I had an incredible meal at Den on September 1st, which also happened to be my birthday. Getting a reservation takes some effort, but it’s absolutely worth it. The staff were warm and thoughtful, and I even got to meet the chef and Puchi 🐶, which made the evening even more special.
Food Highlights
– The monaka (puff pastry with anzu plum, red bean and foie gras) was a standout. Perfectly crunchy and held together better than I expected.
– The DFC was fine but didn’t blow me away—probably because I’d seen it hyped so much beforehand. We had it with stuffed matsutake mushrooms, which felt a little under-seasoned.
– A white fish (Suzuki) served in broth instead of turtle soup was calming and beautifully balanced.
– Though I am not a huge fan of salads, I still liked the playful salad which highlighted various textures, seasonal veggies and cooking techniques.
– The edamame agedashi was a surprise hit, with an amazing texture.
– The final rice course (with corn) was excellent, very much in the spirit of classic kaiseki.
– The dessert course felt a bit flat, but I wasn’t expecting much—kaiseki desserts tend to focus more on subtlety than show.
Overall Impression
I’d give the experience a 9.5/10. I’ll definitely go back. The food was excellent, but what really made the night memorable was the atmosphere and the genuine hospitality.
by one_with_no_opinions
2 Comments
It doesn’t get much better than a 9.5/10! We scored a reservation for next week – can’t wait!
It’s not only about the food, but how everything comes together. The staff there is great and it’s a lot of fun. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.