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Aron Galinovsky

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Dining at Matsusakagyu Yakiniku in Osaka was an absolutely amazing experience. From the moment we arrived, we were impressed by the warm hospitality and attention to detail. We were seated in a private room, separated by elegant wooden curtains, with our own grill in the center of the table—a perfect setup for a cozy and intimate meal.

We chose the 5-course Wagyu A3 set, which included lean skirt steak, short plate beef, ribeye, top round, and flank steak, along with corn, potato, and red peppers. Each cut of meat was expertly sliced thin, beautifully marbled, and incredibly tender—rich, buttery, and full of flavor.

The meal came with three delicious dipping sauces: raw egg in Japanese soy sauce, BBQ sauce, and wasabi. Our waiter was fantastic—friendly, knowledgeable, and patient. He explained each cut and guided us on how to use the grill and the ideal cooking time for each type of meat. The Japanese whiskey and beer were also excellent and paired perfectly with the meal.

The night ended on a high note with refreshing mango sorbet and roasted green tea for dessert.

The entire experience felt thoughtful and immersive. The quality of the food, the service, and the atmosphere were simply outstanding. This meal will be etched in my memory forever. I highly recommend this restaurant and the Yakiniku style of dining to anyone visiting Osaka.

Rating: 9.3/10

I had one of the best meals of my life at Din Tai Fung in Osaka. From start to finish, everything was exceptional. We ordered the Hot and Sour Soup, Steamed Shrimp and Pork Dumplings, Three-Sorted Seafood and Pork Xiao Long Bao, Prawn Fritters with Mayonnaise Sauce, and Noodles with Spicy Shrimp and Pork Wonton. Each dish was prepared to perfection – full of flavor, beautifully presented, and cooked with precision.

The service was outstanding. Our waitress was not only attentive but also genuinely enthusiastic about the menu, offering excellent recommendations that really elevated the experience.

The drinks didn’t disappoint either – the beer was crisp and refreshing, and the sake paired wonderfully with the meal.

Din Tai Fung in Osaka is a must-visit. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a top-tier dining experience.

Rating: 9.5/10

We recently completed our second cruise with Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and it was another unforgettable experience—seamlessly blending elegance, exceptional service, and well-planned excursions.

Pre-Cruise Stay in Nice

Before boarding, we spent three days in Nice, France, and stayed at Le Méridien Hotel. The location was perfect—central and close to everything—and the room was modern and comfortable overlooking the Ocean.

During our stay, we explored the city with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, which gave us a great overview and allowed us to visit many key sights. We also walked along the famous Promenade des Anglais, enjoying the views and the relaxed coastal atmosphere.

A real highlight was a private van tour to Cannes, where we saw the iconic red carpet entrance for the Cannes Film Festival. It added a touch of Hollywood glamour to our trip.

We also dined at several excellent local restaurants—please see the Restaurant Review section of our website for full details.

Boarding and Cruise Overview

We then boarded the Seven Seas Splendor for our 10-night cruise, and the embarkation process was quick and seamless—we were on board in under 10 minutes.

Our itinerary included:

  • Monte Carlo, Monaco – 2 days
  • Salerno, Italy – 3 days
  • Kuşadası, Turkey – 2 days
  • Athens, Greece – 2 days

The ship was the perfect size—accommodating 750 guests, offering a luxurious but never overwhelming experience. Everything was beautifully maintained, and service was consistently excellent.

Dining Highlights

Dining aboard the Splendor was a true pleasure. The ship offers four specialty restaurants, all included in the fare:

  • Pacific Rim – Asian fusion cuisine, and our personal favorite
  • Prime 7 – A classic steakhouse with superb cuts
  • Sette Mari – Warm, welcoming Italian fare
  • Chartreuse – Elegant French cuisine

Other dining venues included:

  • Compass Rose – The main dining room, open for breakfast, some lunches, and dinner
  • La Veranda – A buffet restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating
  • Pool Grill – A casual outdoor option, perfect for lunch or snacks

The food was consistently excellent, beautifully presented, and offered with impeccable service.

