Kaiseki Furukawa

It is hard to put into words the amazing experience that we had here at Kaiseki Furukawa in Minneapolis. This was the single best meal we have ever had in our lives. It was an honor to dine with Shigeyuki Furukawa and his team. Our minds were blown by the quality of ingredients and the thought and care that went into the design of each item on the 10+ course menu. We also had a sake pairing that added another element throughout. This restaurant is truly a world class gem and we are lucky to have it here here in Twin Cities.

Food and service was AMAZING. Reservations needed ahead of time along with pre-payment. It was about $160/person. Additional $80 for drink pairing (highly recommend). Food was delicious and well plated. I didn't think I was going to be full from a tasting menu but by the end of it, I was surprisingly full and satisfied. The menu changes monthly as the chef uses ingredients that is in season. Expensive but well worth it. Will definitely be returning.

Let me begin with saying if there was a higher rating than 5 stars, I would give it more than that. We came here for our first year anniversary and were not disappointed. The flavors and the presentation of the dishes were reminiscent of summer. For example, one of the bowls had a top that when you turned it over.... there was a painting of fireworks on the surface of the bowl. One of my favorites was the salt grilled fish, it reminded me of something we eat within our culture. Everything seemed personalized. The menu had a "happy anniversary" message on there and at the end of our meal, we had a Polaroid picture taken of us. On top of that, with leftover rice from one of our meals... They made onigiri! It was also heartwarming to see the owner's eyes beam with passion as he described more about the dishes to my girlfriend in Japanese. It feels like to me that there is a lot of heart that went into the dishes and a lot of attention to the small details shows that. After the meal, the owner presented us his business card and told us about how the business card was made (which was very interesting). I've been to some nice places around here but this was truly a different experience that I don't think I could get anywhere around here. Chef Furukawa, thank you for the meal and I look forward to taking my Grandma here one day 🙂.

Amazing service and ambiance. We've eaten at a lot of eclectic international places, and like to try new dishes. My wife and I felt the food here lacked a presence and flavor range we'd expect from a 10-course menu. Lots of very similar stewed vegetables, gelatin-based dishes, etc. Perhaps the onus is on us to appreciate a very traditional menu, but we definitely felt that, objectively, the food lacked flavors.

One of the best course meals I've had in the Twin Cities. Everything was perfection. The course order was constructed well and the pairings were spot on. If you're looking for a nice night out this is the place, I highly recommend trying it for yourself.

Our evening at Kaiser Furukawa was perfect. Everyone on staff -- incredible, friendly, and knowledgable. The food -- thoughtful, surprising, and delicious. So much attention was given to the little details. I highly recommend having dinner here!

After falling in love with kaiseki cuisine on my trips to Japan, I was overjoyed when I learned of a restaurant opening up in Minneapolis. The food is elegantly presented and the seasonal ingredients are delicious. I am fondly remembering the Hassun course for the traditional Osechi New Years foods eaten in Japan for good luck in the upcoming year. Many people might be confused by this food and the way it is presented but the way the Japanese prepare and present food is very different from Americans. Yes, it is pricey compared to most other restaurants but that is entirely due to the fact that 80% of this menu had to be imported from Japan. Authentic Japanese food is so hard to find in the Midwest and this rare gem is so appreciated. I encourage everyone to give it a try if they can and to keep an open mind. You may not love everything but I promise you will find something that will surprise and delight you! ありがとうございました、ふるかわ様。おいしいかった。ごちそうさまでした。

Wow. My favorite dining experience I've had. I have been to Japan 3 times and this food had a very authentic flavor. We had a total of 10 courses. A few came with tea which paired really well. Even though these were small plates, we were quite full after all of the courses. One included a good amount of rice; they bagged up our leftover rice and made Onigiri with it.

Highly recommend. Phenomenal experience. Reservations required. The entire adventure was perfect. The service was amazing and all 10 of the courses were exquisitely prepared with attention to the smallest detail. From gold flakes on the glassware to made-in-house soy sauce and wasabi. The counter only serves 8 individuals. Prep for the courses is completed in front of you. The chef engages the guests as each dish is explained. Incredible to believe this quality of craftsmanship is available in Minneapolis. Unique experience for all foodies.

