giueme
Daisen, Akita
Restaurant in Akita, Japan
The Read
Terroir-Driven Italian
Why go
giueme places Akita Italian dining in a rural, ingredient-led frame rather than a metropolitan tasting-room template. The draw is the combination of a house-restaurant setting, course-only format, 20-seat scale, repeated Tabelog recognition, including Bronze awards from 2021 through 2026 and Italian EAST 100 selections in 2021, 2023, 2025.
About giueme
Pearl Verdict
If you are planning a celebratory dinner in Akita and Italian cuisine is on the table, giueme is the clearest recommendation in the prefecture. A six-consecutive-year Tabelog Bronze winner (2021 through 2026) with a score of 4.17 and three selections for the Tabelog Italian EAST Top 100, this is not a restaurant you stumble across — it is one you plan around. For a special occasion meal in rural Akita, nothing in the Italian category comes close on credentials.
About giueme
Opened in September 2014, giueme operates as a house restaurant on the outskirts of Daisen (Omagari), about 10 minutes by taxi from JR Omagari Station. The format is course-only, served simultaneously to all tables — both at lunch and dinner. Dishes are at the kitchen's discretion, which makes this a trust-the-chef experience rather than a la carte browse. That format suits celebrations and date dinners well; it removes decision fatigue and keeps the pacing deliberate. The room seats 20, has no private rooms but can be taken over entirely for groups of up to 20, carries a relaxed, stylish character consistent with its house restaurant setting.
The wine program is taken seriously here, the venue flags a specific focus on wine, sake and cocktails are also available. BYO is permitted with a glass fee of ¥550 per glass, which is worth knowing if you want to bring something particular for a celebration. A birthday or anniversary dessert with a message can be arranged at booking, request it in advance.
Dinner runs ¥8,000–¥9,999 per head at listed rates, though reviewer spending averages suggest ¥10,000–¥14,999 is more realistic once drinks are included. Lunch is priced at ¥4,000–¥4,999 listed, with similar upward drift in practice. A 10% service charge and a ¥550 cover charge apply from May 1st onward. Credit cards (VISA, Master, JCB, AMEX) and PayPay are accepted. Parking for approximately 10 cars is available on site.
One practical note worth flagging: giueme is closed Wednesday and Thursday, operates Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday only. Dinner service runs 18:30–22:00 with a simultaneous start at 18:30. This is a genuine late evening, last orders are not rushed, which makes it a workable option for visitors arriving from further afield who need the extra travel buffer before sitting down. Check the official website for irregular closures; the kitchen sometimes closes for sourcing days.
Prices are under revision from May 1st. Confirm current course pricing directly via the website at giueme.com before booking.
How to Book
Reservations are required, walk-ins are not accepted. Book by the day before at minimum. Given the award consistency and small room size (20 seats), weekend dinner slots fill faster than the booking difficulty rating suggests, particularly during Omagari Fireworks Festival season in late July to early August. Weekday lunch is the most accessible slot. Reservations can be made by phone; if the kitchen is out sourcing, leave a voicemail with your contact details. Declare allergies, dietary restrictions, any time constraints at booking, the kitchen needs this before finalising the course.
Who Should Book
giueme is built for the special occasion diner: anniversaries, milestone birthdays, or a deliberate date night away from city crowds. The simultaneous-start course format means it works well for groups arriving together on time rather than a quick solo dinner between trains. Solo diners are not excluded, but the course-only format at ¥10,000+ in practice makes it a meaningful commitment for one. Families with school-age children should note that children are required to order the adult course, there is no children's menu.
Practical Details
Address: Yachizoe-100-1 Tomaki, Daisen, Akita 014-0044. Open Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun, lunch 12:00–15:00, dinner 18:30–22:00. Closed Wed and Thu. No dress code. Non-smoking throughout. Booking: reservation only, by the day before at minimum. Phone: 0187-73-5053. Website: giueme.com.
For more dining options in the region, see our full Akita restaurants guide, and explore hotels, bars, wineries, and experiences in Akita.
The take
The Take
The Vibe
giueme stages a quietly theatrical dining experience in a fenced house on a green slope outside Daisen. The restaurant balances a homely sense of arrival and warm welcome with precise, technically informed cooking: classical reductions, braises and handmade pasta stand next to seasonal, Akita-driven ingredients. The mood is refined rather than flashy, with an emphasis on restraint and regional authenticity. Guests move through a tasting-menu progression that reads like a report from the region—focused, deliberate and attuned to seasonal change—making the room feel both intimate and rigorously crafted.
Best For
The restaurant is best for diners who want a deliberately paced tasting experience at lunch or dinner. Because the kitchen runs set-course menus for both service periods and emphasizes seasonal, locally sourced produce, giueme suits focused meals that unfold over an afternoon or evening. It rewards guests seeking careful technique and regional specificity—think slow, attentive courses rather than casual plates—and fits occasions when you want a composed, memorable culinary program rather than a quick bite.
