Service: a bit shy but extremely attentive and informative
Equipment & Facilities: spotless clean. Superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking.
Prices: reasonable, especially at lunch
Strong points: Authentic Italian cuisine created mainly with superb local products. Excellent wine and grappa list with judicious suggestions from the sommelier
We finally found the opportunity to visit Chef/owner Masaru Aoki’s new Italian Restaurant, Gentile, in Shizuoka City!
It is located where another Italian restaurant stood in the vicinity of Isetan whose owner suddenly had to go back to Tokyo for family reasons.
You had better reserve as this place can become very busy, especially at lunch time!
For dinner you can choose between set courses or individual dishes a la carte, or just come for a drink!
It has completely refurbished along a triple concept.
First a standing bar for customers only willing to partake of wine or spirits.
A counter with chairs for guests who come alone or wish to share a word with the chef and his sommelier.
Third tables with sofa and chairs for couples or groups wishing for more private comfort!
As for white wine (after a glass of Italian sparkling wine) we first ordered a bottle of Il Civettaio, Vermentino!
An unfiltered biological white wine with a beautiful color, splendid aroma and superb balance!
To accompany the sparkling wine we were offered a light salad made of finely cut local vegetables and wheat!
The first dish consisted of seared saury pike and sauteed horse mackerel from Suruga Bay and local marinated vegetables!
Of course all the bread is house-baked!
Extravagant aged Parma ham and raw mushrooms grown in Shizuoka Prefecture!
A dish difficult to find even in Tokyo: Sauteed black bass with renkon/lotus root from Asabata District in Shizuoka City!
And then it was time to order a red wine:
A nectar with an unusual name, Banshee! Created with Sangiovese grapes grown in Maremma, Toscana!
A discovery!
The main dish!
Vegetables all local and mainly organic, including three kinds of tuber!
Succullent “minonegyuu” beef from animals bred at Hina Farm in Hamamatsu City!
Masaru’s special pasta with fresh Piemonte black truffles!
Masaru’s desserts are known all over town!
And don’t forget to check the impressive grappa and homemade liqueurs on offer!
The beginning of a long love story!
GENTILE
Chef/Owner: Masaru Aoki青木勝さん. Sommelier: Shyoujirou Sano/佐野将士郎
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryougae Cho, 1-3-39, MA kan, 1F
Tel.: 054-255-5577
Opening hours: 12:00~14:30, 17:30~22:00
Closed on Thursdays
Credit cards OK
Parties welcome
Reservations highly recommended
RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES
So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents
HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City
SHIZUOKA GOURMET 