Wakuriya, San Mateo

I scored an elusive reservation at Wakuriya for a friend and his wife, but unfortunately they could not make it.  A one-star Michelin restaurant with possibly only 20 covers a day, and at a reasonable price tag of $98, this place is IMPOSSIBLE to make a reservation at.  One has to wait till midnight, give them a call (or many calls, a number of which lead to a dial tone), leave a voicemail, and hope to get a call back the next day.  There were only 3 people working in the restaurant as far as we could see - the married Japanese couple who own the restaurant, and another younger gentlemen who was maybe the apprentice and helped with some food prep, bussing and cleaning.  We had been here before a couple of years with some friends, and had a fabulous experience there, and we were really looking forward to the repeat.

Here was our multi-course dinner, exquisitely presented  We started with a glass of refreshing soju-ish drink, some seafood courses, then a duck, their usual Snake River Farm beef, and dessert.  I have the menu at home, but unfortunately do not remember most of it.

I thought the meal tasted really good, but somehow remember it being more delicious the last time.  I do find that when I hype up somewhere previously attended in my mind, I usually get disappointed.  Still a great place, at a steal, with amazing Japanese service (and food), with a Michelin star.  Please go, and make a reservation, and enjoy this fabulous meal.