Nishimura

Nishimura’s two-tier lunch bento offers a little of several dishes, including grilled fare, two kinds of sashimi, simmered dishes, rolled omelette, house-made sesame tofu and savoury egg custard. Part of the pleasure is following the flavours from one small serving to the next as the ingredients and preparations change across the bento. Diners who have had lunch here have praised the simmered dishes for featuring different ingredients and carrying the flavour of the stock through to the last bite. Others recall the rolled omelette’s light, fluffy texture. Some especially enjoyed the sesame tofu, too, so it may be worth finding your own favourite among the bento’s offerings.

The lunch menu lists a grilled dish limited to twenty servings a day. If the two-tier bento is what brings you here, consider booking ahead. One diner also reported being able to ask for more rice, which may make it easier to enjoy the variety while adjusting the meal to your appetite.

In the evening, options include the five-dish Seasonal Chef’s Selection, with dashi, sashimi, steamed and vinegared dishes, plus either a fried or grilled dish; a nine-dish Kyoto kaiseki course; and an eleven-dish seasonal kaiseki course that also includes a seasonal special. The range runs from a more concise meal to a longer progression of dishes, depending on the time and mood you have in mind. The Seasonal Chef’s Selection is listed with a beer or a measure of sake, making it an easy choice if you would like a drink with your course. One visitor also mentioned enjoying conger eel with sake during an evening meal.

Nishimura serves lunch and dinner, and reservations are available. In its calm setting, you can settle in for the variety of the lunch bento or an evening of seasonal kaiseki and drinks.