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Kaygetsu - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
325 Sharon Park DrSte A2
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 234-1084
Announcement
Toshi and Keiko are retiring from the business - Rest. Mitsunobu will open with chef Aoki and the rest of the staff. Thank you, Bay Area!
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
312 reviews for Kaygetsu
Review Highlights
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"Kaygetsu offers different Kaiseki menu every month." In 70 reviews -
"the fixe prixe is $98 and sake pairing is another $32." In 28 reviews -
"Course 2: Takiawase (slow cooked dish." In 12 reviews
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312 reviews in English
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Review from Stephen L.
San Jose, CA
11/3/2011
A well-deserved 5-star experience. Amazingly good food presented in wonderful art form combined with attentive and personable services.
Their Kaiseki menu is perfect for any special celebration.
Very sad that the restaurant is closed now.
Toshi's previously restaurant, Sushiya in Menlo Park, was also excellent.
And the new owner of that location isn't able to keep up.
Not sure if the same thing will happen to the new Japanese restaurant at Kaygetsu's location.
Hope Toshi and Keiko will open another restaurant when they get bored with their retirement. -
Review from Hiroaki M.
Napa, CA
10/9/2011
It is really sad to have missed Kaygetsu that was run by Toshi and Keiko, whom we've known for over 20 years (since they were at Sushiya in Palo Alto and Toshi's Sushiya in Menlo Park before they opened Kaygetsu).
My wife and I heard that Kaygetsu would be closed for the last time on October 7th, so that we drove all the way down to Menlo Park from Napa twice, once for dinner and once for lunch, in September to experience one of the best Japanese cuisine in the Bay Area.
I will definitely miss Kaygetsu, but I am somewhat relieved by learning that it will be succeeded by "Mitsunobu," where most of kitchen staff will stay. This would suggest that the equivalent quality of meals would be served there, but still we will miss the Sushi that Toshi prepared. -
Review from Sheena D.
San Jose, CA
9/27/2011
I came here for the Kaiseki menu with a few friends. I was really excited because I've never eaten a kaiseki menu before. i also thought it'd be a good experience because it' have unique flavors that I wouldn't experience at a regular sushi restaurant.
I honestly don't remember much about it. i felt like the sushi tasted as it should. If a dish was to be cold, it felt icy. I came when it was a small crowd, so I think they may not have tried as hard.
The presentation was immaculate but the actual flavors were not of my liking.
I must've come here with great expectations and left here with nothing at all.
It's too expensive for me to return so that was my only voyage to Kaygetsu. -
Review from JJ L.
Palo Alto, CA
8/25/2011
Expensive, yes, but you get what you pay for. And what is it then that you get for this hefty bill? Oh well that would be some of the very best Japanese food and sushi/sahimi/nigiri probably in the country and certainly in the Bay Area.
I think Kaygetsu has better sushi than Sushi Yasuda in NYC and trust me that is saying a lot (you can see the 700 near 5 star reviews for Yasuda on Yelp).
I have gone here a double digit number of times and it has never once not blown me away. Forget "never been disappointed" --- rather, Kaygetsu for me is "never walked out without feeling like, wow, that was amazing"
I am genuinely shocked at anyone who gives Kaygetsu less than 5 stars. It could be (a) the sticker shock that no meal or any quality will justify (b) too traditional, will not serve your dragon rolls (c) ambiance is not pretty enough. All fair enough, but look --- if you want, bar none, the best Japanese food the Bay Area has to offer, this is by a mile a no brainer. A true gem. I feel fortunate to have this restaurant in the South Bay. -
Review from Vanessa T.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friends are traveling from overseas and I wanted to bring them to Kaygetsu for dinner. My last experience here was fantastic and I wanted them to experience the Kaiseki menu. However, they are traveling with their three young children and a nanny so I wanted to split the table so four of us could have Kaiseki and the kids and nanny would have the regular menu.
The hostess could not grant me this simple request. In fact she refused to "split up the tables" even though it would basically be two separate reservations. Logically it makes zero sense. She even said she did not want my business. For the amount of money I would be spending at an establishment like Kaygetsu, I expect a certain level of customer service. We have been repeat customers over the last year and for her to act in such a way is a slap in the face. Apparently the egos at Kaygetsu have inflated so much they have become pretentious and arrogant.
I do not know why the customer service has dropped to such a dismal level but I know I will not be returning. You have lost a once loyal customer.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/7/2011
My family brought me here for dinner as a belated birthday present. All of us had the Kaiseki menu… Read more »
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Review from Ryan L.
San Francisco, CA
9/20/2011
I only went for lunch, but this was probably the best sushi I've ever had, anywhere.
Excellent quality fish (and only fish which they can be sure is the best), well prepared by the sushi chef, with great table service as well. I can't think of anything to improve; it's flawless.
People say it is expensive, but really not -- $40-50 per person for great sushi is in-line with any other high-end sushi restaurant. -
Review from Jess M.
