It's a delicious unagi restaurant 😊

I visited for the first time as one of the little luxuries I enjoy a few times a year. When I called to reserve the day before, they arranged a nice seat in the tatami area even though it was a holiday, and I could enjoy my meal peacefully. This time, I had 鰻重, 肝焼き, and 肝吸い. The 鰻重 was fragrantly grilled, with plump, tender flesh. It was well balanced with the sauce and satisfyingly delicious. The 肝焼き was fragrant too, and the 肝吸い had a refined flavor; both complemented the 鰻重. The amount of rice was just right, neither too much nor too little, and I enjoyed it to the last bite. They also offered complimentary coffee after the meal, and I was happy to linger and savor the experience at a relaxed pace. It gets busy at lunchtime, so I think reserving makes things smoother. To shorten the wait after ordering and account for dishes selling out, they also ask what you want when you reserve, so I recommend deciding beforehand (they said you can also reserve your seats first and call later with your order). I had requested 鰻重, 肝焼き, and 肝吸い. You can grab unagi quickly at a department store restaurant, but enjoying it at an independently owned specialist restaurant brings a different level of satisfaction. The prices certainly aren't cheap, but this was a place I found fully worthwhile as a luxury a few times a year. I'd like to visit again.

+2

This is たけ田, a relatively new specialist unagi restaurant that has recently been gaining recognition in the Tachikawa area, about a 10-minute walk from the south exit of Tachikawa Station. It hasn't been established all that long. I've seen posts saying around 2012, but that needs to be confirmed with the owner. The selling point of the unagi at たけ田 is 「活きうなぎ」, with an uncompromising emphasis on freshness. Live eels are cleaned and grilled just before you eat them; たけ田 offers an irresistible luxury for unagi fans. I visited たけ田 to try this exceptionally fresh unagi. The interior has spacious, tastefully arranged tatami seating and tables, making it ideal for spending precious time with family or friends. An acquaintance recommended it to me, and many people said it could be used for modest business entertaining; I agree with that opinion. After ordering the live eel and waiting about 30 minutes, the unagi I had come for was served. The eel is from Shizuoka Prefecture. It's domestic eel with firm flesh. When you put your chopsticks into it, you can feel its fluffiness through them. Unfortunately, the eel skin catches slightly on the chopsticks when cutting the flesh. With the first bite, what spreads through my mouth is the bitterness of charring. I find myself wondering, “Hmm?” Perhaps the heat is far too strong, but the charred flavor stands out too much. The sauce is neither sweet nor salty, a neutral flavor that doesn't assert itself. Its taste resembles the sauce at 桜屋 in Mishima. With the bitter charred flavor added, it may be a taste some people like. The rice is cooked on the soft side, certainly not in a way that makes its deliciousness stand out. The specialist chain 「うなとと」 cooks its rice much more deliciously. Lunch includes salad and coffee, and the coffee was delicious and a good palate cleanser. My impression after the meal: the restaurant itself has a very good atmosphere. Perhaps it focused too much on 「活きうなぎ」, but the way the eel was grilled did not suit my taste. For adults with discerning palates who can enjoy the pairing with bitterness from charring, this would be a connoisseur's flavor. The pairing of an uncomplicated, plain, modest sauce with bitter unagi might also receive great praise. Preferences will probably differ over how those accents are added. Given its pleasant atmosphere, I think this restaurant is suitable for business entertaining.

+3

Since it was 土用の丑の日, I had うな重の桜 (1 whole eel). I thought it would probably be very difficult to get in without a reservation, but there was a heavy downpour around noon, and when I went after the rain stopped, I was lucky enough to get in without waiting. The sauce here isn't sweet, which brings out the fragrant charcoal-grilled flavor and lets you really taste the eel. It was nice to spend lunchtime in the spacious tatami area.

I came for lunch with my wife. Apparently, reservations are required because you need to order in advance. It was our first visit, so I didn't know, and while I was flustered at the entrance, a staff member asked, “Do you have a reservation?” Uh-oh!! Purely by chance, there was space available, and they arranged seats for us. We had the recommended 活うな重, 肝吸い, 肝焼き, and 生牡蠣, and everything was outstanding. Without a doubt, the eel was among the very best I've ever eaten. The coffee after the meal was a nice touch too. A luxurious lunch with my wife after a long time. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you!

+2