La Vagabonde

The complexity of French cuisine makes it difficult to master without the help of a good teacher. It would take incredible skill and dedication to acquire these high-level cooking skills through self-study alone, but that’s exactly what the chef-owner at LA VAGABONDE did. Situated near Tsuruma Park in Nagoya, this restaurant holds two Michelin stars, gained on the merit of the chef’s outstanding dishes and service. His highly idiosyncratic style is referenced in the name, which alludes to his position as something of a maverick on the Japanese food scene. Expect old classics and wild new inventions, each with striking presentation with a wild edge — rocks and edible plants used to create what seem like mini dioramas of natural scenes. An extra layer is added to each dish through perfect sauce pairings, and of course an excellent range of wines to match.