San Francisco, CA
10/4/2011
AMAZING meal. impeccable service. Great value as well. There were so many courses, we couldn't finish the last two!!
Hear it will become a more formal dining room with the new ownership change but the chef will remain. I highly recommend this place (even though its a hike from SF). -
Review from Tammy C.
(See pics)
Recently I took an out-of-town guest to this place. As usual, this place was an excellent choice with authentic Japanese cuisine and truly home/family feel service.
This time we ordered the ala carte and every dish was beautifully and delicately prepared. Sashimi was fresh and with perfect texture to enjoy. Soup and desserts were both great with rich flavors.
I like how this place is hidden in the shopping strip area but at the back. It's a kind of its own.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/24/2010
(See pics)
Came here for the Kaiseki (Japanese traditional mutl-course dinner) which is generally for… Read more »
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Review from Subrosa I.
Palo Alto, CA
5/26/2011
Ever ask for ketchup at a shi-shi-frou-frou steakhouse?
I have. And I got the same polite apology that I got from the server when I ordered spicy tuna rolls at Kaygetsu. Apparently, bastardized sushi is a no-no here.
Being the philistine that I am, I prefer to have fake Krab meat and mayonnaise in my California rolls. Sacrilege, I know.
Even with my lowbrow palate, I was able to appreciate the food here. And I've returned to Kaygetsu several times since my initial faux pas.
Naturally, the quality of the food and the price here are correlated. The service has been consistently excellent. -
Review from Brooklyn M.
Brookline, MA
4/21/2011
The hostess was very rude when we asked for a table for 5. She stated she didn't have space, but the restuarant was empty! When we insisted, she sighed and said she'd set up a table for us. When there aren't any tables under reservations, there is no reason not to seat a party and complain about setting up a table!
The food was decent but not worth the inflated prices. It was expensive because you could get the same quality sushi from Kaygetsu at nearly half the price elsewhere.
Throughout the meal the hostess was staring at us and we found it extremely distracting and just rude. After paying the bill we asked the waitress why the hostess was so rude, the waitress said the hostess was the owner! We will never return to Kaygetsu with a rude owner, fair quality and tasting food at rip-off prices!!!Comment from Keiko S. of Kaygetsu 4/25/2011
Our dinner service normally takes about 1 1/2 hours for ala… More » -
Review from Stanley C.
San Jose, CA
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Intro:
Kaygetsu is a Japanese fine dining restaurant serving kaiseki style tasting menu and beautifully crafted sushi. It is located in a quaint little shopping mall in Menlo Park.
The Food:
The food here is served Kaiseki style. It flows from appetizer to to fried to stewed and sushi dishes. All the food here crafted artfully and tastefully. The style of food is traditional Japanese with great ingredients. Some of my favorites are the chawan mushi, the kobe beef and all of the sushi. Everything was made to the highest standard and absolutely delicious. There is a option to order ala carte if you choose to do so.
The Decor:
Not much going on with the decor of this place. Small place with a sushi bar in the corner. Comfortable noise level.
The Service:
The service is good. Very accommodating. I brought my baby here once and they had a high chair for her which was pretty nice for a fine dining establishment.
The Summary:
This is definitely one of the premier Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area and definitely one of my favorites. Reservations here is a must. I will be dining here for years to come. Yum. -
Review from Chantel C.
Burlingame, CA
8/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
The presentation is simply beautiful!
I had the august 7 course meal, and that tempura shiso was pleasant!
It was my first time trying that.
The cold noodles had a very nice soup base.
Sashimi was pretty fresh, and I enjoyed the scallop.
I admit...I was a bit disappointed...I put my expectations too high
I heard great things about this place from my Japanese friend
but go here if you want a more traditional taste. very simple, but good. -
Review from Kevvy K.
Menlo Park, CA
8/8/2011
Did the Kaiseki menu here for an anniversary dinner, and it did not disappoint. The food is top-notch, with things sourced from Japan that will wow you. The service is incredible as well, ask what you're eating, and they'll always tell you with encylopedic flair, and even fetch info from the busy chef for particularly detailed, nerdy food questions (which I never fail to ask myself!) Also, the experience even begins with really personalized attention from the hostess who'll even give you a personalized menu for the meal, and who was gracious even when I was making the RSVP weeks in advance.
Tucked away in a Safeway shopping plaza, but step inside and you'll be transported to Kyoto for a brief spell that will linger with you long afterwards.
Be sure to get the sake pairings. Best sub-20% alcohol not-Burgundian in origin you'll ever drink! And you'll understand what all the Japanese literary types were always raving about and writing about half-drunk. -
Review from Colin S.
Menlo Park, CA
8/30/2011
Definitely a place that will impress the sushi lovers even if the prices are high. Then again I have never been a fan of cheap sushi.
Dinner is great but I actually prefer lunch as it can be quick and lighter on the wallet with easy to order set menus.