Entertainment & Onboard Experience

The ship features a main theater for evening shows, as well as two additional lounges for live music and socializing. One of the standout features of cruising with Regent is that many shore excursions are included in the fare. All of our tours were well-organized, informative, and operated smoothly.

Service and Overall Impressions

The level of service was outstanding—genuinely warm, professional, and efficient. Everything ran like clockwork, and it was clear that the staff takes great pride in creating a memorable guest experience.

The only minor downside was that entertainment slows down noticeably after 11 PM, so if you’re looking for a lively late-night scene, options are limited.

Final Thoughts

This was an exceptional cruise in every way. From the thoughtfully designed itinerary and luxurious accommodations to the outstanding food and attentive service, Regent Seven Seas delivers a truly all-inclusive, high-end cruising experience.

We would absolutely sail with them again and highly recommend the experience to those looking for a refined and relaxing way to explore the world.

Rating 9.5/10

We recently dined at La Rotonde Restaurant, located within the iconic Le Negresco Hotel in Nice. With its prime oceanfront setting, the restaurant offers not just a meal, but a scenic and sensory experience. The interiors, styled in elegant white and gold tones, embody the spirit of the French Riviera in a chic yet relaxed manner. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between glamour and warmth, further enhanced by whimsical carousel horses that add a playful charm to the decor.

Service was attentive and polished from start to finish. We chose from a thoughtfully crafted menu by a Michelin-starred chef, who celebrates Mediterranean flavors with nods to local Niçoise traditions. Every dish was a work of art — flavorful, colorful, and beautifully presented.

Our selections included:

  • Foie gras de canard mi-cuit with an apple, lemon balm, and amaretto condiment, topped with caramelised almonds — rich, silky, and well-balanced.
  • French Onion Soup — deeply savory with perfectly caramelized onions and a robust broth.
  • Chicken with sweetbreads encased in puff pastry and served with a tangy mustard sauce — decadent and comforting.
  • Roast sea bass from the Bay of Cannes, served with artichokes à la Barigoule, green asparagus, and a Grenobloise garnish with lemon butter — fresh and impeccably cooked.
  • Dark chocolate and green cardamom mousse, paired with Piedmont hazelnut praliné ice cream — a refined and indulgent finale.

The pacing of the meal was perfect, allowing us to savor each course and enjoy our surroundings. From ambiance to service and cuisine, La Rotonde delivered an exceptional dining experience that we won’t soon forget.

Rating 8.6/10

Delightfully informal and tucked away in the heart of Nice, Le Frog is a true hidden gem. The menu is extensive, but the real standouts were the escargots—absolutely mouthwatering—and the fried frog legs, which were hands down the best I’ve ever had. We also shared the black risotto with lobster as our main course, which was rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked.

The waitstaff were warm and engaging, creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Bar service was also excellent, making it easy to linger a little longer over drinks. I’d return in a heartbeat—if only for another plate of those incredible frog legs.

Rating 9.6/10

We had a wonderful experience at this cozy, charming, family-run restaurant in Nice. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with personalized touches that made the evening feel special.

The meal began with a delightful amuse-bouche of toasted bread topped with onions and olives, compliments of the house. We followed with foie gras served alongside a fresh salad and fig jam—rich and perfectly balanced. The sardines, also served with salad and toasted bread, were fresh and flavorful.

For mains, we enjoyed two standout dishes: the beef bourguignon, slow-cooked for 8 hours, and the lamb shank, tender after 6 hours of cooking. Both were accompanied by scalloped potatoes and served in deeply flavorful sauces—ideal for dipping with crusty baguette.

Though the dessert menu looked tempting, we were too full. Instead, the restaurant treated us to a lovely digestif of peach and cookie-flavored rum liqueur.

