were very good, and were well presented, but nothing was stunning or memorable. and service was not as good as its sister restaurant. The dishes are eclectic, though mainly French influenced. Mainstream fare includes "foie gras sautee with marsala wine sauce", "beef carpaccio with semi-dried tomato and caper salsa", "potato gnocci with gorgonzola sauce", "grilled whole fish with lemon and olives", and "lamb roast with dried strawberry sauce". In addition to reasonably priced a la carte options, dinner courses start at 6500 yen (including 8 dishes!).

Despite our quibbles with the food and service, the Garden Oriental still manages to deliver a romantic evening that is likely to please all but the most demanding couples. English menu available. Some English spoken.

Food: 6.5 Service: 6 Ambience: 8 Total: 7 pickels

How to get there: Walk towards mountains for 5 min from Hankyu Mikage Station. Right after you see the fire station on your left, you see the entrance on your right.

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.