Hub: definitely a sports bar

Area:  about 300m northeast of Nagoya Station
Restaurant:  Hub British Pub ハブ
Website: http://pub-hub.com/
Info:  http://tabelog.com/aichi/A2301/A230101/23029298/

Hours:  Weekdays (12pm-1am, 2am on Fri), Sat 4pm-2am, Sun and Holidays 4-12pm


This is a big chain sports pub that is supposed to be an English style bar.  I've never been to England before, so I wouldn't be able to tell you how authentic it is.  But it did have the feel of a sports bar back home, even if I did come for lunch and it was almost completely empty.  I ordered the fish and chips (¥600) just because it's the restaurant's signature item.  It came with 2 small pieces of fried fish (I'm used to the fish being huge when ordering fish and chips back home).  The 2 pieces seemed slightly different.  One was a bit thinner, juicier and had a nicer crispy and thick batter.  The other was drier and the batter was thin.  Perhaps one was made on a different day. I'm sure there's many arguments about what makes a good fish and chips, but I like thick and crispy batters, so I enjoyed the one piece. The tartar sauce was nice with lots of veggies hidden in it, not too salty and not too vinegary from the pickles.  The dish came with a bottle of malt vinegar to sprinkle over if you like.  The potato wedges were regular salt seasoned chips (or what I'm used to calling fries!).

The Cobb salad (¥600) was fairly large, and came with thin slices of chicken breast (it had a curry taste, almost like tandoori chicken).  The greens included sunny lettuce, shredded cabbage, there were mini tomatoes for colour, and it was slathered with lots of Cobb dressing.  It was typical of a bar salad, drowning in a salty but addictive creamy dressing. 

The music playing at the time was Jackson 5 and songs from that era.

The Opera: a good use of banquet space on the weekdays

Area:  about 500m northeast of Nagoya station
Restaurant:  The Opera  オペラ
Map and Info:  http://r.gnavi.co.jp/n103101/

Hours:  Lunch 11:30am-2pm (LO), Dinner 5:30-10:30 (LO 9pm), closed Tues and weekends



This restaurant caters to weddings and parties on the weekends, so you can maybe tell what the atmosphere is like.  It looks like a small banquet hall but with an open kitchen.  There was jazz music playing softly, and the waiters wore suits or white jackets.

The daily lunch (¥1000) included soup, bread, main and a drink.  The soup of the day was a cold carrot soup. It was smooth and thick, and tasted of plain cooked carrot with a bit of natural sweetness.  The drizzling of olive oil gave a extra level of deliciousness to this soup.  The baguette came warm, crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.   

Today's main was a white bean and braised pork tomato sauce.  The pork was so tender it pulled apart with just a fork.  However there were parts that were still a bit chewy and tougher.  The tomato sauce had a bit too many white beans but the flavor came from the pork fat only, a bit of olive oil and salt, so it was still enjoyable.  Broccoli was cooked in a lot if butter.  The pasta was al dente and seasoned with salt only, probably meant to mix with the tomato sauce.

Overall it was nice casual dining with an upscale feel.  

Locanda Mia: One can tell the chef is not Japanese (in a good way)

Area:  about 250m north of Fushimi Station, Exit 1  伏見駅
Restaurant:  Locanda Mia  ロカンダミーア
Map and Info:  http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000962371/map/

Hours:  Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm (LO 2pm), Dinner 5:30-10:30 (LO 10pm), closed Sun


There were 3 different lunches to choose from (pasta, pizza, panini), and within those 3 there were about 2 varieties (pasta had more).  I felt like I've been eating a lot of pasta lately and thus went for the panini, I ordered the bacon cheese and tomato sauce one.  The other was a tuna and potato filling.  The salad bar consisted of mixed lettuce, shredded cabbage, wakame (seaweed), frittatas, potato salad and a 15 grain cold rice salad.  I enjoyed the rice salad for it's sansho (Japanese pepper) flavor and its Italian flare as well.  The potato salad was a chunky one with really nice flavor, not the usual Japanese mayo.  It was less salty so maybe used an imported or a housemade mayo.  The frittata, cooked with potato was nicely infused with the flavor of shimeji.  The soup was a veggie soup, with tomato as it's base.  It had celery, carrot, cabbage and onions, iand was lightly seasoned.  It reminded me of mom's simple veggie soup .

When the panini came I was pleasantly surprised; both kinds of sandwiches were brought to me.  The tomato panini was nicely grilled with a crunchy outer layer, but the ham was thin (I'd call it ham, not bacon), so the flavor wasn't really there, it just tasted like cheese and tomato sauce.  The sauce made the inner part of the bread pretty soggy, but the outer layer remained intact and crisp, so that was forgivable.  The potato tuna sandwich was also mild on the seasoning, using mild tuna and the previously mentioned potato salad, it was actually tastier than I imagined.
Overall I felt like the flavors here were something I've eaten back home, and indeed when I asked, the chef is from Italy (I'm not from Italy but there are a lot of Italian run eateries).

