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Teppanyaki Koyo-Tei Restaurant
Teppanyaki is a type of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook food. The word "Teppanyaki" is derived from "teppan" which means "iron plate" and "yaki" which means "grilled." Located on the 21st floor of the Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel and Towers is the exclusive Teppanyaki Koyo-Tei Restaurant. Whilst the food was fantastic, both from a presentation and taste point of view, and the views of Osaka Bay and Kansai Airport were magnificent, it's not the cheapest restaurant in Kobe but it doesn't aim to be. From the sophisticated decor, to the beautiful tableware, to the "your glass will never be empty" service, you're in for a real treat at Koyo-Tei. We went there for lunch because the lunch meals were more than half price compared to the dinner menu. You have the choice of either al le carte or set menu selections; we opted for a set menu. The set menus range from ¥6,000 - ¥12,000 and the food is fresh - perhaps a little too fresh for some; the prawns were brought to the table still kicking on the skewer. We started with a sashimi dish with a roe dressing, followed by scallops and prawns, next came the Kobe beef and garlic chips, the vegetables, the salad and finally the miso. In what seems to to be a Japanese Teppanyaki tradition, desert was served in a separate room, looking out over Rokko Island and the bay. Traditional Japanese Teppanyaki isn't the flash affair that Western style Teppanyaki has become; don't expect the chef to flick food at you, or, to juggle knives. However, do expect some delightfully prepared dishes with an equal emphasis on preparation and taste.
La Gondola Italian Restaurant
An Italian restaurant located on the 5th floor of the Kobe Fashion Mart. The chef is Italian and the restaurants open, bright and sparsely decorated decor gives it more of a diner feel than a formal restaurant. This is not a dark or romantic setting: think booths and a few tables. The food was good, the ingredients fresh and it made a welcome change from the fried fare we had been having; particularly the big salad, although it did have slightly too much dressing. The servings weren't huge but they were certainly adequate and reasonably priced. Whilst waiting for our food we had a few moments to soak up the atmosphere, the Italian music in the background, the smell of traditional Italian dishes being prepared wafting through the dining area and the understated decor gave the impression of a well run establishment. The extensive menu of pizzas, pastas, grills and deserts is a delight and sufficient to whet anyone’s appetite. They had a good specials list, all at ¥900, and the menu was available in English. There was only one server, but it wasn't very busy, so we didn't have to wait very long for our meal. Pasta - Specials (¥900)
Other dishes include the standard Italian fare of;
Kazamidori Restaurant
Kazamidori is a nice Japanese restaurant on the 5th floor of the Kobe Fashion Mart. Kazamidori means "weathervane" in Japanese and the menu provides a mix of eastern and western style tastes; from the traditional fried pork, rice, omelettes to big tasty sundaes. The restaurant was clean and well lit and the food was good. Each table had a buzzer that rang in the kitchen when you wanted service, and they were prompt in responding to the buzzer as they had plenty of wait staff on. They also seemed to cater well for families, with colouring/activity books for the kids. No English menus though so we did the point in the window trick. Each table also had a fortune vending machine. You put in your month and year of birth, along with ¥50, and it would dispense your fortune. Only problem though was that it is in Japanese, so we don't know what our fortune said. However, it was a bit of fun while we were waiting for our meals. Prices ranges from ¥700-¥1500 for main meals.
This page was last updated on 02-Apr-2009. |
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