Added plus for the diners is the crowd. Might see silicon valley luminaries there, especially the Sand Hill road crowd. -
Review from Mark B.
San Francisco, CA
6/13/2011 Seated via OpenTable
As usual, Kaygetsu doesn't disappoint. My wife and I and another couple went here for dinner the other night. I didn't even bother to look at the menu and just went for their Kaiseki. The various dishes were varied, unique and absolutely delicious and the sake-pairing was we done.
My only nit is that they included an 18% gratuity for a party of four. I generally prefer to be in control of the tip, which in this case would have been 20%, but I don't recall them doing this last time we were there. -
Review from Laurent D.
Belmont, CA
6/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was the best shashimi I ever had (amberjack) - and the rest of the Kaiseki special 7 course dinner was very original
The place is small and in a mall and the service was very good - yet - not sure it's worth the $283 (with mandatory 18% service) bill for 2 people (1 with sake pairing and 1 with 2 glasses of sauvignon blanc (the cheapest part, only $9 each glass)) - on the other hand I suppose japanese people going to a fancy french restaurant may think the same - would be 4 1/2 - 5 stars if the price was 30% less -
Review from Diana K.
Cupertino, CA
5/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
A thoughtfully executed menu with superior service.
The restaurant is quite small and intimate. It's the kind of place where you can't get too rowdy bc you should really be focusing on tasting each morsel of food.
We ordered off the al la carte menu. All the dishes we had were quite enjoyable. We started off with the Kamo salad (the duck was perfect) which was sweet and refreshing ( a great way to get the party started). I also highly recommend the soft shell karage and the alaskan king crab legs.
I also really enjoyed the sake sampler (comes with three flights). Very tasty and of high quality. You'll def be impressed by the flavor.
This is not your run of the mill "bento box" japanese restaurant. The dishes are prepared with great care and with attention to detail. A great eating experience! -
Review from Terri M.
Saratoga, CA
4/11/2011
My visit with my hus to this place was 2 X'mas ago.
Considering it's Kaiseki, I don't think it's expensive, but I didn't feel comfortable staying there. I wasn't able to relax and enjoy my meal. I think they try, but not very successful as it seemed. I wonder if it's the space or chair or lay out of something, I do not know.
Problem with the female hostess. She didn't take my coat, or say thank you when I left. I didn't feel welcomed or appreciated, well, I guess I wasn't welcome because I wasn't a regular or dressed up nicely?
My hus said he didn't remember anything, but it wasn't that impressive, and he wouldn't go back even with company expense.
Our waitress was nice, and the foods were tasty and nicely balanced as Kaiseki course meal.
May I say us not going back is justified by other people's negative comments? -
Review from Michelle C.
San Mateo, CA
5/19/2011
I haven't fully experienced Kaygetsu yet given the people I went with were only into ordering sushi and limited sides, so I hope to expand upon this review after I experience the kaiseki tasting menu.
The sushi menu is very traditional and you'll find no intricate rolls, but the fish was probably the freshest I've had. The sashimi plates (Okamase sashimi and a shiro maguro tataki plate) were mouth watering, and I'm usually someone who will only go for sashimi if someone else wants/needs it. I would order this again without hesitation.
We did have a mixed veggie tempura dish. The tempura was not my favorite, but the batter was unique and the texture was kind of chewy and crunchy. Also, the unagi don buri was not something I would order again, but unless unagi is covered in a sticky sweet sauce, I'm never a fan.
The service was expert. I really appreciated the help with the sake menu and would highly recommend trying either of the flights of sake.
I'll be going back with my inlaws who lived in Japan. They will love this place.
While ordering I was acutely aware of the prices and felt a bit guilty for bringing my friends to the restaurant, but in reality, we did not land up paying any more here than we would at my other favorite sushi places. They included the service (only 15% when I usually will tip 20%) and it landed up costing $80 per person. Totally in line with what I would expect when each of us drank premium sake and given what we ordered. -
Review from michelle l.
Tampa, FL
6/12/2011
I took a friend here for his birthday earlier this month. The staff was absolutely wonderful -- knowledgeable about the menu and attentive but not hovering.
We had the kaiseki menu. The food was wonderful but not quite perfect. The abalone was mildly overcooked so it was rubbery. It was a minor mistake, but there were just a few of those throughout the night, enough to make the experience not quite 5 stars. The portions were a good size -- we left feeling stuffed but not sick.
I loved the sake list. -
Review from Angeline K.
Cupertino, CA
My husband and I recently went to Kaygetsu in celebration of Valentine's Day. It was our first foray into Kaiseki and I must say I didn't leave disappointed, but I also did not leave wholly impressed, especially considering the price.
I'm not going to lie... I had initially wanted to make a reservation at Wakuriya, but unfortunately they did not have any reservations available and so we ended up at Kaygetsu.
Service was impeccable. Our server was very sweet and made our dining experience most enjoyable. Our tea never had a chance to get cold because it was constantly being refilled. 5 stars all the way as far as service goes.