This was my partner and I's first time at Kaiseki Furukawa. We came to celebrate our two year anniversary and they even customized the menu with "Happy Anniversary!" on it for us. The experience overall was outstanding. You could tell the ingredients were of the highest quality and each dish was well thought out. We also shared the sake/wine pairings and each one complimented each course very. Our favorite courses were the Tsukuri, Shokuji, and Mizugashi. There's not much to say about the sashimi in the Tsukuri course other than it was just extremely fresh and delicious. In the Shokuji course, I was pleasantly surprised by the tiny sardines! The sardines paired with the rice and pickled veggies were a perfect match. I was also super excited to finally get the chance to try the famous expensive Japanese muskmelon in the Mizugashi course and it definitely did not disappoint! It was unbelievably juicy and sweet - almost as if you were eating candy. Prior to our reservation we specifically asked for no octopus and they were very accommodating by providing us with alternatives. After the first course they quickly noticed that my partner is left handed and always made sure to put his utensils and dishes pointing towards his left side which I thought was so thoughtful! Honestly it was the small details that really made this place standout. At the end of the meal we also got a cute Polaroid photo taken of us at the end so we can remember this experience forever! Definitely recommend coming here with an open mind, curiosity, and an empty stomach! You never know what might surprise you.

Very pricy but excellent quality and execution. Wonderful dinner served by Chef Hasegawa-San Bill is $260

This was our first kaiseki experience and it was a great time! I was surprised they even had something like this in MN. We were celebrating a late Valentine's day dinner, and everything from when we stepped into the restaurant was perfect. The staff were all so attentive and friendly - not overly the top home -y friendly, but professional friendly. Kaiseki is pretty similar to a tasting menu, there is a set menu with ten courses the head chef puts together and they change every month here. We sat up in front where we saw all the action and we chatted a bit with chef Kurukawa - he's so knowledgeable on Japanese cuisine it's so cool! He said the menus and the type of food they choose is based on the season. Out of the ten dishes, I would say 3-4 really stand out and one would probably be my all-time favorite thing here. It was this one in the soup base that had tofu and shiitake mushrooms. Everything was so deliberate and looked all beautiful. We are definitely coming back, but to be honest, it is expensive, so I wouldn't recommend for people who eat a lot because you probably won't be stuffed here. We were both contently full at the end. Service: great attentive people Ambience: modern/clean Japanese feels Food: amazing, unique things we've never had before in Midwest

I cannot express what a great experience we had with Chef Furukawa. We chose the restaurant to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and we also interested in tasting Kaiseki meal. Came in, greeted, took our coats, get seated. We started out with welcome tea and warm towels. The server brought out the trays for us and explained that these trays are meant for celebration (that's why we are here). We loved all the little touch that the restaurant brought. We chose counter seating because we wanted to talk with Chef Furukawa and saw him worked his magic. Our favorite are definitely the sashimi (tuna & Hokkaido scallops) because we could taste the freshness and actually understand the kaiseki concept. Rice and mushroom was also the star of the meal, simple yet delicious. Chef Furukawa gave us the rice with the word "Celebration" in a shape of a crane which wish longevity. One thing we loved about this meal was the simplicity in method while retaining the natural taste of the ingredient. Concluded the meal with desserts, matcha tea, again warm towels. Services are absolutely wonderful and attentive. Definitely recommend for special occasion (because it can be pricey) and counter seating for a private chef experience.

This was exquisite and really memorable. Thank you to Chef Furukawa and his incredible team. We are lucky to have authentic kaiseki in Minneapolis. The sake pairings were exceptional and service was unbelievable. Super attentive but in a way that felt natural. When you consider how special the ingredients are (much of it sourced from Japan), how labor intensive the preparations are, all the beautiful serveware and meticulous, seasonal attention to detail, this is actually an amazing value for a high end dining experience. I can't wait to go back to try a different seasonal menu and the omakase.

