Groin Groin - Pork Specialty Bistro Review Summary

Like you, I thought I had eaten pork before. It turns out that what I had eaten was something completely different. The food here was way beyond what I expected.

We had a course and also chose 5 glasses of wine to have with our meal. The wines were all excellent and there were a couple that were very different from any wine I'd tried. The cloudy sparkling wine from Kyoto was perfect for the summer.

I won't describe everything in detail, because I think part of the fun is not knowing exactly what you're going to get until it appears in front of you.

I really can't say enough about how good the food is here. Not only is the meat cooked to perfection, but it's served with some really interesting and creative sauces. The gazpacho with a special topping was also very tasty. The owner kindly explained everything to us and even offered my daughter an alternative to the delicious rum ice cream we had for dessert.

My family eats a lot of pork at home, but unfortunately everything will now be compared unfavourably to what we had here.

If you want to impress someone on a visit to Asakusa, you can't go wrong if you choose this place. It's not at all cheap, but if you appreciate quality food that's prepared to a high standard, you won't be disappointed that you pushed the boat out here.

Exquisite dining tucked away on this side street.
This is excellent Italian food with Japanese flair.

Inconspicuous Fine Dining.

The food and dining experience brought me back to my favorite memories of Italy. It could have been the selection of wines that were presented to me for each course of the meal. The focused and gentle preparation of each plate. Or the friendliness of the Chef, and his dedication to his work. I had a marvelous time eating here. So much that I went back a second time within the course of a few days.

**At the time of eating I had the following (menu does change!)

Pumpkin Puree soup
A very light amount of soup, probably meant to get your appetite going. It was not very intense in the pumpkin flavor, but rather a soft suggestion of it. Milk or some cream was added to give this effect. A very lovely appetizer to start the evening.

Fine cut Charcuterie
Oh my goodness, words cannot describe how soft and delicious this plate was. The charcuterie melted in your mouth, and is unlike any other kind that I've had before. It felt comforting. The meat flavor did not stay heavy In your mouth. I found myself trying to slow down and enjoy this as much as I could.

I would have been content if this was the only thing I had that night.
Paired well with the wine that was suggested.

Blue cheese prepped mochi style(?)
I might have remembered the second part wrong. It's not actual mochi, but the blue cheese is very soft and easy to eat. It's accompanied by honey on the side. I don't normally eat blue cheese, but this is a lovely introduction to it. Delicious.

Main course

Slow Cooked Pork in the oven and stove top. Paired with cabbage and eggplant.

This took the longest to prep, but it was worth the wait. As a result of his cooking, you get a nice tender juicy meat, and a superb crispy top.

Hohhhohhh what a treat. My mouth was watering as I watched the chef put on the finishing touches. I don't remember the sauce he put over it. But this was delicious. I remember cutting into the meat and admiring a slice on my fork. The juices glisten under the light.
Considering how much time the Chef spent preparing this, I tried my best not to inhale this dish on the spot. Tender meat, easy to chew, with each bite making you hungrier.

Dessert
Peach sorbet with ladyfinger biscuit.

Light, aromatic and very easy to eat through. Not too sugary, and the pairing of the actual fruit, created a nice complimentary texture with the sorbet.

Dining here can get pricey. And you might leave still feeling hungry. But I feel that with most fine dining like this, the point is to leave with a balanced stomach, and your taste buds aching with glee. I did not have to reserve during the two times I visited here.

If you're in the Asakusa area and craving something different, this is worth your time to visit.

Chef Takuto,
(Hope I spelled your name right)
Thank you for your amazing work :)
I can't wait to return to Japan to visit your store again.

ありがとうございました!

Perfection. I’ve been coming here for several years, I honestly can’t fault it. The wine pairing and the selection of pork is incredible, the chef and sommelier know exactly what they’re doing, they’re true talents. I love it, I’ll keep coming back as often as I can.

Amazing. We tried the Chef's menu and it was great. I really recommend getting the wine selection! They have a delicious selection.

The crew was so friendly, they walk us through the dishes in English and they were very nice.

Best meal I have had in Japan. Unique experience, Japan meets Italy. Talented and charming chef. I will be back.