Now for the Kaiseki... there were some stars, yes. Nothing was unfavorable, but I guess I just really expected more. The February 2010 Kaiseki menu is as follows:
Sakizuke - Dungeness crab with yuzu/vinaigrette, diced apple, nagaimo potato, mitsuba green topped with shredded potato. Paired with Masumi "Nanago" (daiginjo). The was crab super fresh and the dish was light and citrusy with a hint of sweetness from the apple. Sake pairing was wonderful... probably my favorite pairing. I tend to favor this smoother sake.
Sashimi assortment of golden eye snapper and tuna with herring roe, kelp and seaweed. The herring roe with kelp was unique. Nice crunchy texture and fishy in a good way.
Hassun (assortment of flavors) - crispy oyster coated with rice cracker and egg yolk sauce; wakasagi (japanese smelt) "nanban zuke" with pearl onion, chive and pepper thread; fuki mame - soy beans and diced vegetables cooked in dashi; watercress with mustard/miso sauce; petite napa cabbage soup; washu beef on crispy rice ball. Paired with Kamoshibito "Kuheiji" (junmai). My favorite course in terms of food and presentation. I didn't care much for the smelt, though my husband liked it. The oyster was the star! Loved the crispiness of the rice cracker and the creaminess of the egg yolk sauce. The napa cabbage soup came in a close second behind the oyster.
Yakimono (grilled dish) - grilled duck served with endive marinated in orange juice. Paired with Masumi yamahai (ginjo). I was very underwhelmed with this course. The duck was tender, but it just didn't seem very inventive to me. Duck and orange = a very popular combination.
Intermezzo - yuzu sorbet topped with candied lotus root and chervil
Nabemono (hot pot) - kuro buta pork nabe with daikon radish, carrot, burdock, and scallions cooked in sake lees; rice mixed with leaf vegetable, topped with nori seaweed; pickled napa cabbage and eggplant. Paired with Tedorigawa yamahai (junmai). Also a little underwhelming. But what can I say? I'm not a big hot pot fan, so that could have been it.
Dessert - duo of eclairs (custard cream and green tea cream with strawberry and red bean). I did not enjoy the dessert at all, not only because I don't care for eclairs, but it looked and tasted like something I could buy at the grocery store.
So the Kaiseki started off promising and just kind of sloughed off to average towards the end for me. I would consider coming back another month and giving the Kaiseki another try. -
Review from Hitoshi I.
Stanford, CA
3/6/2011
If you are willing to spend some money on amazing japanese dish I would highly recommend this place over any other place in bay area.
If you like balanced taste of japanese food this place goes something extraordinary from high quality japanese food.
I would say that quality of food from this place is actually something that is hard to find even in japan. I would say that something that is made in Nami Nami on Castro St. is something that good home chief in japan could make since its not extraordinary but this place is definitely exceeding that level.
Last time I went to this place best thing that they had was grilled fish with miso sauce with some special sauce that made saltiness of miso into something that is sweet and refreshing. I couldnt tell what it was but it tasted really really good!!!! -
Review from Emily B.
Portland, OR
1/6/2011
Every time I'm in town visiting family, I always try my best to eat there. My grandfather has been a regular at whatever place the owners of Kaygetsu have been in charge of over the years, so they recognize our family every time we come, even if it usually about once a year for all of us together.
They seriously have the best unagi in the world. Well, maybe not, since I haven't exactly had unagi in Japan or anything, but theirs is so irresistibly delicious that I can't help but assume that it's among the best. It melts in your mouth but not between your chopsticks, and it has a rich, full flavor paired with perfectly cooked rice. I always order unagi while I'm there.
I've recently decided to be more adventurous with my food lately, and so last time I was there (this past summer 2010), I ordered the omakase sashimi instead of my usual tempura. It was honestly one of the most memorable food experiences that I've ever had. Each bit of fish was so fresh and flavorful that I could have kept eating it forever. I think I'm ruined on sushi/sashimi forever because every piece I've had since hasn't come close to measuring up to Kaygetsu's. I've been dreaming of it ever since. -
Review from Osos I.
Los Gatos, CA
10/30/2010
Well after hearing much about Kaygetsu we finally decided to try it.
Being a japanese food snob and a semi-professional japanese chef i have to say that I was not impressed with their Kaiseki meal. I had my expectations set much higher by Wakuria in San Mateo.
The presentation of the food and the taste was not impressive at all The selection of ingredients was not the quality I would expect for a supposed kaiseki meal. The food seemed tasteless and flat.
The food really was missing the pop you expect with each dish in a good kaiseki meal. I hate to say it, but I think the food I serve to the guests in my home is better.
If the meal were cheaper and not labeled as a kaiseki meal it would be passable as a pre set menu.
Not a repeat for me.. Paws down for this review.
Woof.. -
Review from Tiff T.