This was such a beautiful experience that was so special I almost got a little emotional. This is Japanese cuisine at its finest that's worth saving up for for a special occasion. Kaiseki is a coursed Japanese experience that showcases seasonal ingredients with expert execution and presentation. Every single course is so thoughtfully done, right down to every detail (the tools, techniques, dinnerware). True to Japanese culture, each dish was balanced in flavor, intricate in preparation yet clean, while each ingredient was respected. The service was incredible too -- very friendly, educational, and even interactive. Chef Furukawa came around to every table after; what an honor! Clearly I LOVED every single thing, so here's a little insight on the current menu: + Tosazu gelée with hokkaido kegani, minnesota corn, fresh edamame, bell pepper, and flowering shiso + Hamo sushi, nanbanzuke, soy-simmered sawagani, japanese eggplant dengaku, and kinpira of lotus root with konnyaku + Salt-grilled shikoku island ayu with house-pickled young myoga + Tsukuri seasonal sashimi = Aji, bluefin akami, and toro. NOTES: + Located above Kado No Mise, next to Gori Gori Peku + Make a reservation in advance! It's a small place. + Currently $125 per person + You can add a drink pairing program or order a la cart + Seasonal menu features 10 courses, structured from Hassun to Okashi

August 17, 2021 is a special evening- Kaiseki Furukawa has return after months of pause because of pandemic. This seasonal delicacy elegantly capture the skill and mastery of Furukawa's talent in both invention and preserve of tradition that placed and set your palate to its high standard- artistic presentation and careful balance of nutrition, shape/ form and taste-a simply magical culinary in an preserved second floors first st and first ave of Minneapolis . Ten (10) dish range from blue prawn, Hokkaido Octopus, bluefin akami and toro to Minnesota Tomato, corn and leaves...salt grill aichi Yu, (fish) grill toro and many elegance root and broth--- Presented in parade of luxury ceramic, glass plate and bowl, decorated with leaves, flower and mastery in "using" of what universe has given. From the sea, land, and mountain-- delicacy and its power. Three chefs working together, lead by the owner and head chef Furukawa, chef Tomoyo and chef Daisuke, three of them are the gift to us in Minneapolis dining and cultural wealth that exchange.... I was flying to a blue gold sky of deliciousness -- with deep appreciation of brilliance craft of Kaiseki- a prime one, a gold blue sea, a blue mountain of secrecy of root, trees, leave, all in front of you-- for you-- arigatow!these delicacy of seasonal -- grounded to its epic as a standard..

Incredible. I waited a long time for them to reopen. It is a must-try. Only 2 seatings on Tuesdays.

The chef asked us what our favorite dish was of the tasting menu... I have been thinking about it since we are there on the 14th. While dessert was excellent and probably the thing central to our mind when he asked I think the problem is there was very little that I didn't Love! The drink I had with it's strange alcoholic grapefruit paper was so great! The first thing we ate which was a tofu bundle for lack of a better description was so good, pickles, sashimi, all the things... I know this is probably not everyone's cup of tea, speaking of tea even the starting tea was great... sooo I would say get on the email list to see the monthly menu and make a reservation when the items strike your fancy, I did and I definitely recommend it!

This is truly an experience to try! Granted maybe only try once --as others have noted --it is quite spendy. The total for two of us for food, sake/wine pairing, tax, and tip was well over $500. Yes, $500. Ouch. The food was delicious and intricately prepared. The chef and staff would stop by and explain each course. The dishes are from the chef's family and beautifully handpainted. I really enjoyed the octopus, sashimi, mackerel, and the sea bass. The valet was $7 but he sprinted to get our vehicle like The Flash which was hilarious and awesome so we bumped up the tip! Minus a star for pricing and not a fan of the desserts.