En China and Dine: wins points for being slightly different than the usual take on Chinese food

Area:  Castle Plaza Hotel キャッスルプラザ, 5 min walk east of Nagoya Station, Exit 11 of Unimall  ユニモール
Restaurant:  En China and Dine　チャイナ＆ダイン 園
Website:  http://www.castle.co.jp/plaza/restaurant/en/
Map:  http://r.gnavi.co.jp/m42vaga00000/map/


Hours:  Lunch 11:30am-2pm, Dinner 5-9:30pm (LO9pm)



I'm not usually craving the Japanese take on Chinese food, but this restaurant had a sign advertising their dumpling lunch, and I've been craving dimsum.  Plus I had an early lunch break so I could make it in time for their 2pm last order.

First, they brought out the tea; my own teapot filled with jasmine tea.  This was a good sign of authenticity.  They also didn't take away the extra plate settings on the table (I've been told it's rude to leave the extra settings out in Japan).  

The first dish was a duck salad.  It was fairly Japanese in flavor since it used a common sesame dressing.  The salad had crunchy transparent noodles had no flavor (almost like fried harusame or mung bean noodles).  It was garnished with bits of fried egg wrappers.  The duck was only lightly seasoned so it nice gamey flavour.  

Next was the soup, it tasted like shark fin soup, but I doubt there was any shark in in it.  The enoki was probably there to mimic that.  Black tree ear fungus and carrots were also in this slighty vinegary and very salty seafood broth concoction. 

Now for the part I was waiting for.  Starting with the 4 pocket dumpling:  the wrapper was a bit mushy and sticky (sticking to my teeth),  the filling had some sort of crunchy cartilage.  I was advised that each dumpling was seasoned but if there was not enough I could use vinegar, rayu (a spicy sesame oil) or soy sauce (Japanese soy sauce of course, although Chinese soy sauce may have been preferred here).  

The little yellow dumpling was obviously shrimp with perhaps chunks of chewy squid.  It had a lot of white pepper in it.  The flat dumpling was a crab filled one. The skin was slightly broiled it seemed, so it wasn't as mushy as the previous, but it was still sticky.  White pepper was also strong in this one.

The greenish siu mai shaped one was a pork filling with a wasabi flavored wrap.  Since dim sum is often served with yellow mustard. The wasabi here definitely worked nicely.  

The pinkish flower shaped dumpling was filled with asparagus, shrimp paste and chunks of shrimp.  It was nicely seasoned with the presence of ginger.  The wrapper however was a bit mushy.  

The green triangle was filled with a green vegetable.  Perhaps the wrapper was made with yomogi.  But it was mild on the seasoning so the veggies weren't overpowered. 

The one looking like a brain was filled with nira.  It had a garlickey essence to it.  The wrapper was cooked nicely, not sticky nor mushy, more like a Gyoza wrapper.  

The dumpling covered in corn was a bit interesting.  With big chunks of shrimp in a ball of steamed dough (This was didn't come in a wrapper).

The thick wrapper dumpling was more authentic, with a juicey pork filling and a nice chewy and non sticky wrap.  

The siu mai was good, but not so authentic.  It had a lot of onion and cabbage in the filling making it very soft pasty.  The texture was not so different than the Japanese kamaboko or fish cake (this is the usual texture of the Japanese take on siu mai). 

The congee used Japanese rice, so it didn't have the same aroma as Hong Kong style.  It was perhaps made in chicken broth, seasoned with only a slight amount of salt. 

Dessert of course, being in Japan, included an-nin dofu, an almond flavored tofu-like pudding.  It had canned fruit and syrup poured over it.  The mango juice had a huge piece of delicious mango hiding in the liquid. Mangos, being expensive in Japan, that piece was probably 2 or 3 dollars worth!  

The cheese cake was strange.  I couldn't decide if I liked it.  Slightly sweet with an almost unnoticeable lemon flavor.  The taste of undercooked dough was apparent although it did not look raw.  

The egg tart's pastry seemed like it was siting in the fridge a little too long.  It lost its flakiness so it was a bit chewy.  The egg filling was only slighlty sweet and was coconutty.  It went well with the strawberry jam, but did not conjure up the idea of a Chinese dessert. The fried sesame ball was probably the best part, and something you'd find at a real dimsum restaurant.

For 1800 yen, I'm not sure the flavours were worth it, but for the originality, it was.  