Cambridge, MA
An exceptional Japanese restaurant in the most unassuming place, Kaygetsu's dishes are creative, beautifully presented, and, most importantly, delicious.
I did not order the kaiseki, but everything I had from the a la carte menu was excellent. The combination of mandarin oranges and duck in the Kamo Salad was outstanding. The mandarin oranges were the juiciest I've ever had. The fish on the sashimi plate were melt-in-your-mouth fresh. My unagi donburi was fragrant and delicious; it was the best eel I've ever had. To finish the meal, we had the ice cream sampler. The green tea ice cream and mango mochi ice cream were incredible. I've never had mochi ice cream with such good texture; usually, the mochi becomes hard and flaky when it's chilled, but this one was just right. The sesame ice cream was good, but not the best I've had.
The decor is very cute, especially the little chopstick holders. Our server was the nicest server I've ever had. In a way, I'm glad that Kaygetsu is a bit hidden; if it were in SF, I'm sure you would never be able to get a reservation. Truly an exceptional restaurant. -
Review from Ferdinand H.
Cleveland, OH
1/28/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Kaiseki was excellent, but what really made my day was the namazake that was paired.
I've been so eager to try namazake since encountering an empty bottle of Kubota Namazake. But it eluded me for so very long. Now, trying the various pairings, including a Daiginjo and 2 namazakes... I was very happy.
Mushimono, Sashimi (Kampuri, Otoro, Tai), Nabe (With Washu), as well as the assorted, colourful panoply of small cooked foods - all were excellent. The soup had a big, soft Mochi at the bottom, which was delightful.
The dipping sauces of the Nabe were a tiny bit disappointing - but only a tiny, tiny bit. My gold-standard for sauces remains Kagaya of LA.
Great stuff.
4.5 stars. -
Review from Ennie L.
San Mateo, CA
9/30/2011
$82 for the kayseki, it didn't quite do it for me. I wasn't blown away.
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Review from Ches W.
Menlo Park, CA
2/16/2011
Last night I had the BEST japanese dinner ever - perfect date thing if you wanna impress. One word: Incredible. It was an 8 course meal - about $90 per person, but each meal was incredible
This has been called (by people who I know, who should know) the best Japanese dinner in the US. The plates they give you - wow - one of the dishes was like a scene from the ocean - with a dock, a little boat and the reflection of the ocean...the boat had this insanely rare berry that's a delicacy from a specific town in japan - incredibly hard to get even in Japan.
Spend some cash, go here. -
Review from Daniel C.
Santa Clara, CA
9/21/2010
We finally tried this highly recommended place for lunch.
I chose the mini kaiseki and there were quite a few items. All arranged in the stylized art of presentation. My friend chose the chirashi sushi. We finished off with a sesame ice cream and grapefruit sorbet. -
Review from Keiko S.
8/24/2008 11 photos
They offer kaiseki from Wednesday thru Saturday only, but we decided to go on a Sunday anyway with our parents visiting from Japan. I needed to impress them before they flew back the next morning, and the four mini tables at Wakuriya were already booked. I screamed hard, and would've screamed harder if by doing so I could scare away the patrons who had those tables... But such is life.
* FOOD *
We blindly ordered a whole array of dishes, including cold and hot appetizers (ippin-ryori, such as butano-kakuni, agedashi-tofu, tenpura-moriawase, miso cod, salad, carpaccio, etc.), assorted sushi and a large sashimi plate. We had several kinds of daiginjo and beer over the two hours that we were there, and finished our meal with chazuke and dessert (an-mitsu).
Everything was delicious. It'd been a while since I had tempura that was prepared so well - light and crisp. No doubt that this is one of the two finest kaiseki-ryori restaurants we have in the Bay Area, the other being the Wakuriya in San Mateo. Personally, I was proud to have finally convinced my parents that we don't necessarily have to fly back home for solid washoku/Japanese food.
However, I will have to return for what they are famous for - the kaiseki, because based on this one dinner alone I was NOT blown away like I had dreamed of.
And here are some possible reasons why I did not particularly enjoy dining here. 1) Our orders were served too RANDOMLY. For example, we got the pork kakuni (clearly an appetizer) served at the very end. 2) The sushi chef was not as accommodating or friendly as we'd liked. His response to our request was quite unpleasant. 3) Simple lack of "mmm"s and "ahhh"s at each bite.
* SETTING & SERVICE *
The room is surprisingly small, modest and comfortable. It's funny to compare it with the almost-fake decor of Yoshida, a pseudo-kaiseki place in Cupertino, and how ambiance has little to do with the actual food. The service was extremely attentive, and our waitress (with the world's coolest name, KEIKO-san) was courteous and professional.
* SUM *
TO BE UPDATED. First, I need to somehow succeed in making a reservation on a kaiseki day - again, Wednesday thru Saturday. I might as welll bookmark http://opentable.com while I'm at it.Listed in: All Japanese, Bay Area Japan - My Top Picks
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Review from Toro E.