Ordering Tips
Opt for the set-course tasting menu: giueme is built around set progressions that showcase Akita-raised veal, foraged mushrooms, wild boar, handmade pasta and other local ingredients. Expect dishes to change with the seasons and to favor texture and restrained reductions over heavy sauces. Signature preparations mentioned include Piedmont-style stewed veal with mushrooms, simple handmade pastas and a slow-simmered wild boar ragu—good touchpoints when sampling the menu and gauging the kitchen’s seasonal focus.
Planning details
Hours
Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 15:00 18:30 - 22:00
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Nihon Ryori Takamura, Kaiseki, Kaiseki
- affetto akita, Notable alternative
- f, Notable alternative
- Kyu, Notable alternative
- Shuhai, Izakaya (Japanese style tavern), JPY 8,000 - JPY 9,999 View spending breakdown
Explore Akita
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full giueme guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare giueme
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| giueme | Easy | 2026 Tabelog Bronze · #85Tabelog 100 - Italian - EAST - 2025 · #882025 Tabelog Bronze | ||
| Nihon Ryori Takamura | Kaiseki | Unknown | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #792026 Tabelog Silver · #137Tabelog 100 - Japanese cuisine - EAST - 2025 · #342025 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #612025 Tabelog Silver2024 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #482023 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #582021 The Japan Times Destination Restaurants · #3 | |
| affetto akita | Unknown | 2026 Tabelog Bronze · #6Tabelog 100 - Italian - EAST - 2025 · #552025 Tabelog Bronze | ||
| f | Unknown | 2026 Tabelog Bronze · #68Tabelog 100 - Italian - EAST - 2025 · #332025 Tabelog Bronze | ||
| Kyu | Unknown | 2026 Tabelog Bronze · #221Tabelog 100 - Yakiniku - EAST - 2025 · #802025 Tabelog Bronze | ||
| Shuhai | Izakaya (Japanese style tavern) | JPY 8,000 - JPY 9,999 View spending breakdown | Unknown | 2026 Tabelog Bronze · #410Tabelog 100 - Izakaya - EAST - 2025 · #73 |
Comparing your options in Akita for this tier.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives to giueme in Akita?
For Japanese cuisine, Nihon Ryori Takamura and Shuhai are the clearest alternatives in the prefecture. affetto akita is the natural comparison if you want Italian in a more central Akita City location rather than making the trip to Daisen. f and Kyu cover different cuisine formats but are worth considering for special-occasion dining in Akita. None of these carry giueme's six-consecutive-year Tabelog Bronze record, which is the strongest documented credential in the local field.
What should a first-timer know about giueme?
Every seat runs on a simultaneous-start course format — you choose your course in advance, dishes are decided by the kitchen. Walk-ins are not accepted, reservations must be made by the day before at minimum. The restaurant operates from a house on the outskirts of Daisen, about 10 minutes by taxi from JR Omagari Station, so factor in transport. There is no dress code, parking is available for around 10 cars.
Does giueme handle dietary restrictions?
Yes, but you need to flag allergies at the time of booking — not on the day. Because the entire table shares the same course and dishes are at the kitchen's discretion, last-minute requests are not practical. The venue notes a fish-focused approach and a health and wellness menu orientation, but specifics should be confirmed directly via reservation.
How far ahead should I book giueme?
Book at least one day before, which is the restaurant's stated minimum. Given the 20-seat room, Tabelog Bronze status every year since 2021, inclusion in the Tabelog Italian EAST Top 100, weekend dinners fill faster than that minimum suggests. For Friday, Saturday, or Sunday evenings, aim for a week or more in advance. Reservations can be made by phone (0187-73-5053) or check the official website at giueme.com.
Is lunch or dinner better at giueme?
Lunch is the value entry point: the listed course price runs ¥4,000–¥4,999, roughly half the dinner rate of ¥8,000–¥9,999. However, review-based spending data suggests actual costs skew higher at both meals, so budget ¥10,000–¥14,999 per person to be safe. If price is a factor, lunch gives you the same course format and kitchen at a meaningfully lower outlay. Dinner suits celebrations where the full evening format (18:30 simultaneous start, service until 22:00) is an asset.
Is giueme good for a special occasion?
Yes — this is where giueme earns its strongest recommendation. The kitchen can prepare a dessert with a personalised message for birthdays and anniversaries if you request it at booking. The venue supports parties over 2.5 hours and can handle surprises and celebrations. For a private buyout, the full 20-seat room is available for exclusive use.
What should I order at giueme?
There is no à la carte menu — giueme runs course meals only, with dishes determined by the kitchen. You select your course level when booking, the table shares the same menu. The kitchen has a documented focus on fish and a health-oriented approach to ingredients, but specific dish details are not disclosed in advance and change at the restaurant's discretion.
