Reminiscence Restaurant

Reminiscence Restaurant

Redefining Nagoya’s local dining scene is a young chef with a vision to reimagine authentic French cuisine. Made to leave “resonance and memory” in the guest’s mind, the curated recipes at Reminiscence ride on his creativity to transform seasonal ingredients into flavorful works of art. Book early to be one of the eight lucky parties of the evening.

Committed to staging an unforgettable culinary experience, Head Chef Masaki Kuzuhara keeps his guestlist short, allowing only eight parties for the entire evening. From the signature eel dish to sea urchin appetizer, he curates a parade of unique and beautiful recipes that combine modern aesthetics and traditional approaches.

Having trained at two of the top French establishments in Japan—Quintessence in Tokyo and Hajime in Osaka—he has this incredible ability to mix and match ingredients from various parts of the country. Now proud to be based in his hometown of Nagoya, his cuisine is playful, experimental and simply stunning.

Opened in July 2015, the small restaurant is conveniently located on a block near Shirakawa Park, just about 10 min from Nagoya Station. He initially wanted somewhere even quieter but felt the location shouldn’t be too remote.

From the street, you can see the bright and minimalist interior of the restaurant through large windows. The windows look like a big picture frame when you are inside looking out, showcasing the beautiful scenes of four seasons, he adds. “When I first tried to imagine how I wanted the restaurant to look like, all I could see when I closed my eyes was a restaurant like this—all white on the inside with lots of light,” he recalls.

Once you step inside, the air is still and peaceful. The kitchen is tucked away in the back, allowing a spacious and quiet area for the guests. There is also a private room. The decor is modern and minimalist with tables set ample distances apart with rows of beautifully handcrafted chairs by Hans Wagner. Each table is set perfectly with a white silky table cloth, making you wonder of the beautiful colors and flavors to come.