Before reading my review, please check the review of Kim T. from Fort Lauderdale who succinctly summarizes all of the factual information one should know before taking a seat at Kaiseki Furukawa. Kaiseki is all about the seasons and regions. Minnesota does not have another Kaiseki restaurant. This is an intimate setting, many servers, few guests. This is a multi course meal, served on much of the proprietor's own dinnerware; each piece has some familial history and in some cases is hundreds of years old. Eating here is all about respecting historical and ethnic cuisine, enveloping yourself in heritage and culture, and imbibing earthly riches of bountiful harvest, cultivating the traditions of pure forms and rhythm of cuisine through taste and texture.... Yada yada. I'm honestly a little concerned about posting a review of this place now, because there's only two other reviews and I want someone smarter to eat here before it's fully judged. I've spent more than a month in Japan, but still feel wholly under qualified to understand what the heck this place is. Let me speak a little more pragmatically about KF. Firstly, you must pay ahead. This is clearly an attempt to ensure you're aware of the stunning cost of your meal beforehand, sans liquids. You start your meal (a little confusingly) entering what appears to be another Japanese restaurant entirely. (Kado No Mise, BTW, looks fantastic and in some ways, I wish we'd just stayed put.) You walk behind the host station and up an otherwise unremarkable stairwell to get there. From there, you are directed to the bar, with a nice selection of Japanese whiskey. I recognized many of the bottles from grocery stores and gas stations in Japan. Tough to see $18 for an ounce of gas station whiskey, but someone had to import it. When your table is ready, you're taken to another room. Your anticipation is huge, because you spent a mortgage payment to get there. It turns out to be a dimly lit brick and whitewashed room with a few tables and a small bar, all of course very sparsely decorated. (If you turned the lights on, it would probably look like a lonely apartment.) It was our 10th wedding anniversary, so we did not heed the advice of Kim T.; we chose a table. We wanted to see each other. Perhaps, in hindsight, we should have heeded Kim's advice, but then we wouldn't have eaten there because my wife and I wanted to have a normal conversation. My wife and I are fans of saki, but she does not like white wine. This threw the sampler menu out the window and the sommelier into a tailspin, for white wine goes with fish (and there's clearly fish on a japanese menu). He suggested a $140 bottle of saki, and it was hard to know whether he was just upselling or really thought it was good. His second selection also was the second most expensive, so we picked that. Maybe we were chumps, I don't know. The truth is, the whole menu, even before we got there, made me uneasy. I feel like, when someone needs to use 7 words to say "mushroom", they must be hiding something. "Hhagama-cooked hokkaido yumepirika rice with oregon matsutake". Translation: Rice with mushroom sauce. Many restaurants are guilty of this, but I can't help but think it's pretentious, or for dumb people. I understand though, that no one's going to go to your restaurant if your menu says, "mushroom flavored rice"; unless of course, that rice is fan-frigging-tastic. Which, honestly, is the case here. Probably one of the highlights of the meal. There are a steady stream of courses coming at you. It's not rapid-fire, by any means. The whole meal took 4 hours. This was grossly over what we told our babysitter, so after about hour 2.5, we were checking our phones constantly. I was also nervous as heck that I was going to break one of Mr. Furukawa's ancient fancy plates. One of the most memorable points of the meal, for me, unfortunately was a lowpoint. There was some little pregnant fish that had been sliced the short way and treated in a bunch of fancy ways. Biting into it was reminiscent of eating my uncle's buckshot-filled wild game when I was a kid; something crunched in a way that was just wrong, and I thought I cracked a molar. I'm confident Mr. Furukawa works his can off, I'm positive he believes 100% in what he's doing, and I'm sure he's mastered some Culture & Heritage test and that his forefathers would be proud. But just like the nude baths, the warm toilet seats, and the hot-liquid vending machines across Japan, I'm just not sure we're ready for him yet. I do feel terrible for the 3 stars. Wish I could do 3.5. Would have done 4 had I not been concerned about cracking a tooth. Oh- final note; google maps can't find this place for whatever reason. It got us within a few blocks. We called them and said we couldn't find the restaurant and they said, "Oh, you must be using google maps."

Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese multi-course meal where the food is selected based on the season and also often as representation of different regions and or environments. It could be said that when you're eating kaiseki, you are eating the seasons. With that said, Kaiseki Furukawa is the first of it's kind here in Minnesota and I am hopeful to have the pleasure of enjoying another meal here someday. Kaiseki Furukawa shares it's space with Kado No Mise, the foremost is located on the second floor while the latter is on the first floor. Check-in is located when you walk in, directly before the stairs. Once you're seated be prepared for an 8-12 course meal with a wine & sake pairing available. Seating is available at the counter for 9 guests or tables. If you are dining as a couple or alone I would highly recommend sitting at the counter where you can watch the food being prepared and converse with the chefs. The food...what can I say? This is my second time having kaiseki but I feel like the two experiences are worlds apart. Let's start with presentation. Every course brought out is served on different service ware that has been meticulously procured and selected for that dish. Chef Furukawa has been creating this collection for years and it is so stunning. As always with Japanese cuisine, the presentation of the food is top notch with lovely colors, texture combinations and flavors. There was one dish with eggplant that melted in your mouth, it was cooked perfectly. The bluefin toro and mebaru rock fish were head tiltingly good. Is it worth it? So kaiseki is not an inexpensive meal wherever may go but this restaurant is definitely worth a try. The food, atmosphere and service are all top notch and on point. If you drink and have the extra funds splurge for the wine & sake pairing. If you don't, there are still plenty of good options available for libation enjoyment.

In my opinion, this is not only the best sushi in the Twin Cities, but one of the best in the United States. Truly superb.

Eating here is the price of a couple of nights at a good hotel if you also do the drink pairing menu - but it is SO WORTH IT! This was one of the most outstanding, unique, and relaxing experiences we have ever had. We felt like we had been to a cleansing spa at the end of the meal. We left full in a light and good way, and content. Expertly made inventive food that is enjoyable - every. single. course. Perfectly matched drinks. Kind staff who are formal and casual and personable and discreet all in one - great job! We have been to many good restaurants in many great cities, and consider living and eating in San Francisco the greatest, but Kaiseki is its own and needs not be compared with any other restaurant or city. We are lucky to have this special restaurant here, and I hope I am lucky enough to dine here again. A memorable experience worth savoring.

There is so much sentiment, history, and tradition at Kaiseki Furukawa; I'm not sure where to start. Shigeyuki Furukawa is the chef, owner, and storyteller of this namesake restaurant. He brings the philosophy of Kaiseki and the flavors of his memories to the table with exacting detail, and it felt like stepping into someone's dream for 2-3 hours. The space itself was sparsely adorned, gently lit, and appropriately proportioned to let the dishes take center stage. The dinnerware was meticulously chosen and at the same time, whimsical. The staff was thoughtful, soft-spoken, attentive, and knowledgeable. The 10 courses respected, as best it could, seasonality and locality. The wine pairing did not restrict itself, and it was the best pairing selection I've ever experienced. My favorite course was the Suimono (soup), a broth of dashi, eel, mushroom, gingko, and sudachi (cross between a lime and yuzu). It's incredibly comforting and complex. My least favorite course was the Shinogi containing yellowtail and wakame in nori vinaigrette as the three, in combination, was incredibly potent and not appealing to me. It awoke me to the realization that I was a guest in Furukawa's dream, and that can be a very polarizing sense. The ending of the evening brought the whole experience home. The leftovers from the Shokuji rice course were made into little onigiri with pickled radish on the side to take away. Kaiseki Furukawa isn't for everyone, but I recommend a visit and splurging for the wine pairing. It's a story worth knowing and a dream worth tasting.

This is a wonderful experience! The food, the service, the owner - all very special. Need to lengthen this so... I've always been interested in traveling to Japan. This was educational as well as enjoyable. If you long for Kyoto, go!

It's definitely the best Japanese course meal you can have in Minnesota, probably in the Midwest. The wine and sake pairing is $60 per person and it's worth every penny. After the 10 course meal and wine/sake pairing plus tax and tip, I spent over $500 for 2 people, but the food, drinks and services were all amazing. Their menu changes every month, and I am excited to find out what chef Furukawa will have for us next month.

