France, Paris

A new address to know in Saint Germain des Prés for the aficionados of raw fish. Founded by Takuya Watanabe and David Memmi, already owner of Mems and Birdy restaurants, this new Hand Bar roll should be a great success. 

Redecorated by the architectural studio Mur. Mur, the universe is sober but striking. The blue marble bar, the cubic shapes, and the futuristic light effects plunge us into a revisited marine universe. 

A refined place that leaves room for the colorful dishes scrolling on the counter. Here, we taste the plates directly at the counter, like in the markets of Tokyo.

Kaito, which means “man of the sea” in Japanese, offers crispy seaweed rolls filled with raw fish, condiments, and even tofu. All the dishes offered are based on three principles: the origin, the technique (the fish matures for several hours), and the quality of the artisanal products. 

We start our lunch with smoked herring rolls, shiso, and ginger. The herring is smoked by the family house “Le fumoir d’Antan,” located in Canada, which uses ancestral techniques of smoking. The combination of the smoked herring and the freshness of the ginger is simply divine. Then come the grilled toro rolls, warmed up with white asparagus and shiso. Here again, we succumb to the freshness of the perfectly seasoned products. But also, the surprising marriage between Italy and Japan, Toro burrata, olive oil, and fleur de sel, interesting. 

Finally come the Sashimi red tuna, accompanied by two sauces sojas, chives, leeks and dill, radish. Homemade sauce made from Sake and Kombu, a grey seaweed very high in iodine. Flavors that titillate our taste buds before offering us a real explosion in the mouth. 

You can accompany your order with a selection of Japanese whisky (Yamazaki, Hakushu…) or sakés (Schichihonyari, Kokuryu, Dassaï), cultivated in a traditional way by Mrs Sake. 

As for wine, the restaurant offers a nice selection of Burgundy (Chablis, Gevrey Chambertin or Chassagne Montrachet.), rare enough to be mentioned.

The perfect address to keep your figure before the summer and to discover the atmosphere of the Markets in Tokyo.

Kaïto

71 rue de Seine

75006 Paris

https://www.instagram.com/kaito.paris/

Flora di Carlo