Restaurant in Akita, Japan
Nine seats, reservation only, worth the trip.
f is Akita's strongest Italian counter, holding Tabelog Bronze Awards for five consecutive years (2022–2026) with a score of 4.32–4.36. At JPY 15,000–19,999 per head, it suits solo diners and small groups who want a focused, wine-serious counter meal. Reservation-only from 18:00; book ahead and call before 4 PM.
If you are visiting Akita with a serious interest in Italian cooking and want a counter-seat experience that has earned consecutive Tabelog Bronze Awards from 2022 through 2026, f is the clearest choice in the city. The nine-seat counter format makes it a strong fit for solo diners, couples, and small groups of up to four who want to eat well in a focused, no-distraction room. At JPY 15,000–19,999 per head (with some reviewers reporting spend up to JPY 29,999), this is Akita's premium Italian tier, and the sustained award record over five consecutive years suggests the kitchen is consistent, not a one-season story.
The room at f is a counter. Six to seven seats face the kitchen at any one time, with a maximum of nine diners when the space is configured fully. That physical constraint is the defining fact about booking here: you are not choosing between a table and a counter, you are choosing whether the counter format works for your group. For solo diners and pairs, it works extremely well. For groups of four or more, the logistics tighten, and you will want to confirm configuration when you book.
The counter setting also shapes the seasonal angle. At a small counter where the kitchen is visible and the chef controls the pace, the menu almost certainly moves with what is available, which in Akita means access to some of the most respected agricultural and seafood produce in Japan's Tohoku region. Akita is known for its rice, mountain vegetables, freshwater fish, and winter game, and Italian cooking at this price point in a venue listed by Tabelog as a location-tagged "hideout" will reflect what is seasonal rather than what is standardised. That means the experience in February (winter game, root vegetables, preserved flavours) is a different meal from the one in late spring (mountain vegetables, early seafood) or autumn (mushrooms, new-harvest rice context, richer preparations). If you have the flexibility to choose when to visit, late autumn is generally when Tohoku produce is at its most concentrated.
Wine list gets a specific mention in the venue data as a point of pride: f is flagged as "particular about wine," which at this price tier in a nine-seat Italian counter almost certainly means a curated, chef-selected list rather than a generic import selection. Credit cards are accepted (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners), which removes the cash-management stress common at smaller Japanese restaurants. There are no private rooms, but private use of the full venue is available for up to 20 people, making it viable for a small event if you are planning ahead for a group occasion.
Venue is non-smoking throughout. Parking is not available on site, but coin parking is nearby. Getting there: the address is KM Building 3F in Nakadori, Akita City, roughly five minutes by car from Akita Station. The building location within a commercial facility (エリアなかいち) means it is findable but not the kind of place you stumble across, which is consistent with the "hideout" tag.
For context on how f sits within Japan's broader Italian scene, the award tier and Tabelog score of 4.32–4.36 puts it in comparable territory to counter-format Italian restaurants in other Japanese cities that attract serious food travellers. It is not in the same tier as HAJIME in Osaka or the kaiseki-influenced end of Tokyo fine dining, but it is credentialed well above the average regional Italian restaurant. For a point of reference outside Italy's home market, the focus and counter discipline here is closer in spirit to what you find at places like akordu in Nara than to a multi-room trattoria. Visitors arriving from Tokyo or Kyoto who have eaten at venues like Gion Sasaki in Kyoto or Goh in Fukuoka will find f a credible addition to a Japan food itinerary rather than a regional consolation prize.
The booking process is reservation-only. Phone inquiries must be made before 4 PM. The venue notes that second-group reservations must align with the first group's reservation time, which implies a set-start format typical of omakase or tasting-menu counters. Plan to arrive on time; late arrivals at counter-format restaurants in Japan are consistently problematic for the kitchen's pacing.
f sits at the leading of Akita's restaurant tier for international cuisine. The closest direct peer in terms of format and price seriousness is affetto akita, also an Italian restaurant in the city. If you are choosing between the two, f has the stronger award record (five consecutive Tabelog Bronze wins versus affetto's profile) and the more focused counter experience. giueme and Kyu offer further options in Akita's small but serious dining scene, and are worth considering if you are building a multi-night itinerary and want variety across formats.
