Japanese ryōtei or French fine dining? The two come together like a pair of chopsticks at Seino, run by Minoru Seino and Oumar Dramé – the former came from Hokkaido to confront his culinary fantasies alongside Bernard Loiseau, the latter left his native Guinea to cook at Inada. Here at Seino with its 50 shades of earth tones, the duo sure have a fire in their belly! Take the day we went for lunch, served in a sort of XXL circular bento box, to be nibbled clockwise: slow-cooked eggplant and kumquat, broccolini and baby corn tsukemono, inari sushi, veggie gyoza, mashed parsnip with shiso… Pray the clock never strikes noon! Fortunately, the main course continues this journey to Umamiland: sweet potatoes and carrots surrounding tender pork belly moistened by soy and dashi; before an enchanting blood orange sorbet dotted with a cacao crumble. // Salty Lychee

FEELING THIRSTY? Hand-picked sakes and wines that are sure to please the palate: Junmai Daiginjo (€9.50 a glass), a non-filtered Frisant Bianco from Il Farneto (€35 a bottle), and Moulin-à-Vent from Richard Rottiers (50 €).
PRICE: Menus €35 (lunch) and €75 (dinner), food-wine-sake pairing €35.