Tabelog ratingTsuzura (つづら) is a house restaurant set in a quiet residential street on the edge of Komatsu. The building follows sukiya teahouse architecture. Most guests eat in private rooms that face a tended garden, and some rooms have their own toilet. There is also a counter. The signature dish arrives in crab season: kōbako-gani gratin, female snow crab baked in white sauce and brought to the table bubbling over the edge of an iron vessel. Several reviewers say it is the reason they came.
Almost every review praises the dashi and the light, exact seasoning. Diners keep mentioning the kombu-cured sweet-shrimp nigiri served early in the meal. Other dishes they single out:
- nameraa (kijihata, a local grouper) sashimi
- nodoguro in the soup course
- kuzu-thickened hot pots with abalone
- fig dressed with sweet sesame
The desserts are also popular, especially green plums in syrup, chilled tomato and kuzukiri. The service, the tableware and the closing matcha draw frequent compliments.
Criticism is minor. Drink prices are not listed, and two diners mentioned this. One guest had drinks cleared without warning, and a Western-style dessert disappointed one reviewer. There is no printed menu, and the meal can run long. One visit when the chef was absent felt slightly lacking.
Reviewers quote course prices only; prices for individual dishes are not documented. At lunch, reviewers paid from ¥3,850 plus tax and service for a bento (2022), around ¥7,500 for an omakase (2023) and ¥12,000 for a summer course (2024). At dinner, reviewers paid for courses at ¥10,000 or ¥15,000 plus tax and service. With drinks, totals came to roughly ¥15,000–20,000 per person. Reviewers consider it good value. It costs far less than a comparable meal in Tokyo or Kyoto, the portions are filling, and the lunch course is often called a bargain.
- Getting there: about 3.3 km from JR Komatsu Station, roughly 10 minutes by taxi. The house is hard to find without navigation.
- Booking: reservation only, by phone (0761-23-3389). You cannot walk in. Reviewers booked anywhere from 5 days to 2 months ahead, so call as early as you can.
- Payment: JCB, AMEX and Diners cards accepted. Electronic money is not accepted. A 10% service charge is added.
- Seats: 25 in total, including a counter and private rooms for 4 with tables and chairs.
- Smoking: fully non-smoking.
- Parking: available, but it is some distance from the restaurant and easy to miss.
- Menu and timing: there is no printed menu. Allow about 2 hours.