My partner and I dined here to celebrate a special occasion, and had a fantastic experience. Other reviews will tell you what Kaiseki is, so I won't go into that here, but the fact that this is part of a longstanding cultural tradition made the meal feel much more unified than the typical tasting menu. I've eaten a lot of knockout tasting menus (in Minneapolis and elsewhere), but never Kaiseki -- and it was different in ways I really appreciated. We opted for the counter, which was great in that we were able to watch as each dish was plated and converse with the chefs during the meal, but was slightly awkward for beverage service. I would still choose it again, however; as someone who always enjoys Japanese cuisine but doesn't really know that much about it, I found the educational experience really rewarding. We didn't hesitate to ask for advice if we weren't sure about the recommended way to eat a dish, and appreciated that advice was offered enthusiastically and without shaming. All ten of the courses were exquisite, beautifully plated and presented. All, save one, were also delicious. The one exception was a piece of grilled yellowtail, which was still tasty but a little dry (overdone, I think). Ten courses were really eleven plates, since the sashimi course was two plates served in succession. It's hard to choose standouts, since everything (except the yellowtail) was so good, but my favorites were the second course (Hassun), where candied ginger matchsticks were the perfect foil to vinegary potato, daikon, and mushroom, and the eighth course (Shokuji): perfectly prepared rice with baby sardines, pickles, and the most delicious miso soup I've ever tasted. We did get the optional beverage pairing, which I would definitely recommend if it's in the budget. The beverages included four wildly different sakes, all of which were delicious and well-matched to their parts of the meal, and two wines, a dark rose and a red. We also had three teas, which I think were just part of the meal and not the beverage pairing, and they also perfectly complemented their portions of the meal. This was a long meal served at a very leisurely pace. The surroundings are quiet (jazz played in the background, but the music was not loud) and calm. We were there for nearly 3 and half hours all told. We didn't mind this, as it encouraged us to really savor every small bite. With so many subtle flavors, taking time was a very good thing. If you enjoy Japanese food and chef's tasting menus, Kaiseki Furukawa is well worth the cost. I'm giving it five stars despite the dry yellowtail because the overall experience was so great. I recommend it highly and wish I could afford to go every month when the menu changes.

If you want to experience an authentic, beautifully prepared, and orchestrated multi-course Japanese meal, here is your chance. Each month a new 10 course meal is presented. Our meal featured soy based ingredients for good luck in the new year. Some of the dishes, such as the Imari sushi, soybean umani, yolk-grilled prawn and duck breast were transportive. Wait staff were incredibly poised and engaged with the presentation while serving the dishes - so exceptionally polite and knowledgeable. The space of the restaurant allows for larger groups, smaller tables for couples as well as bar seating (for watching the chefs) - all to co-exist without disturbing one another. The lighting was spot on - that is a big concern of mine when I eat out, and this restaurant nails it. Overall, it was an A plus experience!

Exquisite 10 course meal with the most delicate preparations - really Japanese cuisine at its finest. Couldn't believe we weren't in a Kyoto temple! The menu changes with the seasons and the "fall" flavors were just outstanding - maple leaf and ginkgo chips and a chestnut dessert - every single thing was perfection. Only drawback was that as we were a party of 5, we were seated in a private room at the back. While the privacy was lovely, the lighting was so low that it was difficult to read the menu or see the exquisitely presented food without turning on our phone flashlights. This is not a problem in the main dining areas. The wine and sake pairing (which is optional) was also excellent and they let us split it for the pair of moderate drinkers in the party, and that brought the price down. This quality of a culinary experience would be at least twice the price in New York folks. Just go!

One of the best and most fascinating meals I have ever had in the Twin Cities. The ten courses were all delicious and beautifully presented, and they demonstrated a vast range of ingredients and cooking techniques. On the night my mother and I visited in June, there were ten courses: amuse-bouche, seasonal appetizer platter, clear soup, sashimi, grilled dish, simmered dish, vinegared dish, entree, and two desserts. It took me a while to "get into" the meal; the first dish, sesame tofu with uni, was delicious but difficult to eat. But especially after the sashimi course, I became enchanted. Besides the sashimi, the perfectly grilled piece of sea bream was a particular highlight. I even enjoyed the very simple "entree" course of rice, pickles and miso soup, near the end of the meal. The food was just as impressive to look at as to eat. Everything was plated beautifully, and each dish was served on a different piece of tableware. The service was beyond impressive; I really enjoyed the chance to talk with the servers and chefs. Overall, this meal was a fascinating lesson in Japanese food and culture. Kaiseki is not the sort of meal one can eat every day, but even a single kaiseki meal is unforgettable. The city of Minneapolis can take pride in having a restaurant like this.

