The charm of Kamogawa Shokudo lies in its premise and nostalgia brought on by that one dish the diner cannot forget. A dish infused with memories and that’s how we get the name ‘memento food’ which the restaurant promises to deliver to the diner and the viewers are presented with picturesque scenery as the investigation of the lost recipe goes on.

Story:
Each episode is like a short story and takes us on the journey that the diner has gone through. The hook for this drama would be how engaged the viewer gets to each story. There are some hits and a few misses but the drama retains it’s silent charm in its scenic storytelling and the secretive location of its restaurant.

Acting:
Considering the subject matter is not a serious drama but more of relaxed storytelling, the acting is all right. The proprietor of the restaurant and his daughter (the detective) did a good job of infusing life into otherwise one dimensional characters.

Overall:
A nice addition to the slice of life genre and the beautiful shots of homely food are a great takeaway from this 8-episode drama. I would have loved to see more connected backstories wrt all the regular patrons of the restaurant as well as a more cohesive storyline. Because of the episodic format, I found this drama is not binge-able but goes well with a cup of tea on lazy afternoons.
A 7.5/10 for me!