La Baie — Restaurant in Osaka

A newish building on the outside, but the hotel inside was made to look like a historic European mansion or palace. Dark wood paneling on the walls, and even the elevator button panels look antique.

We needed help to find the restaurant inside this hotel, which could be accessed via underground pathway all the way from Umeda station. A hotel staff member saw us wandering and directed us to the 5th floor. Interestingly, everyone has been trained to introduce themselves before offering assistance which is an intriguing but nice touch.

We pre-picked our meal when reserving online, the most budget lunch at just under 15000 yen. There are options to upgrade some dishes, and I opted to get the venison which was an extra 600 and extra cheese dessert for 1000.

This meal consisted of the amuse bouche, followed by three appetizers. The plating and flavor definitely French, but the choice to grill mackerel perhaps a Japanese influence. They did a good job getting rid of the fishy taste of mackerel which is present at most sushi establishments.

The bread looked unassuming, but was nice and warm and very soft inside. They had to ship the butter from France and prepare it in front of us, so we knew it was not run of the mill. There was a pre-blended seaweed flavor, or you can use the plain butter and add their French salt and Malaysian pepper. I sometimes use bread to soak up sauces, but doing that here will mean less bread for the butter!

For the main, my partner chose kinmedai and myself the venison. The fish was good but not superlative. However the venison was super tender and without the gamey flavor that cause me to usually avoid this meat.

I initially thought the cheese dish was like a cheese plate, which I normally don't order. But this is a cream cheese tart with fruit compote. The cheese is a very light cream, not sure if you can get the same effect with the bricks we buy at the supermarket...

The actual dessert, I got rum savarin which came with a dish of cream. My partner had the strawberry dish. Perhaps late February is strawberry season because I'm seeing it everywhere. The surprise is the sherbet made from "hyuganatsu" which is like yuzu but better lol.

Finally, petit fours was brought to us on a cart and we can only pick 3. In a way that's good because there's usually one or two that aren't my thing. Flavored macadamia nuts is a new experience for me.

All in all, everything I had in this meal was very good to excellent. Nothing here gave me even the thought that it didn't fully deserve its star. French techniques, combination of local and imported ingredients, definitely can compete with the top French restaurants in Paris...

Dining at La Baie, the Michelin-starred French restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka, was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I stepped in, I was immersed in an atmosphere of pure elegance—the classic French-inspired decor, warm lighting, and impeccable service made the evening feel truly special.

The menu was beautifully curated, showcasing the finest ingredients with precise execution. I started with the Oscietra caviar on fennel mousse with delicate bouillabaisse jelly, which was an exquisite balance of flavors—the richness of the caviar complemented by the light, aromatic mousse. The charcoal-grilled lobster with turnip cream and crustacean coulis was another standout dish, with a perfect smoky char and deep umami flavors.

One of my favorites was the abalone steamed with seaweed, tarragon Béarnaise, and black truffle sauce—the tenderness of the abalone, paired with the richness of the sauce, was simply divine. The poached amadai in whey, with vin jaune fumet and seaweed butter was delicate yet full of depth, with a subtle wasabi kick that added an interesting contrast.

For the main course, I opted for the spicy roasted Japanese duck fillet on the bone, served with cauliflower cream and braised lentils. The duck was cooked to perfection, incredibly tender with a beautifully crisped exterior. There was also the option to upgrade to roasted Wagyu beef with coffee butter and red wine sauce, which sounded tempting, but I decided to stick with the original choice—and I had no regrets.

To end the meal, I chose the strawberries in different textures with cocoa pulp mousse, mint jelly, and Hyuganatsu sherbet. It was refreshing and light, a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity to cleanse the palate.

I also opted for the wine pairing, which elevated the entire experience. Each pour was thoughtfully selected to complement the flavors of the dishes, from crisp whites that enhanced the seafood courses to deep, complex reds that paired beautifully with the duck. The sommelier’s choices were spot on, making every sip a seamless extension of the meal.

Everything about the evening was impeccable—from the flawless service to the beautifully plated dishes. La Baie truly delivers on its Michelin-star reputation, offering a refined yet approachable fine dining experience. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in an exquisite meal, this is a...

I had high expectations for this restaurant and chose it as the place to celebrate my birthday. I reserved a 20,000 yen course meal. The disappointment started early on with the first appetizer, which came with three small items. While I was eating, a server came over to explain the menu and picked it up from the table. I instinctively took the menu from them, but when I put it down, my hand accidentally brushed the leftmost tartare with salmon roe — which I hadn’t eaten yet — and it fell onto the tablecloth right in front of both the server and me.

The server only handed me a hand towel and didn’t offer to replace the item or even ask if I was okay. I had no choice but to pick it up and eat it off the tablecloth. That alone was quite disappointing.

Then, while eating the salmon, I found a fish bone in it. Later, one of the vegetable sides served with the fish looked visibly wilted and not fresh. I asked the server about it, and they brought it to the kitchen to ask the chef. They came back and simply told me, “There’s nothing wrong with it.” Visibly, however, it was not up to standard for something meant to be part of a salad. The staff only smiled and said, “We understand your concern, but it’s not a problem,” which made it feel like no matter what you point out, they will just brush it off instead of trying to address the issue.

From that point on, I lost my appetite and couldn’t enjoy the rest of the meal. Every dish tasted just average, many overly salty, and far below the expectations I had. Overall, I was very disappointed. Frankly, I’m genuinely shocked that this restaurant has received Michelin recognition. Based on my experience, it falls far short of the standards I would expect from any establishment with...