This intimate counter is a tight squeeze, but that’s hardly a deterrent for the guests who come for Chef Manabu Asanuma’s inspired kaiseki. From raw and grilled to simmered, steamed and fried, the menu is rooted heavily in the seasons, pulling ingredients from surrounding areas as well as prized seafood and meat from Japan. Soba noodles made with buckwheat from the chef's hometown are constant fixtures that read personal and sincere. Dessert is playful, most recently featuring strawberries, sake lees ice cream and strawberry foam. Sharply dressed servers standing nearby keep close watch over the evening’s proceedings, ever ready to assist. Do not miss the superb, well-stocked sake program that will delight even the most devoted collectors.