Sunday 9 March 2014

Rakeru: Is it worth going back for their OmuRaisu?






Area:  Spiral Towers B1, just in front of Meitetsu department store at Nagoya station
Restaurant:  Rakeru ラケル
Website: http://www.rakeru.co.jp/index.shtml
Map: http://tabelog.com/aichi/A2301/A230101/23029652/

Hours:  Weekdays  11am-9:30pm, Weekends 10:30am-10pm


This restaurant was started in Tokyo many years ago as a yoshoku or restaurant meant to mimic western flavours, but geared for the Japanese tastebuds.  That seems to be the reason for the specialty here: omuraisu (ketchup flavored rice covered in an omelette).  Another one of their signature items is a bun served warm with a melting brick of butter placed inside.  Sounds great, and it is, if you like the typical slightly sweet buns commonly found here.

There are a variety of lunch plates to choose from (and thankfully can be ordered late afternoon).  I regret it now, but since I'm not the biggest fan of omuraisu I went for the doria (baked rice dish) and quiche plate (1134円).  The soup was a milky corn soup that smelled like dessert and was sweet enough to maybe even pass as one.  The accompanying baked potato was extremely dry and could have used some of that butter from the bun.  The salad was standard with a white French dressing.  The one strand of watercress laid on top gave it a nice punch and could have used more.  The quiche had a nice flakey crust and the lardons (tiny pieces of pork fat) gave it a slight bacon flavor.  It's too bad the mountain of ketchup on top imparted it's acidy artificial flavor on it.  The Doris's rice was curry flavor (reminiscent of Lipton's instant rice) topped with tomato-based meat sauce and cheese.  There's so little meat sauce that I almost didn't even notice it.  

I'm interested in trying their omuraisu in hopes that it might change my feelings about this Japanese household staple.  I'll post if I do try it! 

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