Kamonegi

Beware of the 20% mandatory service charge that you are also taxed on, even for a small party of 2. You do not need to tip on top of that! I know a lot of people really like Kamonegi and I respect the local business aspect of it but I personally felt that it was a bit steep and unexpected to have a *mandatory* service fee at 20%, given that we were a small party of 2 and were there for a short time. The food is also pricey already. Our total came to $144 for two people. Now onto the food portion of the review: I came here with my partner for dinner and they had a seasonal menu. The food was decent and creative. I think I liked the squash and the amuse bouche the most, along with their dessert. The soba was good but didn't quite have enough protein for our liking (it's typical for things like ramen, I suppose, to have only a few small pieces of meat) and I'm not sure it's something we would crave. We tried both the beef/mushroom soba and the birria noodles. We thought they were decent but again, could have used more protein for the price. The appetizers that we got were interesting as well. If you like interesting combinations of fruit and meat, the persimmon wrapped in prosciutto might be something fun for you to try. I was not a huge fan but my partner liked it a lot. The anchovies were sweet and salty which we both thought was okay but not amazing. We both liked the squash tempura a lot, though. Finally, we really enjoyed the dessert with ice cream and daifuku. The restaurant is also fairly small so try to make reservations beforehand.

Super cool spot for inventive dishes and relaxed vibes. All of the food we tried varied from pretty good to excellent, with the scallop and duck dishes being the highlights. I hesitate to give 5/5 stars however due to the price compared to portion sizes. For the price of the meal for 2, I expected more.

After the rather restrictive set of rules on what to do and not to do when coming to Kamonegi, I was happy to see that – when they are not too busy – you actually can get seconds! Staff were super friendly and attentive. Both soba and tempura were delicious, the pickles could have used a little more acid. Overall pretty good soba. Compared to some fancy soba places in Japan, I would give it 3/5. But, alas, we are in Seattle and so one has to remain realistic. Note: During winter the space gets quite cold. I like that Kamonegi sends you an SMS reminding you to dress warm. But geez was it cold inside.

I've had this little soba joint on my list for a while, and finally ventured across the lake. The dinner was very enjoyable: from the tsukemono to tempura eel seasoned with curry salt to nanban (it was way too cold outside, so a perfect evening for some hot broth). The handmade soba was absolutely delicious, and the broth outstanding and full of flavor. The staff are attentive without being too hovering. The only nuance was that it was pretty chilly inside - but that is the function of a tiny and relatively old building and a Seattle freeze (literal this time, not figurative). Dress accordingly. PSA: As you book this spot on Tock, Kamonegi comes across as a bit "strict", as they state a list of dietary restrictions they can't accommodate, no seconds and such, but let that not discourage you. The team is actually the friendliest, and they do their best to accommodate your wishes. The initial impression is more due to the fact that it takes quite some time and effort to make soba noodles by hand, and it's a small "production". Unfortunately, I was too full for dessert. Oh well, all the more reasons to come back some time.