San Francisco, CA
6/4/2007 10 photos
I regret that my first and only experience of dining at Kitcho (http://www.kitcho.com/...) was as a teenager when I lacked the ability to truly appreciate the art of Kaiseki dining. Kitcho is one of the most famous restaurants in Japan that started in Kyoto, but expanded to all major cities with several branches in Tokyo, which is where one of the chefs at Kaygetsu learned his skills. I would not go as far as to say that Kaygetsu IS Kitcho, but at a place like this, you appreciate the dishes not only with your mouth, but also with your eyes. Would everyone like this place? Probably not. This is a very foodie/gourmet place, which is not your everyday food. For me, it is a nice place to go once a year.
PRICE: For dinner, their Kaiseki course was $95 (as of May 2007). Unless you are a partner at one of those VCs on Foothill Road, this is no pocket change. HOWEVER, when you look at the meal as a cultural and culinary experience, it is worth it. At Kitcho's flagship in Kyoto, the dinner course starts at 42,000 Yen ($400), so we are lucky to live in a country where near Kitcho quality meal could be yours for one Benjamin.
Sample dinner:
$95 Kaiseki course
$34 Sake pairing
$28 Tip and taxes
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$157 Per person
FOOD: If you are a big eater, be warned that Kaiseki cuisine is not about big portions. What might be fun to think about as you enjoy their course is to examine the variety of cooking methods (deep fried, grilled, raw, simmered, etc.) and the diversity of flavors they use (soy, miso, vinegar, yuzu, etc.).
Late spring 2007 Kaiseki Course
#1: Starter - sea urchin wrapped with kisu and deep fried. Fava beans. Searshed white tuna. Sweet shrimp covered with gelatin.
#2: Sashimi
#3: Slow cooked dish - vegetables cooked in clear fish broth
#4: Cold vinaigrette dish - fresh octopus and white kikurage mushroom
#5: Grilled dish - American kobe beef with vegetables
#6: Rice dish - Rice with clams, Akadashi miso soup, and pickles
#7: Dessert - black sesame gelatin with kuromitsu
LUNCH: Lunch here was good, but don't come here expecting to get a taste of their Kaiseki at a bargain price. I've also been here for lunch and it was clearly different from their dinner. The chefs are busy during the day preparing for dinner, so lunch dishes are simple and do not reflect the complexity of their Kaiseki dishes.
COMPARISONS: So, which is better, Kappa (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) or Kaygetsu? Well, that's actually not a good question to ask. The two serves different type of Japanese food. While no other Bay Area restaurant is like Kaygetsu, some may compare it with Kappo NamiNami (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I found Kaygetsu food is much more refined and delicate compared to NamiNami.Listed in: Favorite Japanese Restaurants…
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Review from Quinn S.
1/26/2007 ROTD 4/19/2007
I ate at Kaygetsu for the first time with the anthropology professor who was supervising my research grant through the NEH. Yes, I had the pleasure of blowing thousands of taxpayer dollars "researching" Japanese food and it was worth every penny. Steve Jobs was sitting at the table closest to us with a dean from Stanford, so the professor and I both experienced a minor celebrity sighting without having the slightest idea who each other were looking at.
The sushi here is spectacular on its own, but the seven course Kaiseki menu is the real reason to go. Changing six times each year, the menu reflects the season and is created from the freshest and finest ingredients to make the most complex and beautiful renditions of traditional Japanese dishes. Kaiseki has a specific order with courses being prepared in prescribed styles and I highly recommend splurging on the paired sake if you want to truly appreciate every detail.
The presentation of the meal could not have been more impressive. There was an artistic and innovative flair to the plating of every dish, which far surpassed the aesthetic appeal of traditional Japanese food. A similar kaiseki meal in Kyoto would have cost easily twice as much, and according to my fancy federal grant, the authenticity is top-notch, utilizing strict traditional technique and going all-out on the crucial little touches, like the thousand-slice preparation that I noted on one mushroom dish.
According to the prof, Larry Ellison is personally responsible for keeping Kaygetsu afloat, and I can see why this place would need a patron. Kaygetsu is small, yet so abundantly staffed that plates were touching down in front of all eight diners in sheer simultaneity. They create such exquisite cuisine, that I can say without reservation that this is the best Japanese food I have eaten in this country. -
Review from Jason A.
San Bruno, CA
4/17/2007 ROTD 6/25/2007
In our overly saturated Japanese restaurant offering in the Bay Area, it becomes hard to try new places without being disappointed more often than not. Hearing about Kaygetsu in reviews throughout several magazines, we had to roll the dice and give it a shot. This wasn't an easy task given reservations can be difficult to obtain. Like others have mentioned, you might need to set up your navigation system to find this gem that's nestled away in a strip mall.
