Pontocho Robin

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ experience for creative and authentic Kyoto dishes. I had a 8 course dish, which is pre-fixed based on seasonal items. My server was Chika. She was very hospitable, attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. She also knows a lot about sake. And the food...wow! The food is so fresh and has beautiful presentation. Chika even showed me a tray with the whole ingredients that I would be enjoying that night (matsutake mushroom, pike fish, red snapper, and some vegetables). The chefs are very proud of their menu, and are also eager to satisfy their customers. I recommend this place to anyone who wants creative dishes, and is an adventurous eater! I do not recommend this place if you are picky or have major dietary restrictions.

I only went to Kyoto for kawadoko in Pontocho and some shopping and i came across Robin restaurant on TableCheck. Wasn't sure what to expect but it definitely exceeded my expectations. Food was amazing. The fish, red snaper was the star. It was just mouthwatering. Drinks were yummy too. They make their own fruit liquor in house so it was extra special taste. The service guy at the entrance wasn't very nice and didn't feel welcoming tbh, despite saying few times konnichiwa we were ignored for a bit. It felt a bit awkward and not welcomed. I know that Kyoto is over run with tourists but there is no reason to hate people who come to spend money in the restaurant. This was quickly made up by the lovely Chicka. She was amazing and spoke perfectly English which was a bonus. I can speak some basic Japanese so I don't expect them to speak English. I can get by with my broken few sentences in Japanese but it was nice not needing to try after spending a lot of time in Japanese countryside. She was very attentive, bubbly and pleasure to deal with. I was celebrating my birthday so it was a nice treat. Definitely would recommend and I'd take my Japanese friends there too if I'll have a chance

Oishikata ! The service was excellent with chika who was like a sunshine and very kind. The food was good as well in the Japanese tradition. I recommend this restaurant if you want to spend a good time by the river in Kyoto.

𝟮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 - 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲: The staff—professional, very polite, and attentive—earned one star. The second star is for the experience—trying Kyoto’s cuisine and new ingredients through different courses, with nice dish presentation, made it a nice introduction. 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱: We had high expectations for this place, but unfortunately, the food was underwhelming—okay, nothing memorable, and definitely not worth the price. You’d expect the best of the best for the cost and setup, yet local markets offer far better sashimi and wagyu (chewy here) for much less. Our menu leaned heavily on fish without standout flavors. 𝗔𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: We’d hoped for a warm, cozy vibe given the cost and fine dining label, but the private room felt stiff and awkward. Stepping on seats to get in and out was odd. Waiters knocked before each course to deliver and explain the food—we get it’s polite (the knocking), but it didn’t work for us. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲: You pay more than it’s worth—a steep base rate, more than the food justifies, plus extra “private room” and “service” fees. They kept pushing the a la carte menu, but we weren’t impressed enough to add on. The 2-hour limit (noted on their page and upfront) didn’t bother us—we were ready to leave—but it’s steep for an inflated bill. Worth a pass for us.

It was an awesome experience. We got service from Ayano. She was so respectful and kind. We want to visit here again in the furture. :-)

Beautiful restaurant at Pontocho, Kyoto’s famous district, with view of the river. This is one of the greatest “hole in the wall” kind of places that I’ve been to, as you walk into an old Japanese house in the inner block. The Japanese food is delicious, they have two sets I believe. Simple wine selection. We truly enjoyed ourselves

Great customer service. The food is of premium quality and artistically presented. Soaking in the dining experience at a 150 years old Takagi Fuku overseeing the Kamo river.

If you’re not ready to deal with heat and mosquitoes, do not take riverside seats in summer. It’s too hot to dine outside even in the evening😱 Food was tasty and staff are kind🙏