Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan｜薪窯ピッツァと料理のお店 KO's

great food, friendly chef

I found this restaurant on Google Maps when I was looking for a restaurant near my destination during a trip last month. The restaurant baked pizza in a wood-fired oven, so we went there right after it opened, expecting it to be a restaurant we liked. From the outside, it was hard to imagine that it was an Italian restaurant, so I timidly opened the door, wondering, "Are you sure you're here?" Then, I found a wood-fired oven inside the counter and my expectations were high. The parking lot can park about 2 cars in front of the store, but I felt it might be quite small. When I asked about another parking lot over the phone, I was told that I could park in the bank's parking lot next door on holidays, so I parked in this large parking lot. The inside of the store was raised slightly, and local people came here with their families. (Since there is a small rise, it seemed that even people with small children and elderly people could eat comfortably.) Shortly after the store opened, the restaurant was almost full, and the only people other than us were locals, so you can feel that this is a restaurant that is loved by the locals, and you can feel at home in the restaurant. For the meal, we had a set of salad, appetizer platter, and pizza starting at 1,300 yen. The salad was very fresh and crunchy, probably because local vegetables were used. The pizza was baked all at once in a high-temperature oven, and the dough was neither too thin nor too thick, and had just the right amount of chewiness. The sauce also brought out the flavor of the ingredients. The chef was the only one in charge of the cooking, so even though he was very busy, he was kind enough to talk to us from time to time, and we had a pleasant time. It was such a good store that I would frequent it if there was one nearby.

"A hidden gem! A very nice pizzeria" This restaurant used to be a sushi restaurant, and it doesn't look like a pizza restaurant from the outside. I've been wondering about it every time I drive past, so I stopped by for lunch. Immediately after entering the shop, there was a firewood kiln, the symbol of the shop, on the right side. It's simple, but it has a presence. It's a nice atmosphere to see the firewood burning. I was alone, so I sat at the counter of a former sushi restaurant. It's a strange thing, and it looks like a bar counter. For the lunch set, choose Mezzo Lunch for 1,300 yen. With appetizers, salads, drinks and pizza, I thought this price was conscientious. From the appetizer, I got the impression that it was cooked very carefully. Of course the taste is also wonderful. The young master has been trained in Nice in the south of France and Tokyo, and his movements that can be seen over the counter are dexterous and pleasant. The essential kiln-baked pizza, this is another wonderful word. The crust is just the right thickness, not too thick and not too thin. I felt that the response to eating and the texture were well balanced at a high level. The night menu is also reasonably priced, so you can enjoy your meal with peace of mind. If you are in the mood for delicious pizza, please stop by. You will be satisfied!