Their menu is changes slightly depending on the season, but more so on their prefix menu. We opted to select our own dishes. The food is prepared as if your eyes also tasted the food, like the presentation of the Oshinko moriawas. Friendly service that is attentive and that's all I ever expect of a quality restaurant.
My recommendations:
Chawan Mushi- traditional custard with seafood goodness
Sashimi Moriawase-super fresh fish, no mackerel please!
Shiro Maguro Tataki- seared tuna with ponzu
Tara saikyo misozuke- buttery cod with a hint of miso paste
Tai chazuke- rice, fish and broth
Uni served with quail egg yolks- my favorite Japanese combo!
Come here to experience real traditional Japanese food in an unusual location outside of San Francisco! -
Review from Geoff D.
7/31/2009
At the end of our meal last night, my wife said: "That was my favorite meal... ever."
Okay, I'm feeling pretty good about my selection. Might even make up for one or two of the bad action movies I've chosen in recent history.
We went for the Kaygetsu menu. The food was delicious, gorgeously prepared and just plain fun to eat with the scores of different flavors. The service was also pretty close to perfect... friendly, knowledgeable and at your beck and call, but never hovering. The view gets a C compared to some of the other top-end restaurants out there, but hey, something's got to give.
They change the menu monthly, so I won't bother listing things here. Some of my favorite flavors, however, were the:
- Fig, jicama and sesame cream salad
- Beef nigiri with dipping sauces
- Pork belly with chii flakes and an interesting side salad
- Sesame ice cream (who knew?)
The wallet can't handle eating here weekly, but I will look for a reason to come back again soon.Listed in: Found it on Yelp
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Review from Gloria L.
San Francisco, CA
12/7/2008 ROTD 9/8/2009
If I could be a restaurant, I'd want to be Kaygetsu. Classy, friendly, and fancy. And serves the best Japanese food in the Bay Area. Also kind of sneaky, because that delectable Japanese food comes in a restaurant in a strip mall! But don't worry, since that strip mall is located on Sand Hill Road, it's worth about $20 billion.
There is no higher praise than freshness for sashimi, and there is no fresher fish in the area. Exquisite presentation, the best ingredients, and the kitchen's creativity make Kaygetsu one of the finest dining establishments around. -
Review from Jamie T.
11/11/2010 5 photos
I came here in April 2010 for the Kaiseki Menu. It was probably the best Japanese dining experience I have ever had...We had just come from a vineyard in Santa Cruz so we had an amazing bottle of Albarino wine that was perfect for pairing with seafood.
The Sakizuki (starter) was a bamboo shoot with karashi mustard and daiginjo sake, asari clam, broccoli rabe, wakame seaweed, and daikon. And I thought to myself, this is only the beginning?!
The sashimi was wonderful! I have never had such good fatty tuna and the menu offered an upgrade for supplemental sashimi which I added. It was definitely worth it... As for more of the Kaiseki menu being revealed, there was miso marinated ocean trout, ginger snap peas, roast duck and carrot, cucumber marinated in rice bran, tofu sauce, red shiso, and best of all I remember the sweet seafood taste of the surf clam shiokara...yum
They kept bringing me more surprises: next one being the Agemono deep-fried dish of flounder, nagaimo potato, with cherry blossom leaf and ume plum flavor. I came to realize that I really like the cherry blossom leaf flavor.
The Gohan mano rice dish was steamed sushi with cherry blossom leaves (yay), warabi fern, anago sea eel, shiitake mushrooms, peas, shrimp and cherry blossom rice. There was also a complementary dark red miso soup with youba fresh tofu skin. Amazing.
Even the dessert was amazing: earl grey tea ice cream with caramelized banana...
I cannot wait to have another dining experience like this again... -
Review from David P.
3/23/2008
Perfect harmony + no incongruities + no wasted energies + attention to detail + understated decor + creative authenticity + attentive service = an amazing culinary experience.
My biggest impression is what I would call Kaygetsu's "audacity of kaiseki." Any lesser restaurateur would not even attempt to deliver such a refined and unusual, dare I say unapproachable style of cooking as kaiseki to a suburban crowd in an out of the way strip mall. Even more audacious is their abandoning a successful sushiya to the high tech stars, Toshi's in Menlo Park to focus all their attention in opening Kaygetsu. (I never cared for Toshi's no matter how fresh or skilled the chef -- he was always way too grumpy for my tastes.)
We went with our fav foodie friends, Maggie and Scott. I swear, Maggie has a Yelp chip implanted in her brain since she always knows what's hot and what's not. Anyway, the way the two couples ordered is definitely the way to go. The guys ordered the full Kaygetsu course and the women folk went with the two course less Chrysanthemum course. We split two sake pairing sets, one regular and one premium so we could compare and contrast the various sakes.
Being certifiable Japanese pottery freaks, my wife and I appreciated that no expense was spared in choosing the appropriate serving dishes for each course. They even brought to this to the next level of striking a balance among the various pottery styles from across Japan including some of my favorites, Oribe, Aka-e, Hagi and Bizen. Each perfectly complimented the flavors and arrangement of each course.
