Trattoria Gigli — Restaurant in Nikko

A hidden gem and hands down the best Italian food we’ve ever had — and we’ve eaten Italian across Italy and even in Argentina, where Italian cuisine is also world-class. This small, unassuming spot closes early (8pm), but it is absolutely worth finding for an early dinner.

We had the spaghetti with tomato sauce, gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce, and Parmesan risotto — each one was truly exceptional, easily the best versions we’ve ever tasted. Every dish was perfectly balanced, rich yet delicate, and full of flavor.

The homemade drinks — limoncello, yuzucello (a unique Japanese citrus twist), and strawberrycello — were all incredible and beautifully crafted.

Desserts were mind-blowing. The panna cotta with orange gelato and the tiramisu were both beyond amazing — light, creamy, and bursting with flavor. The gelato in particular was unlike any we’ve had before, airy and smooth like whipped cream.

Having traveled the world, we’ve never experienced food this refined, heartfelt, and beautifully executed. It’s a testament to the Japanese pursuit of perfection — and here, they’ve achieved it on...

The person we spoke to at the entrance was incredibly rude, which is very surprising, given that Japanese people in the service industry are incredibly kind and always go above and beyond to make you feel welcomed.

Unfortunately, that was not the case here. I speak Japanese, and even though I had questions about their opening hours, the man we encountered at the door either ignored me, or when he couldn’t ignore me any longer, closed the door in our face saying “no, no, only reservation” in English. I actually went back to ask another question about their take out options after he had shut the door in our face, but he refused to listen, even though I was politely asking in Japanese. He didn’t even open the door, and kept signaling an x with his arma through the glass. I am very persistent, so he finally opened the door, and when I asked, again in Japanese, about their take out option, he responded in English saying “only lunch” and then shut the door quickly again.

I was very disappointed because we were really looking forward to trying this place.

I hope no one else has that kind...

If you’re looking to take a break from eating delicious Japanese food and something more western/european, then this is a fantastic option.

Came in as a walk-in client, wasn’t too busy on this cold snowy night. Lovely little charming restaurant and the decor and setting feels like you’ve been transported somewhere to country Italy.

On the night I had the spaghetti carbonara, stewed beef cheek meat and tiramisu. The carbonara was lovely, creamy, nice portions of bacon and cheese came through. Not the biggest portions but the quality was definitely there. I selected the stewed beef based on the waitress’s recommendation and she delivered. The meat just came off so easily and with that gravy source was the perfect winter meal. The olives not only added colour but paired well. I couldn’t get enough of it. The tiramisu was probably the only blemish. It’s not a traditional tiramisu and the inside was ice cream, however still enjoyable.

I only had one night stay in Nikko, and I am extremely happy that I chose this place as my choice of dinner. A memorable dining experience and I hope to...