Realista: Italian, something other than pasta and tiramisu

Area:  a 3-min walk southeast of Fushimi Station, Exit 5 伏見駅

Restaurant:  Realista  レアリスタ

Map and Info:  http://r.gnavi.co.jp/n617000/

Hours:  Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm (LO 2pm), Dinner 6:00-10:30pm  (LO 9:30pm), closed Sun

First came the zensai or appetizer plate.  The chilled chicken thigh roast came with a green oil which I thought might be basil but it tasted like anchovies (it was a strange mix of flavors in my mouth).  The vegetable frittata had a nice toasty edge and was dressed with a simple fresh tomato sauce.  However, the veggies were almost non-existant; perhaps cut thin because all I could see and taste was egg and cheese.  The simple salad was so lightly dressed with a vinaigrette that it seemed almost as if there was no dressing.  I can't decide if I like that. .. it was refreshing, but I might like more dressing.  The anise leaf garnish was a nice touch.

The cheese and onion focaccia was like eating pizza with a nice flavor of olive oil and a good crust, almost like Pizza Huts' thick crust!

Tired of pasta, this time I went for the shrimp and broccoli risotto (dessert and appetizer set 1500 yen, regular set 900 yen).  It was nicely seasoned, and had lots of big shrimps and large pieces of broccoli which went well with the butter.  The tomato added not only colour but gave this dish a deeper flavour.  The Japanese rice was cooked to an al dente and definitely had bite.

Dessert was bruleed frozen pudding with a homemade caramel sauce.  I believe it's called a catalana.  With just the right amount of sweetness, it was a good end to the meal.  

Vicolo: A new type of crust?

Area:  about 500m north of Kokusai Center Station 国際センター駅
Restaurant:  Vicolo  ヴィッコロ
Map and Website:  http://cafedufi.com/#vicolo


Hours:  Lunch 11:30am-2pm, Dinner 6:00-10:30pm (10pm on Sun and Holidays), closed Wed

Today's lunch specials were a pork risotto plate lunch (¥880), pizza (4 cheese and honey ¥1050 or margherita ¥950) and a chilled tomato pasta.

All included access to the salad bar.  There was a mixed lettuce salad, cabbage with sesame dressing, potato salad with a mild mustard dressing (mostly just tasted of mayo), and homemade pickled carrots+squash+burdock root+lotus root (was a too vinegary in my opinion).  I was surprised to see couscous, as it is rare in Japan. With a mild vinaigrette flavor, it was light and refreshing.  The best part were the fried fettuccine bits seasoned with black pepper, a perfect accent for the salad greens and cesar dressing. 

This restaurant's specialty seems to be the wood oven baked pizza.  The margherita's tomato sauce was very simple and tasted of fresh tomatoes, still retaining it's natural acidity.  The crust was thin and almost tea biscuit like in texture (a new type of pizza crust to me), crisp on the outside.  The inside had more of a pizza dough chewiness.

A small restaurant, it might be a nice place to visit in the summer when the outside seating is open.

Mocca: A crispy and light waffle specialist

Area:  about 500m north of Kokusai Center Station 国際駅
Restaurant:  Mocca  モッカ
Map and website:  https://www.facebook.com/mocca.waffle/timeline

Hours:  Fri + Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm


This quaint little cafe is a bit separated from the endoji shopping arcade, but there is a sign on that main road that points the way.

It's a waffle specialty café with 3 small tables and one person behind the counter.  The menu included a potato salad sandwich waffle, a plain waffle, a plain waffle with orange sauce, and a tofu waffle.  Because the tofu waffle seemed a bit different, I went for the set (¥900).  

The set included a drink and potato salad.  Upon ordering, the smell of a waffle on the griddle wonderfully filled the air.  The potato salad was chunky with bits of carrot, ham, and cucumber, a standard taste.  The coffee was fresh, and came with milk and an interesting looking raw sugar.  Normally I don't put sugar in my coffee but this time I was curious.  It gave the coffee a mild toasty sweetness, a nice addition. 

The waffle had such a crisp outer layer that it was difficult to cut into, but inside was moist and fluffy.  It indeed tasted like tofu and was not sweet at all.  Because of this, it matched well with the accompanying honey and nuts. The honey was not regular honey and had a floral flavour.  When I asked about this, I was told it was sakura honey!  The whipped butter was light and easily spreadable and went well with the waffles' plain soy flavor.

The quiet instrumental music playing made a relaxing atmosphere.  Above the cafe is a small gallery filled with handmade things from tableware to jewelry, so if the cafe is filled up, you can browse while you wait.  

Cafe de Paris: Not much of Paris here (updated)

Area: Kamejima Station (Higashiyama line, one stop away from Nagoya Station)
Restaurant: Cafe de Paris
Map: see http://tabelog.com/aichi/A2301/A230113/23049092/

This lunch was a little bit disappointing, as it just reminded me of a bento you can buy at the grocery store.  I did like the chicken meat patty.  It had a slight yuzu flavour and with the grated radish that soaks up the sauce, it makes for a juicy patty.