The balancing didn't stop at the dishware and presentation. The whole menu was meticulously thought out to strike a balance among flavors, styles of cooking (grilled, steamed, raw, tempura-fried, etc.), textures, colors, etc. etc.
At each course, the waitstaff explained the dish with a demeanor that showed an openness to field any questions we might have. Busboys were constantly on the ready filling tea cup, water glasses and removing plates.
Originally when I attempted to make reservations a week or so ago, they said they didn't have any opening but would call me back if something opened up. To my surprise, they actually did call back to say that something opened up! My next thought was that a 6PM reservation was way too early for a nice dinner, but we were glad we did. We didn't get out of there until after 9PM.
With a tab like this, we may not be able to send our kids to college, but with an experience like this, its a tough call. -
Review from Ann L.
1/23/2008
I booked a table on Opentable for 2 at Kaygetsu for the Kaiseki dinner. Kaiseki dinner is $98 per person! It's HELLA expensive and the portions are TINY so overall I give the food 3 stars & an extra star for service.
I booked it for 6:30p since the hubby has to work long hrs and I can't tell when he'll be done, so he tells me he can get there earlier so I called them same day to change it to 6:15p. I was already at the restaurant by 5:10p so just hung around at the Longs & Safeway in the same strip mall, place is behind the Shell gas station. We meet up at 6pm and were able to change the reservations & get seated.
Kaiseki Winter menu is online. We also got to keep the paper menu so here it is:
Sakizuke -starter
kampachi salad w/ butter lettuce tomato, cucumber & yamaimo dashi (fish stock) dressing satoimo potato w/ miso sauce
Takiawase -slow cooked dish. dried herring, sunchoke, zuiki (taro stork), snow peas, yuzu cooked in clear fish broth
Tsukuri-sashimi-assorted seasonal selection. We had young blue fin tuna, Northern Japanese shrimp, Japanese snapper w/ caviar
Onmono-hot dish. sole w/ grated daikon radish japanese leeks, shiitake, mitsuba greens, yuzu quail egg. I got a different dish after I mentioned I can't eat fried items. Mine was several small chunks of black cod.
yaki mono -grilled dish. grilled organic Petaluma chicken miso sauce pickled turnip, kinome
Gohan mono-rice dish. chirashi sushi w/ eel, shrimp, braised tofu, egg lotus root.
House-made original dessert-parfait of green tea ice cream & sesame tofu.
Hubby wanted a glass of Ginzo sake..the one he picked was $14 a glass! Yikes. He liked it fine.
Tip of 17% added automatically to bill. Credit cards taken. Total w/ 1 glass sake, 2 Kaiseki dinner, tax & 17% tip was $266!
Separate bathrooms on the left-side after you walk in. Women is just single toilet/sink.
Sushi bar only enough room for 6 ppl. There's about 12 tables: 2-tops & 4-tops. Best to make reservations if you want to eat here.
Tip: If you go on your birthday & tell them you might get a small gift. That was nice for the hubby.
Website:
http://www.kaygetsu.co... -
Review from Giggler E.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2008
Now...I make pretty good money now. I got lucky with a job at Google and it pays very well. So, I have been splurging a bit. I tend to eat out at cheap places still because I found out just because it is over-priced doesn't make it better. Now the food was good and probably 4X better than Hon Sushi (down the street from Google) But it definately shouldn't cost literally 13X more than what I would pay at Hons.
You know, I can see paying that in the City but not there. The ambiance was ok, wait staff ok, nothing special except kick ass food. But you know the quality wasn't that good. I have had better. I think it was called CreAsians (bad service though. The fish had to swim from Japan to get there).
memo to owners: Drop your prices. My bill should have been cut in half and then you get 5 stars. You know people , price should be considered when reviewing. All these 5 stars...for what throwing away money. Realistically the owners should be in jail for robbery. I thought it was a felony taking advantage of retarded people. for all the people who continue tpo waste money at this place. Please send me $5. I promise to do something more useful with it.
PS.
I'm not kidding. Please send me the $5. It's better than wasting it on over-priced food -
Review from Perci N.
San Francisco, CA
1/16/2007
My sister took me here for one of my birthdays, and we went with the $60 prix fixe menu. Amazing. I love kaiseki ryouri -- everything is so subtle, and the presentation is great. The assorted pickled mountain vegetables were my favorite.
You wouldn't expect a restaurant like this in the generic suburban neighborhood -- and considering the lack of "upscale" atmosphere, the set prices ($60/$100) might be considered a bit high.
Don't go here expecting yet another upscale/trendy sushiya or, shudder, teriyaki chicken. If you know what kaiseki ryouri is, Kaygetsu won't disappoint. The food is sublime. Otherwise, this isn't the place for you.Listed in: NO TERIYAKI OR CALIFORNIA…
