a canto
Osaka, Japan
⭐1 Star
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
The chef’s creed is to weave seasonal elements and refinement into his cuisine. Each item is simple yet distinctive. Bavettine of dried mullet roe and lime is a signature dish using handmade pasta. Pastas showcase the assured touch of a craftsman who was in charge of that department at Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence. The name means ‘at your side’, as the chef hopes it can be familiar presence for diners who crave the warmth of Italian cuisine.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
Here are three unique and unconventional aspects of the Michelin-starred restaurant A Canto in Osaka:
1. Hybrid Italian-Japanese Concept with Counter-Style Kappo Interior
While the cuisine is distinctly Italian, the restaurant's interior is designed to evoke the charm of a traditional Japanese kappo counter. This hybrid concept allows diners to closely observe the cooking process, blending Italian culinary tradition with Japanese dining aesthetics in an unconventional way.
2. Use of Local Japanese Ingredients in Traditional Italian Recipes
Chef Murata Takashi incorporates local Osaka ingredients into classic Italian dishes, such as using cherry salmon (sakura-masu) slow-cooked and served with Genovese sauce, and homemade bavettine pasta tossed with Italian salted mullet roe and lime. This fusion of local produce with Italian culinary techniques creates a unique flavor profile that transports diners to Florence while rooted in Osaka's terroir.
3. Chef’s Background and Culinary Journey
Murata Takashi trained extensively in Italy at prestigious restaurants including the three-Michelin-starred Uliassi Il Centro and Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence before returning to Osaka to open A Canto. This international training combined with his Japanese heritage informs the restaurant’s innovative approach, making it a rare Michelin-starred Italian restaurant deeply influenced by Japanese culture and ingredients.
These elements distinguish A Canto as an unconventional Michelin-starred restaurant in Osaka, blending Italian culinary tradition with Japanese style and local ingredients in a unique dining experience.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at the Michelin-starred restaurant a canto in Osaka are:
- Handmade fresh pasta dough: Crafted meticulously on-site without any pre-preparation, this pasta dough is the foundation of the restaurant's dishes, ensuring perfect texture and flavor in every bite.
- Bottarga: Used in the signature dish "Bavettini with Bottarga and Lime," bottarga adds a rich umami depth, highlighting the chef's skill in balancing flavors.
- Lime: Paired with bottarga in the signature pasta dish, lime provides a fresh, citrusy contrast that elevates the umami of the bottarga and the pasta.
- Seasonal Italian ingredients: The course menu features seasonal ingredients sourced to complement the handmade pasta and Italian culinary style.
- Italian wines: While not an ingredient in dishes, the extensive and carefully curated selection of Italian wines is integral to the dining experience, enhancing the flavors of the food.
These ingredients reflect the restaurant's focus on authentic Italian cuisine with a Japanese touch, emphasizing freshness, seasonality, and refined flavor balance in a minimalist setting.