With its mountains and sea, Chef Yuta Yamamoto says that the environment of Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is similar to the environment of Marseille, where he trained. In a picturesque location with a view of the Enoshima Electric Railway, diners will find French restaurant Fierté.
After graduating from high school, Yamamoto worked for four years at Royal Park Hotel in Nihonbashi Suitengu Shrine before leaving Japan for France. There, he trained at a one-star restaurant in Marseille for a year. After returning to Japan, he studied at acclaimed restaurants such as L’ecrin in Ginza, La Table de Toriumi in Chigasaki, and L’orgueil in Gaienmae. After helping at a restaurant run by his father in his hometown of Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, he finally opened Fierté in June 2019.
The name Fierté denotes pride in French. “We want to provide service with pride, and make our customers smile. Smile with excitement before eating, smile with deliciousness after eating,” Yamamoto says.
The menu is a combination of the day’s best produce, paired with an ethos to avoid serving the same dishes, a conscious decision made in order to preserve the excitement of everyday life. Yamamoto and his team serve different sauces and textures, even if the ingredients from different regions, such as seafood from Saga and citrus from Kochi, overlap. Dishes with citrus accents are reminiscent of the southern French cuisine that Yamamoto studied, with additional influences from L’ecrin evident. The restaurant is also proud of its soup de poisson, a classic dish native to southern France that Yamamoto learned to make in country.
The wine list leans towards France, with French champagne, white, red, rosé offered to guests. While there is no conventional sommelier, the chef will select pairings that match the cuisine after tasting it himself, so guests are recommended to ask for casual suggestions.
With a cool gray interior to match the exterior, the dining room features wood-grain accents to bring out warmth. The restaurant is particular about the plates and glasses, favouring pieces from Bernardaud china to Riedel glassware. In particular, for the glasses for mineral water, Yamamoto scoured the country for glassware that fit the restaurant’s requirements.
The restaurant is a quiet and calm space located on one of Kamakura's busy streets. Guests can relax at the 7-seat counter and enjoy a date or gathering with friends. A table seats up to 7 diners and benefits from being surrounded by windows, creating a sense of openness during the day and a private room-like intimacy during the evening.
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* The availability of this webpage does not guarantee that the restaurant presented provides services in English, unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that English services may also depend on staff availability at the restaurant.
Access
A 3-minute walk from Kamakura Station, West Exit (JR Yokosuka Line)