I was more interested in trying the more western style lunch that I've seen other people order.  It comes with soup and french baguette.  However, as with Japan's lunch specials, you really don't get a choice.  The cafe's menu does have a western flair with pizza and pasta offered for dinner or a la carte for lunch.  I'll have to visit one day for dinner (they are a cafe, but is open until 10pm) for a bite and glass of red wine!

This cafe seems to have an extensive morning menu so I dropped by before a day of work.  I went for the most expensive set, that charged ¥300 extra on top of the price of coffee (¥380) or a drink.  It seemed the most interesting of the various available sets.  This one was the Croque Monsieur.  On the menu it prided itself on the housemade white sauce and said that this a typical French breakfast.  There was a choice between salad or yogurt, but because of the cream on the toast, I chose the salad.  It was dressed with a white French dressing, and was actually nicely seasoned with little salt and only slightly vinegary.  Just to be clear, this is the white version (a vinegar and oil creamy emulsion), as opposed to the north american ketchup variety. The Croque Monsieur was an open faced sandwich on a thick piece of toasted bread.  It was slathered with white sauce, then a slice of ham was placed on top, and then cheese, then put in an oven and baked to get a slight toasty color.  The white sauce was a simple classic flavor, but because of this simplicity it was overpowered by the salty sandwich cold cut and the processed melted cheese on top.

The jazz music playing in the background was barely audible, as the sound from the tv (a Japanese comedy variety show) was the only thing that could be heard, giving the typical old Japanese coffee shop feel.    

And: busy pasta specialty house

Area:  about 500m north of Kokusai Center station 国際センター駅
Restaurant:  And  アンド
Map:  http://tabelog.com/aichi/A2301/A230101/23043581/dtlmap/
Website:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pasta-shop-and/340992079349658?ref=stream

Hours:  Lunch LO 1:30pm,  hours and times always changing, business hours listed weekly on website


I know I've been visiting a lot of pasta places lately, but I've recently have been able to take my break early and can visit the places that are last order 2pm (a lot of them serve pasta lunches).

Today was a day off so I wanted to visit this 1:30pm last order restaurant.  I'd recommend coming here early to get a seat;  this small restaurant consists of an 8-seater counter and that's all.  It's a pasta specialty restaurant, so of course it showcases house made pasta (both fresh and dry are available).  But why pick dry when there's fresh? There are only about 6 kinds on the menu, but if it's your first time it's recommend that you shouldn't order anything else but the meat sauce (¥950). I'm not a big fan of meat sauce but how could I not order it? The appetizer was a small salad topped with corn and rarely seen in Japan bacon bits.  Dressed with a light oil vinaigrette, the bacon bits were the flavor accent.

The meat sauce was nice, not as tomatoe-y as I had predicted.  I've read that this sauce is simmered for a long time, and it shows in the concentrated flavor.  Slightly sweet, a little bit too salty, but also somewhat creamy.  The flavor of mushrooms was lost from the concentration.   The pasta was al dente and clearly fresh, with a good bite.  Each plate is made upon order so it may take a while to order and receive your food when there are other patrons.

Peperoncino: why not do fresh pasta at lunch time too?

Area:  about 500m east of Kamejima Station 亀島駅 (Higashiyama line), a 10 min walk from Nagoya Station
Restaurant:  Peperoncino  ペペロンチーノ
Map and Info:  http://tabelog.com/aichi/A2301/A230113/23049321/

Hours:  Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm (LO 2pm),  Dinner 5:30-10pm (LO 9pm),  Closed Mondays


This restaurant's lunch only consists of mainly pasta.  There are a few dishes you can add to your meal such as soup, salads, bread and dessert (for an extra fee).  If you don't order pasta, the a la carte price is a bit higher for these dishes.  I opted to add the appetizer plate for an extra 400 yen.  It was pretty large with a simple olive oil dressed salad, a marinated carrot and suzuki (a type of white fish) salad, cold chicken, and a frirtata. The fish had been coated in flour, sautéed and marinated in a very light vinaigrette.  It was a bit salty, but with the carrots and plenty of olive oil, it was a nice cold fish appetizer.  The thinly sliced and chilled roast chicken had a nice meaty flavor and was light on the saltiness.  The frittata was standard, but at least it used a real tomato sauce and not ketchup.

I ordered the genovese pasta (700yen, 600 yen for the medium size) which was a simple pesto sauce spaghetti topped with grated real Parmesan cheese.  It would have been nicer if the pasta had been fresh pasta, and if the sauce was a little less salty, but the basil pesto had an overall nice flavor and the abundance of olive oil once again reigned.  Apparently the dinner menu features fresh handmade pasta, so it might be nice to try some day.