The food and experience are unmatchable in the Twin Cities. The food was well paced, and at 10 courses that took 4.5-5 hours. Truly a special occasion.

Kaiseki has always been on my list of cuisines to try and I finally came with my parents in April. This place is a gem of the twin cities! We had ten gorgeous courses with stunning adventures for taste buds and Mr Furukawa's view towards human beings and nature. Since it was April and the hanami (cherry blossoms) season, many of the dishes had cherry flowers somehow involved and it created a rather refreshing flavor. Each course was not much but altogether the whole dinner was just about the right size, plus some traditionally cooked delicious Japanese rice for takeout. I feel fortunate that we have such a wonderful traditional Kaiseki experience just in our neighborhood. Although $125 per person is expensive for a meal, I find the money is better spent than some of the Michelin restaurants I had in Paris!

We became immersed in the Japanese cuisine of Kaiseki as Chef Furukawa and his staff took us on a 2 1/2 hour culinary experience this past Saturday evening. Plus, as another customer sharing counter space with us stated, "we are not in Minnesota right now"! With each course, Jacob not only told us what we were about to eat but also he told the story and meaning Chef Furukawa wanted us to feel and taste with every bite. In addition, you will appreciate the fine attention to details and story behind every plate, bowl and other serving vessels used for every course. Overall, this was a very memorable meal and one every foodie and culinary enthusiast should experience for themselves.

Having been in and out of Japan since 1964, spent two years there on Fulbright, and over another year on multiple visits since, and taught Japanese history at two Universities for 44 years, I know something about the food and the culture. Kaiseki Furukawa compares well to a visit to Kyoto where I lived for a year and a half. The food is delicious, artfully presented, elegently served and explained, and a cultural and culinary experience. With the wine pairing and tip, the meal is a pricey, special occasion treat. It is well worth the price for those who want a true Japanese dining experience of the highest quality. Bill H.

This is more of an experience than a meal. A great challenge of textures and flavors. The whisky bar is fantastic.

We dined in last Saturday. The environment was good, quiet and relaxing, but the Kaiseki did not meet my expectation. The only two dishes I liked were tofu and rice w/corns. Other ones did not stand out among other Japanese restaurants qualitywise or tastewise. Not really worth the price I paid for.

Our experience here was exceptional. The restaurant is small with intimate seating and nice separation between tables making it great for conversation. The staff is small but exceptional and so well trained on the menu. Tradition and precision are a large part of the service which made the experience even more enjoyable. We try tasting menus frequently and this one was excellent. Every course had contrasting flavors and textures that we talked about until the next course arrived. Don't expect to see much sushi and rice on the menu but a lot of fish and no red meat. It is 10 courses so we left satisfied on all levels. I am gluten free and the chef did an excellent job of accommodating without compromising the experience-probably the best I have ever seen. Plan for a full evening as the pacing is such that you can enjoy all aspects of the evening. Our reservations were at 7:30 and we didn't leave until 11:15. It is worth the cost for this fantastic experience. We will definitely go back. No prepayment required.

I thought the food here was excellent, even compared to what we ate in Kyoto a few months back. The wine and sake pairing add on, which for 60 gives you 2 large glasses of wine and 3 types of sake, was an amazing deal considering that all the sake we were given were in the over 50 per bottle price range. Overall, it was an inventive and tasty meal with a professional and knowledgeable service staff. I would recommend dining here to anyone. Also, it might be worth mentioning that I'm Asian, of partial Japanese descent, and was born and lived in Asia for most of my life until recently. I have visited Japan over 10 times in my life since I have relatives. While I'm not sure if this qualifies me as being "smart" enough to judge this Japanese restaurant as another reviewer from the Minnesota suburbs has pointed out, I can only speak from my experience and not anyone else's tastes.

In all the food is good, not great. Ambiance is very nice. Service was beyond slow - we sat down at 7:30 left at 10:30 after asking to expedite dessert...for ten courses that's very, very, very slow. I've been to many prefix meals around the world and none felt this slow. In terms of value, even compared to other prefix meals, this is poor at best.