For Japanese cuisine at a comparable price point, Nihon Ryori Takamura is the kaiseki option: a fundamentally different format but the right alternative if you want to eat Tohoku produce through a Japanese rather than Italian frame. If your preference is for a lower spend and a more casual atmosphere, Shuhai (izakaya, JPY 8,000–9,999) provides a good evening out at roughly half the price, though the experience is not comparable in formality or intent.
The verdict for the explorer-diner: f is the place to book in Akita if Italian counter dining at a recognised standard is your goal. Book Nihon Ryori Takamura on a separate night if you want the kaiseki counterpoint. Use Shuhai for a lower-stakes evening when you want local sake and izakaya dishes without the counter-tasting commitment.
f is a reservation-only Italian counter in Akita City with nine seats and a dinner-only format starting from 18:00. The price runs JPY 15,000–19,999 per the listed budget, with some diners spending up to JPY 29,999. It has held a Tabelog Bronze Award every year from 2022 to 2026 and carries a score of 4.32–4.36, which is a strong credential for a regional Italian restaurant in Japan. Book in advance, arrive on time (the counter format means the kitchen runs to a schedule), and call before 4 PM if reserving by phone.
No specific dietary restriction policy is listed in the available data. Given the small counter format (six to seven seats, reservation-only, tasting-menu style pacing), it is strongly advisable to raise any dietary requirements at the time of booking rather than on arrival. Contact the restaurant directly by phone (080-6332-8209, before 4 PM) or via the website at ristorante-f.com before your reservation date.
Yes, and it is one of the better setups in Akita for a solo diner eating at a serious level. The counter-only format means solo diners are the native format rather than an afterthought. At JPY 15,000–19,999 per head for Italian cuisine at Tabelog Bronze standard, it is a meaningful solo-dining spend, but the five-year award record justifies it if Italian counter dining is what you are looking for in Tohoku. For comparison, solo dining at Nihon Ryori Takamura would give you the kaiseki alternative at a similar price point.
Yes, with caveats on group size. For two people, f is a strong special-occasion choice: the counter setting, the wine focus, and the five-year Tabelog Bronze track record give it the credentials. For groups of four, confirm seating configuration when booking since the counter runs to six or seven seats. For larger groups (up to 20), private venue hire is available, which changes the dynamic considerably. There are no private rooms for smaller parties within the standard service, so if privacy matters more than the counter experience, factor that in.
Dinner is the only option. f operates from 18:00 onwards with no lunch service listed. If you are planning a daytime meal in Akita, you will need to look elsewhere: our full Akita restaurants guide covers options across formats and meal times. For an evening at f, the set-start counter format means the full dinner experience is what you are booking, and it is designed to be the main event of the evening rather than a quick meal.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| f | Easy | ||
| Nihon Ryori Takamura | Kaiseki | Unknown | |
| affetto akita | Unknown | ||
| giueme | Unknown | ||
| Kyu | Unknown | ||
| Shuhai | Izakaya (Japanese style tavern) | JPY 8,000 - JPY 9,999 View spending breakdown | Unknown |
A quick look at how f measures up.
Reservations are mandatory and dinner-only, opening from 18:00. The format is a counter with six to seven seats, so expect an intimate, kitchen-facing experience rather than a conventional dining room. Budget JPY 15,000–20,000 per person at the listed price; some reviewers report spending closer to JPY 20,000–29,000. Phone inquiries must be made before 4 PM, and the restaurant's website is ristorante-f.com.
The venue data does not include specific dietary accommodation policies. Given the counter-only, reservation-only format and small nine-seat room, your best approach is to state any restrictions clearly at the time of booking, either by phone (080-6332-8209, before 4 PM) or via the website at ristorante-f.com.
Yes — the counter format makes solo dining a natural fit here. Six to seven of the nine seats are counter seats facing the kitchen, which is a more engaging setup for a solo diner than a table for one. At JPY 15,000–20,000 per head, it is a considered spend, but the five consecutive Tabelog Bronze Awards from 2022 through 2026 back up that price point.
It works well for a serious two-person occasion, but not for a group celebration. There are no private rooms, the maximum seated party is nine, and the counter layout is intimate rather than celebratory. If you need a private space, the venue lists private-use availability for up to 20 people — confirm directly when booking whether that configuration applies to your date.
Dinner only. Tabelog lists no lunch service and the listed budget covers dinner at JPY 15,000–19,999. The restaurant opens from 18:00, so there is no lunch option to weigh against dinner.
■Business hoursFrom 18:00 onwardsReservations for the second group and beyond must align with the first group's reservation time.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
