On our long trek through Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto to relax, enjoy the ryokans, the onsens, and the local cuisines, we found ourselves in Kyoto staying at the Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto for 3 nights, getting away from the "ryokans" after 2 full weeks in many of these accommodations with onsens spas and dinner included. Yesterday, at the hotel, we visited AOI for the teppan-yaki dinner with the very delicious "Omi" wagyu beef, and lobster, which were very good; one of the best teppan-yaki dinner service, in terms of quality of the Omi beef, the Atlantic lobster, and the execution. However, it was dinner tonight, Dec 6, 2023, at the Gourmand Tachibana in the hotel which gave my wife and I, the BEST DINNER SERVICE in our long Japanese trip so far. We had no idea what type of food or service Gourmand Tachibana served, so we had zero expectations. Gourmand Tachibana serves western cuisine, similar to a degustation menu with many courses, using the finest local meats, seafood and produce. Chef Shibata designed a very creative and well-balanced menu, with interesting dishes, using best in-season local ingredients. Chef Shibata executed with precision skills and as such, we were able to taste the freshest and sweetest of Japan produce from white radish, daikon, taro root, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and many others. The seafood elements were the freshest and created with attention to detail and taste. The meat course, while not Kobe, Omi or Matsusaka beef, was still so perfected cooked and balanced with the right sauce and course-grain mustard, the taste in the mouth was of full balance. Absolute compliments, and hats off, to Chef Shibata. Meanwhile restaurant manager Matsuda, took great care, not only to explain each dish to us, but he printed out for us, a full version of the menu all in English. Both manager Matsuda and Chef Shibata went even further and brought out some of the main ingredients used to show us. THANK YOU for delivering beyond our expectations and we hope Righa Royal Hotel Kyoto management team will take notice and can work out how to further promote this type of food, attention to detail service and this type of cuisine to tourist like us looking for new ways to taste the great foods and ingredients of Kyoto and Japan. Well done, and please keep it up, as we will definitely return, and will HIGHLY RECOMMEND to all family and friends. ; )…