Cucina Itameshi — Restaurant in Vienna

Fusion cuisine can be magic—when done right, it’s like watching two cultures dance. But at Cucina Itameshi, it sometimes feels more like a polite handshake where no one really knows what to say.

I came in full of curiosity and moderately high hopes. First up: the Udon Cacio e Pepe. A brilliant concept in theory. In practice? A portion so small it could’ve been plated with tweezers, and a flavor profile so mild it whispered gently and then vanished. If a pasta dish could apologize for existing, this one would.

The wasabi salad was the real surprise—punchy, vibrant, and full of flavor. Honestly, I was halfway convinced it wandered in from another restaurant. The grilled yakiniku chicken was also solid: juicy, charred just right, and mercifully not trying to be anything it wasn’t. Just chicken. Doing its job. For €26.50, I appreciated its effort.

Now let’s talk about the €6.50 per person table charge—because nothing says “welcome” like a cover fee for the privilege of sitting at your table and not running away when you see the menu prices. All in, I paid more than I should have for less food than I needed, and left considering a second dinner.

On the bright side, Celina—our server—was absolutely fantastic. Warm, knowledgeable, and the kind of person who could talk you into ordering anything. If you do go, ask for her. Seriously. She deserves to work at a place that doesn’t charge rent for the chair you're sitting in.

The vibe? Trendy, sleek, and just the right amount of pretentious to let you know you're in a restaurant that wants you to know you’re in a restaurant. It’s definitely more "Instagram story" than "comfort meal." And while it may ride high on the popularity of the Mochi group name, I couldn’t help but feel like the hype outweighs the substance here.

Final verdict: come for the aesthetics, stay for Celina, and maybe eat somewhere else...

Our experience exceeded expectations! The concept is quite common nowadays, but they execute it well. The atmosphere is enhanced by the open kitchen.

We had sourdough bread with miso butter for the Carpaccio, which was a must-try and an amazing combination! The miso and wasabi twists worked perfectly in a well-rounded fusion dish. The Udon Cacio e Pepe met our expectations with its juicy and balanced, elegant flavors. However, the portion size did not seem consistent with the price, even though we ordered the large portion and they are handmade in-house.

The Yakiniku Chicken was well-cooked, maintaining juiciness with a perfect crust. Personally I expected something more special from the sauce and flavors, especially given the restaurant's focus on unique combinations. But my girlfriend just loved it. We give credit where credit is due!

The Tiramisu was a well-rounded dessert—smooth, juicy, fresh, and sweet enough to end the night pleasantly.

Viviana took great care of us, being attentive and going above and beyond in certain situation.

Overall, we enjoyed our dinner date at Cucina Itameshi and hope they add and rotate dishes so we can try new ones. Would we return and recommend the restaurant to...

We visited Cucina Itameshi as a group of four and had reserved ahead of time. The place is usually booked and tables are hard to get for dinner. Also be aware that the slots are for two hours only; if you come after 7PM it is open end.

The place is the next star in the firmament of Mochi. Blending together Italian and Japanese cuisine. The dishes are all talian classics with an Japanese twist.

When you step in you are greeted by the gorgeous open kitchen and the impressive open fire grill.

We had quite the journey of flavours and tried as much as possible from the menu. Starting off with the Tuna Tataki, Tuna Tartar, the Burrata, and XO Beef Carpaccio. Of these starters the XO Beef and the Tuna Tartar were simply gorgeous - almost tempted to order them again.

Followed by the lovely Tortellini in an amazing ramen like broth. As main we had the buttery and tender whole Chicken Miso pared with the mouth watering Rib eye prepared to perfection over open fire.

The crowning finale was done by the amazing Tiramisu - one of the best in Vienna.

The service is the real star of the show at this place. Always attentive, quick with serving, always keeping an eye out for the customer.

All in all a definite...