湖鏡 — Restaurant in Kumamoto

We chose this restaurant as it’s right next door to the ryokan we stayed at, and it turned out to be an amazing surprise!

The restaurant is beautifully decorated in an elegant Western style. Although there wasn’t any menu online so we didn’t have much expectation, it ended up being a very refined and memorable dining experience.

The meal felt like a Western‑style omakase — beautifully presented dishes made with fresh, local ingredients that tasted fantastic. Everyone we met was so polite and friendly. The elegant lady who served us kindly tried to describe each dish in English, which we appreciated a lot. We also met the owner, who spoke good English and was very nice and talkative.

Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience — we’re so glad we came! Highly recommended for anyone visiting the area.

*Reservation needed — we asked our hotel in Fukuoka to help call and book two...

I had a great experience here. Partly because of a very helpful and energetic waitress and also because of great food. I made my reservation through a conversation on Facebook.

When the appetizer was served and I told her my wife was pregnant and cannot eat raw foods, she immediately made changes to the dishes.

I thought the beef was really nice. Even more unforgettable than the red beef bowl I ate at Mount Aso.

The server also noted that my wife did not finish the sardines in oil and checked if there was anything wrong with it.

If there's anything, it is a rather far walk from the tram station and especially on a cold day in December. Still, I found the decor and ambience really nice. It's really a nice place for dates. I can imagine having a meal outdoor during summer with the nice view...

My husband and I came to see Kumamoto, strolled through the park, and spotted this wonderful cafe! We wanted to have a cup of coffee on the veranda. We were served by a very pleasant waitress! We were a little confused with the check because we don't speak Japanese, but another woman helped us figure it out. Thank you so much! We hope to come back again to try the food...