The service was excellent throughout, attentive but not intrusive. The wine paired beautifully with the meal. Overall, a terrific dining experience—great food, wonderful service, and a cozy ambiance that made it truly memorable.

Rating 8.4/10

Ingredients

  • Fresh scallops
  • Kosher Salt
  • Capers
  • Dano Sea-Soning (blue top)
  • Avocado Oil or Grape Seed Oil about 2-3 Tbsp
  • Butter 3-4 slices depending on the amount of scallops

Directions

  • Wash the scallops
  • Pat them dry with a paper towel
  • Remove the foot (if the scallop has one it would be on the side. Hard part of the scallop)
  • Let them reach room temperature
  • Season the scallops with kosher salt (pinch at a time) and Dano Sea-Soning (liberally) on both sides
  • Heat a cast iron skillet on medium high heat until it’s really hot
  • Once the pan is really hot put in 2-3 Tbsp of olive oil and put the scallops in the pan without over crowding them for 2 minutes
  • After 2 minutes flip the scallops, add the butter and sprinkle the butter with Dano Sea-Soning
  • Tilt the Pan, take a spoon and keep pouring the butter over the scallops for 2 minutes
  • Remove the scallops from the pan put them into a dish and sprinkle capers and some of the caper juice on the scallops and enjoy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • Cornish Hen
  • 1  tbsp Avocado Oil
  • 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • Salt, 3 pinches or so
  • 2 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp dried dill
  • 1 tbsp sweet paprika
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp baking powder

Directions

  • Combine and mix well all of the condiments in a bowl
  • Use a paper towel and tap the Cornish hen dry
  • Cover the Cornish hen with the mixture
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
  • Once the oven reaches 450 degrees put the Cornish hen on a oven safe dish and put it in the oven for 45 minutes
  • Take out, serve and enjoy

Dipping Sauce

  • 4 tbsp plain thick Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
  • 3 tbsp mayo
  • ½ large lemon
  • a handful fresh dill
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp Aleppo or any chili pepper
  • a pinch of salt
  • Mix the above in a blender and serve with the Cornish hen

Ingredients

  • 8 oz of Baby Bella Mushrooms sliced
  • ½ of sweet medium onion chopped finely
  • 16 oz of frozen white corn
  • 2 Tbsp Avocado oil
  • ¼ of tsp of salt
  • ¼ tsp of pepper
  • 1 tsp of garlic power or 3 finely chopped garlic cloves

Directions

  • Place frozen corn in saucepan and cover with water. (Do not thaw corn before cooking).
  • Place on stove top and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and boil gently for 4-6 minutes* or until desired tenderness, stirring occasionally.
  • Drain and put to the side
  • While the corn is boiling, sauté the mushroom, and onions in frying pan with all of the condiments.
  • Once done, mix with the corn and enjoy

Ingredients

  • Baby Back rib(s)
  • ¼ tsp of kosher salt per pound
  • ¼ tsp of pepper per pound
  • 1 tsp of garlic powder
  • 1 tsp of paprika
  • Mustard
  • BBQ Sauce

Directions

  • Mix the kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder and the paprika in a bowl
  • Remove the rib(s) from the packaging and place them on a sheet pan or cutting board meat side down. Remove the membrane covering the bone side from the rib(s). You can slide a better knife underneath and use a paper towel to make it easier.
  • Spread some mustard onto the bone side of the rib and sprinkle the dry rub on and pat it down. Turn the rib(s)over and repeat the same steps on the meat side.
  • Turn on the smoker and preheated it to 275 degrees.
  • Once the smoker reaches 275 degrees place the rib(s) bone side adown on the rack and allow them to cook without touching them for about 3 hours or until the ribs reach a temperature of 203 degrees F
  • When the rib(s) reach 203F pull them off the smoker
  • Preheat your BBQ grill to 500F
  • Baste the ribs with your favorite BBQ sauce and grill on low both sides until the BBQ caramelizes (about 5 min on each side)
  • Take the ribs off and enjoy