Terry-25 Review of Ousama no restoran

Ousama no restoran (1995– )

Delicious comedy with extra helpings of Japanese culture

[10/10 · 18 January 2005]

This wonderful ensemble comedy concerns the fall and rebirth of a once-great French restaurant in Tokyo. The chef-owner of the restaurant dies and leaves the place under the management of his neer-do-well son. However, the terms of the will stipulate that the restaurant will be owned by his other son - a young man with some business experience but no clue about owning a restaurant. In the first episode, the young owner visits the restaurant incognito in the company of an enigmatic former waiter played wonderfully by Koshiro Matsumoto. The restaurant is almost completely empty, and the selection of food is determined by which dishes the chef is comfortable in making. As episodes progress, Matsumoto steadily guides the establishment back to what it was before. The best episode concerns the effects of a magic coin on the night where a new signature dish is being created. Great acting, great writing and unusually good music add up to a drama that deserves many sequels.