anniversary dinner

Friday, I received these tulips (my favorite flower) from Satoshi. (Thank you!) We didn't get to eat dinner together because he had to work late.

Saturday, after Satoshi's German class, we met for dinner, and as I was waiting for his class to finish, I noticed the sunset reflecting off of some buildings in Umeda.

Inside of XEX West, there are 3 restaurants. Salvatore Cuomo Bros, a Japanese restaurant and a bar lounge.

We had made reservations for Salvatore Cuomo Bros because I had heard that they make really good Napoli pizza.

The interior of the restaurant was somewhat dark but had a nice mood. Satoshi thought the music was playing a little too loud, I told him he's getting old.

We chose the Napoli Cena 5800 yen (about US$58) per person. Starters included a choice of an assortment of appetizers or selection of charcuterie. Choice of two dishes from the antipasto, secondo (main dish), pizza or pasta lists. Choice of dessert and choice of hot beverage.

Satoshi chose the assortment of appetizers this came with cold (a cold fish mousse, piece of sashimi & a spoonful of salad) and hot appetizers (fried wakasagi (pond smelt) and a tiny ramekin of potato gratin). I chose the selection of charcuterie, this came with tastes of salami, proscuitto and melon and culatello.

I had a glass of Nero d'Avola Siciliana 900 yen but this paled in comparison to the glass that Satoshi had by Tormaresca called Bocca di Lupo...1800 yen. You could tell and taste that his was a better wine.

It was made from Aglianico grapes and was full bodied and had some spiciness to it. (After we came home, I looked online and this wine sells for was about $40 a bottle here, no wonder it was so delicious!)

We shared the antipasto--Tarabagani fritto (Alaskan king crab) which was a lightly battered AKC leg and some nanohana (rape blossom) and dasheen. This came with some coarse sea salt to dip into. I gave Satoshi the claw to eat and cut up the rape blossom and dasheen so we could both try it.

We also shared the D.O.C. pizza, this was a buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomato and basil pizza, this particular pizza has won awards. I loved the chewiness of the crust and creaminess of the cheese.

Then the pasta came, oyster and mushroom with a cream sauce flavored with yuzu (citron). The aroma was refreshing and complimented the oysters and mushrooms.

The main dish was a seafood cartoccio, which was seafood wrapped in parchment and cooked with tomatoes, olives and some other veggies. The soup from this dish reminded me of portuguese bean soup (a Hawaiian favorite).

When this dish came out it attracted the attention of many diners around us as the plastic pouch it was in was puffed up and then the waiter took the dish on the side to halve it for us.

We also asked for more bread to mop up the soup. (good call!)

For dessert, Satoshi chose the milk gnocchi with vanilla gelato, pannecotta & strawberry soup. This was delicious and light.

I chose the warm dark cherry and chocolate tart topped with caramel gelato. The raspberry puree on the bottom overpowered everything but was still delicious.

For hot beverages, Satoshi chose coffee while I chose cappuccino.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive this cute bear.

They also served some mignardise--homemade caramels & orange water almond biscotti.

It was a great meal, the service was very attentive and food delicious...total for our bill with 10% service charge was 17,270 yen (about US$172.70), not bad when you consider Satoshi had 2 beers, and we both had a glass of wine...we'll be back.

XEX West
Herbis Plaza Ent 7F
2-2-22 Umeda
Kita-ku, Osaka
Phone: 06.4795.0065