Francetei Nagoya Esuka-ten — Restaurant in Nagoya

Venue: ESCA underground shopping mall. Furnished in retro western style. Not packed. Comfy seats. No queue on Saturday evening, so we tried this restaurant --- 7.2/10 Service: To be seated, and then given water and cutlery soon. I just took a glance at the male captain, and then he came to take orders for us. The other 2 waitresses were not so skillful. The sizzling plate was too heavy for her. She poured the sauces onto the table when the main was served. Food served in proper order. F&B: a full Japanese menu +a special Japanese and English. Japanese style steak on sizzling plate. Normal presentation. All sets from special menu were served with rice, soup, and salad. There were 4 options of rice sizes from 100g to 400gm. And, choose a sauce from 5 choices. Acceptable prices. Three sauces were ok. --- 6.9/10 Japanese Beef Rib Loin Cut steak, ¥2150: 100gm beef was very chewy and dry. No gravy left after the waitress poured it out when served. Clear soup was just like made from powder. Mixed salad with watery mayo was mediocre. Spaghetti and rice were ok --- 6.3/10. The steak from the full Japanese menu was better, at least not chewy. But no...

From the outside, it looks like any regular restaurant stall in a mall. Inside, you won't find any fancy chairs nor butlers serving hot rolls. So it was really a delight that our experience here turned out to be very memorable. We ordered the Japanese Beef Rib Loin Steak (240g) which already came with rice, soup and salad. I literally fell in love after the first bite. The meat was cooked medium rare just the way I requested and was very tender and flavorful. I was initially consuming it fast because I was afraid that the hot plate would affect the tenderness but it didn't. It was tender all the way till the last bite. It was so delicious that I almost forgot the things that they could further improve on so here they are: floor layout was a bit cramped for a baby stroller to fit in, they did not have that many English menu and limited choices for drinks. If they could work on these I will give...

名古屋の喧騒からほんの一歩退いた場所、バスターミナルの地下で時間を持て余していた。車輪の響きや人々の話声がモザイクのように溶け合い、その中で心惹かれる香りがあった。それは、力強さを感じさせるステーキの香りだ。ステーキの名店を探し出した時の達成感が私を笑顔にした。

店頭には、スパイスの香りが立ち込めるカレーも用意されており、その刺激的な香りにも引き寄せられた。店内に足を踏み入れると、そこは清潔で落ち着いた雰囲気が広がっていた。皆が、一心にステーキに舌鼓を打っている。一人旅の方、笑顔で会話を交わすカップル、それぞれがこの場所を愛しているのが見て取れた。

メニューを開くと、そこには「名物！レモンステーキ」という文字が踊っていた。この名物のステーキとカレーのセットを選んだ。頼んでからの期待感を胸に、時間がゆっくりと流れていく。

やがて、熱々の鉄板に乗ったレモンステーキが運ばれてきた。薄切りの肉は、舌の上で優しく溶けていく。そして、鮮やかなレモンがその上に鎮座している。その爽やかさが口の中を清らかにし、この暑い夏でも軽やかに喉を通り、胃袋に溶け込んでいく。

添えられたカレーは濃厚でありながらも、深みのある味わいが感じられた。これは間違いなく、料理長の長年の経験と技術が結集した一品だった。

そう、これが名古屋の地下で見つけ出した、独特なステーキ店の魅力。他では味わえないこの一皿は、ここまで足を運んででも味わいたい価値がある。年齢を問わず、多くの人に推奨したい一軒だと確信したのであった。

I found myself with some time to spare in the labyrinthine underbelly of Nagoya's bustling bus terminal. The hum of wheels and the murmur of people coalesced into an intricate mosaic, within which I detected a captivating scent. It was the potent aroma of steak, exuding an enticing strength. The sense of accomplishment when I finally found the source of this aroma - a reputable steak restaurant - lit my face with a smile.

There was also a heady, spice-laden curry on offer, its provocative scent equally appealing. Upon entering the restaurant, I was greeted by an atmosphere of tranquility and cleanliness. Everyone was deeply engrossed in their steaks, lost in culinary bliss. Whether solo travelers or conversing couples, their mutual affection for this place was unmistakable.

Upon perusing the menu, I was intrigued by the tantalizing words 'Lemon Steak'. I decided on this local specialty, paired with a serving of the aromatic curry. With a sense of anticipation swelling within me, time seemed to slow.

Eventually, the lemon steak arrived, sizzling on a hot iron plate. The thinly sliced meat gently melted on the tongue, crowned by a vibrant lemon. Its refreshing zest cleansed the palate, slipping down the throat and dissolving into the stomach with ease, even amidst the summer heat.

The accompanying curry was rich yet had a profound depth of flavor. Undoubtedly, it was a masterpiece crafted from the chef's many years of culinary expertise and techniques.

Yes, this was the unique charm of the steak restaurant I had discovered beneath the hustle and bustle of Nagoya. This distinctive dish, unavailable elsewhere, was undoubtedly worth the effort to seek out. Regardless of age, I felt confident recommending this gem of a place to many. A unique culinary journey well worth...