Tabelog ratingRestaurant Raffinage (レストラン ラフィナージュ) is a Michelin-starred destination in Ginza where classical French cuisine is filtered through a Japanese seasonal lens. The experience is intimate and focused, with chef Takato Ikegami cooking for just 20 guests, many of them seated at the counter with a direct view of the kitchen. The restaurant is particularly lauded for its combination of refined technique and high-quality local ingredients.
Guests consistently praise the chef's perfect control over heat and his rich, deeply worked sauces. Signature dishes that appear in reviews include a perfectly seared foie gras poêlé, compositions of white asparagus and scallop, and fish courses like suzuki (sea bass) or kinme (splendid alfonsino) with impeccably crisp skin. Mains of Kinka pork or local lamb are also highlights, and many note the generous portion sizes.
While the food receives near-universal acclaim, a minority of reviewers mention that the service timing can be uneven, with courses sometimes arriving out of sync. The atmosphere is more relaxed and friendly than the formal fine-dining setting some might expect. The wine pairings are generally well-regarded, though some have found them to be variable.
The restaurant is widely considered to offer excellent value. The lunch omakase is frequently cited as a bargain, with reviewers recently paying around ¥11,000 for a Michelin-level meal. Dinner is a larger investment; one guest reported a dinner course at around ¥20,000–¥22,000, while another's full dinner with wine pairings came to ¥33,220. Wine pairings can add ¥8,000–¥8,800 to the bill.
- Location: In Ginza, on the 2nd floor of the GINZA-A-5 building. It is a 5-minute walk from Ginza Station.
- Reservations: Essential, particularly for lunch. Note that cancellation fees apply: 25% of the meal cost for cancellations two days prior, 50% one day prior, and 100% on the day of the reservation.
- Menu: The restaurant serves a single omakase (tasting menu) for both lunch and dinner. There is no à la carte menu.
- Seating: There are 8 counter seats and 12 table seats. Private rooms are available for parties of 2, 4, or 8.
- Dress Code: Smart casual is recommended. Men are specifically asked to refrain from wearing shorts and sandals.
- Children: For lunch, children of elementary school age and older are welcome in private rooms only. For dinner, all guests must be of high school age or older.
- Payment: Credit cards are accepted. Electronic money and QR code payments are not. A 10% service charge is added to the bill.
- Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
- Parking: Parking is not available.
