Hangetsuan

This was a few months ago. The food was pretty good, and I think the chef had prepared it with enthusiasm. But I wasn’t satisfied with the service. The woman talked so much that she didn’t give us time to eat, then asked my age. I avoided giving a direct answer and said approximately how old I was. She criticized me and used discriminatory terms. I don’t understand why she thought that was okay. I paid a lot and was a customer. I paid not to be discriminated against.

I hadn’t expected much from restaurants near a major tourist attraction, but this hotel restaurant pleasantly surprised me. The lunch sets were delicious, nicely presented, and very good value. The waitresses were warm and courteous. At the end, I had a nice conversation with a friendly man who turned out to be the owner. I’d love to come back.

A short walk from Kintai bridge, this place serves excellent local food in a lovely old building surrounded by Japanese gardens. Our hostess was wonderful, very helpful and full of information about each dish and the origin of its ingredients. It was a true five-star dining experience.

The food was so good, and the manager was very friendly and gave us lots of ideas for places to visit nearby. The room was basic, but had everything we needed. I’d love to return in another season.