On a street behind the Kumamoto City Office, in a location that might easily be overlooked, is ""IL CASINO"". This Italian restaurant, which exemplifies the word hideaway, is looked after by a single individual, Kumamoto-born Kentaro Bekki.
Chef Bekki absorbed the essence of cuisine from all over Italy with a focus on Rome, when he was training in Italy, then worked as a chef at ""BOSCHETTA"" in Shirokanedai, Tokyo, before opening ""IL CASINO"" in his hometown, Kumamoto, in 2015. The restaurant acquired one star in July 2018 in the first Kumamoto version to be released by a world gourmet guidebook.
The only menu available is the Chef’s Course. Chef Bekki, who says he “wants to make the food to suit the season,” does not have a fixed concept, relying on a flexible mindset and graphic sensibilities to create his meals. With a focus on vegetables and seafood harvested locally in Kumamoto, he also uses carefully selected ingredients that best suit the season such as herbs from the ""Kajiya Farm"" in Hiroshima, which is widely acclaimed, chiefly by exclusive restaurants; Tankaku (short-horned) wagyu beef from Iwate and Ozaki wagyu beef from Miyazaki; and French lamb. Pasta is strictly hand-made, using special-ordered rare semolina flour. The pasta, made with the least amount of water possible, is crisp, and highly popular.
The is no restriction by country of origin for the wine, but they are limited to those that Bekki himself sampled and fell in love with. The Japanese sake has stronger umami profiles to match Western dishes, and they are carefully selected to perfectly match the food through tastings by sommeliers and sake tasters. The pairing course, which matches drinks for each dish up to dessert, enjoys a large following among guests for creating synergies in flavor through the marriage of food and drinks.
There are eight counter seats in the restaurant, and each seat has an excellent view of the chef at work. The live performance aspect of sounds, scents, and charcoal smoke is another thing to look forward to at IL CASINO. Please feast on the sensitive Italian cuisine launched by a chef with intimate knowledge of foodstuffs in Kumamoto.
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* The availability of an English version of this page does not guarantee that the restaurant can provide services in English unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that, even if stated, there may still be days when English speaking staff are unavailable.
【Access】
■A 3-minute walk from Kumamoto Castle Shiyakusyomae Station(Kumamoto Tramen A)
■A 3-minute walk from Kumamoto Castle Shiyakusyomae Station(Kumamoto Tramen B)
