Tabelog rating37+1 (37+1) is a small Italian-leaning restaurant in Yamatotakada, Nara Prefecture, built around one idea: drawing as much flavour as possible out of vegetables. Chef Kamei studied vegetable growing and water quality at agricultural school. He grows much of his own produce and blends waters by hardness and pH to suit each ingredient. Many dishes use nothing but vegetable, salt and water. Diners compare his corn or daikon soup to a rich stock. The cooking is loosely Italian but closer to genre-less, and the wine list concentrates on rare Japanese bottles.
Almost every review returns to the depth of flavour. Guests single out these dishes:
- the salad of 30–60 home-grown leaves, herbs and edible flowers
- the salt-and-water soups: chestnut, onion and pumpkin
- the two-year house-cured ham with fig
- the onsen tamago (slow-cooked egg)
- precisely cooked wagyu
The chef's explanations at the counter and the warm husband-and-wife service are mentioned often.
The main criticism is cost. One diner said she drank little but was still served a wine pairing, and she was never told whether the price changed. Another rated value 1/5. Portions are small for big eaters. One guest found too many purées, and another disliked a rare duck.
The listed spend for both lunch and dinner is ¥15,000–19,999 per person. In 2023–2024, reviewers paid ¥10,000 plus service for the lunch omakase (chef's choice course) and ¥7,300 for the wine pairing. In 2025, three diners at lunch paid ¥45,000 in total for the ¥10,000 course plus five drinks each. In 2026, a dinner with drinks came to about ¥16,000 per person. Earlier courses (2020–2022) ran ¥7,200–8,000.
Most reviewers consider it remarkable value next to other Michelin-level meals, given the labour and the home-grown produce. It is an occasion price, not casual value.
- Booking: reservation only, by phone (0745-22-3118). You cannot just walk in.
- Getting there: about 200 m from Takada-shi Station on the Kintetsu line. The train from Osaka-Abenobashi takes roughly 30 minutes.
- Hours: Mon and Wed–Sun 12:00–14:00 and 18:00–23:00; closed Tuesday. A 2020 review also mentions closure on the first Wednesday of the month, so check before going.
- Payment: credit cards accepted (JCB and AMEX only). Electronic money and QR code payments are not accepted.
- Menu: set course only. You can order wine by the glass instead of the pairing. Confirm drink prices upfront.
- Seating: about 6 counter seats plus 2 tables. There are no private rooms, but the restaurant can be booked for private use. Lunch can last up to 3 hours.
- Smoking and parking: non-smoking; no parking.
- Children: reviewers say children are welcome. There is a wide range of unusual non-alcoholic drinks.
- Language: no reviews mention English menus or English service.