01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
The lotus root kinpira has a satisfying crunch in every bite. At Gekkou in Arakichō, seasonal vegetables and fish are served in small plates, making it easy to sample a range of dishes with sake. One diner described an appetiser assortment enjoyed as part of a lighter course, with dishes including vegetables simmered in dashi, a vinegar-dressed salad of fresh seaweed, and lotus root kinpira. The selection ranged from vegetable sides that brought out the flavour of the stock to a dish balancing seaweed’s savoury notes with the sharpness of vinegar. For those keen to try several appetisers, another diner mentioned an assortment of five. Some diners also look forward to the seasonal appetiser served with drinks and the menchi-katsu; the changing offerings make each day’s selection part of the appeal.
For a meal centred on fish, starting with assorted sashimi is one option. A diner who tried salt-seared bonito, horse mackerel and sea bream on a visit recalled the bonito’s smoky aroma and the sea bream’s pleasantly springy texture. The menu also lists dishes featuring Pacific bluefin tuna, Shimane Prefecture Japanese flying squid and yellowtail from Kumamoto Prefecture. You can order individual dishes or opt for a three-piece sashimi selection to sample several kinds of fish.
There is plenty of variety among the dishes to enjoy with drinks. The dashi-rolled omelette with whitebait and Japanese parsley, and the taro and beef croquettes, make more substantial choices; smoked daikon with cream cheese and seared spicy cod roe are smaller bites to accompany a drink. The menu lets you shape the meal around your appetite and what you feel like eating. Choosing sake one serving at a time, with advice on the labels, is another way to enjoy the selection. Diners have mentioned receiving recommendations to match their dishes, and one sought advice starting with a preference for sake served lukewarm. Wine is also available for evenings when you would rather choose something other than sake.
If you are planning a more substantial meal, consider saving room for rice. The menu also lists rice cooked with oysters from Hiroshima Prefecture and ginger. It can round off a meal focused on drinks and small plates, or be part of a fuller dinner. Gekkou serves dinner and accepts reservations. As dinner bookings are recommended, it may be worth enquiring about a table in advance.
