Shokudo Cafe Nito: a surprise meal for me

Area: 　about 300m north of Marunouchi station 丸の内駅
Restaurant:  Shokudo Cafe Nito  食堂カフェ　二兎
Map and Info:  http://tabelog.com/aichi/A2301/A230102/23032533/dtlmap/

Hours:  11:30am-9:30pm (LO 9pm), closed Sundays and Holidays


Lunch is available until 3:30pm here.  The special set of the day (¥800) was a Suzuki sauté oroshi-an and a harusame mapo.  Rice and miso soup are all you can eat.

The dark brown wooden furniture and decor, counter seating and jazz music softly playing in the background, make for a modern, clean atmosphere.  It's definitely a nice place to sit and relax.  

It was actually more of a surprise set for me since I had no idea what oroshi-an and suzuki were.  I immediately fell in love with this combo at first bite.  Suzuki, it turns out, is a white fish similar to black cod.  The meat was so moist, but the skin retained a crispiness to it from the pan-frying.  The an refers to ankake (a sauce thickened by potato starch).  This one was a dashi base (tasted and smelled like udon) and had grated daikon (the oroshi part) added to it.  The harusame (clear vermicelli noodles) had a soft but slightly chewy texture.  It was mixed with ground meat and it had heat from the red peppers.  The cold tofu was seasoned with katsuo flakes, soy sauce and probably powdered ginger (tasted like how I eat it at home).  The simple wakame red miso soup had a nice flavour to it.   They probably make it from a home-made dashi.  

Le Patio: LO time has no meaning

Area: 　5 min. walk east of Fushimi station 伏見駅
Restaurant:  Le Patio 　ル　パティオ
Map and Info:  http://tabelog.com/aichi/A2301/A230103/23004883/dtlmap/?lid=tocoupon2

Hours:  Lunch 11am-3pm (LO 2:30pm or whenever they feel like it), Dinner 5-11pm



I've been wanting to try this place for a while, but the first time I came, the lunch was already over even though it was 10 min. before 2pm.  This time, I arrived at the same hour and they took me in.  The outside sign said the lunch last order was 2:30pm but I guess because it wasn't busy they took their sign down as soon as I ordered my lunch.

Upon walking in, I was a bit disappointed in the decor.  From the outside, it seems like a cute garden cafe, but the inside tells a different story.  It looks like it was once cute, but had become old and run down.  The jazz music created a relaxing atmosphere, but the dark lighting added to the run down feeling. 

There are 3 lunches to choose from, deli plate (cheese filled hamburger patty), rice bowl (pork), and 2 different pastas.  I went with the hamburger (850 yen).  It was topped with a tomato sauce that was cooked with lots of onions.  It made this hamburger taste like a cabbage roll, as the cheese didn't really add much to it.  The salad was topped with a caesar dressing and prosciutto.  There was also a creamy squash salad accompanying it; soft and mild tasting, this one salad was a nice addition.  

I expected the bread to be dry and hard because there were no other patrons here, and for some reason the atmosphere gave me this idea.  However it was chewy and moist with a crunchy outer layer.  The soup was a creamy corn potage.  Alone, it was just sweet and milky, but eaten with the bread it was somehow enhanced in flavor. The hot coffee was an americano so it was made on order, had a nice crema and was actually a really good cup of Java.  Bold but not too strong.

The upper floor looks a bit more modern, but I think it might be reserved for parties.  Based on this lunch though, I'm not sure I'd want to hold a party here.  Not bad but nothing really stood out.  

Marunouchi Cafe: Come with a big appetite

Area:  about a 1 min walk southeast of Marunouchi Station Exit 4 丸の内駅
Restaurant:  Marunouchi Cafe  丸の内カフェ
Map and Info:  http://tabelog.com/aichi/A2301/A230102/23006324/dtlmap/

Hours: 10am-7pm


This cafe's lunch is slightly different than your regular cafe.  It's an all you can eat fare (¥1480).  You can choose between the curry and rice set or the curry and bread set.  If you want both rice and bread, you can do so for an extra ¥300.  It seems that this place prides itself on the homemade bread so I ordered that set, sans rice.

The salad bar has a number of different dressings such as strawberry, carrot, onion, two different extra virgin olive oils, and Himalayan as well as Mongolian salt. The strawberry was the most interesting, slightly sweet but went well with the salad (you can choose what vegetable you want in your salad as well). The olive oils were also nice as a dip for the bread.    You could also do as you please with the all-you-can-eat bread; toast it, spread jam or sprinkle with salt, dip in the curry etc.  I especially fancied the bread made with cream (first from the left in the photo).  It had a flaky texture almost like a Danish but had some density to it.

The curry was a vegetable purée curry.  It was difficult to tell what kind of vegetables were included but it had a bit of sweetness mixed with the spiciness of the curry.  This cafe's premise seems to be healthy fare, serving up rye bread, walnut bread, multi grain rice, and they even handed out an ao jiru (green veggie drink, perhaps made from kale, with some seaweed) on the house.  It is often bitter, but this one was not.

The coffee was a strong espresso, but had a nice crema, indicating it was made with the proper grind and water pressure.

The plain yogurt was flavored with a slight sweet syrup poured over, a nice and healthy dessert.

Although a bit pricey just for a quick lunch, if you can eat a lot and you like bread and curry, or if you're lacking in veggies, this is a great place.  It helps that the regulars and the owner are kind and chatty as well.

Motomachi: if you're not in a hurry in the morning...

Area:  Nagoya station (Bic Camera side)
Restaurant:  Motomachi Coffee  元町珈琲
Website and Map:  http://motomachi-coffee.jp/map/?p=232

Hours:  7am-10pm (LO 9:30pm)


This is apparently a chain cafe but I think this store was recently opened in this area.  The first thing I felt stepping into this cafe was that it reminded me of a hotel lounge. The upholstery seating, dim lighting, clean look, and the jazz music all made this atmosphere.

I came here for the morning service today.  For the price of your drink of choice, you get a boiled egg and toast (or you can switch it to a muffin or croissant).  And for an extra ¥120 more you can upgrade to the premium set which adds a salad and yogurt to the breakfast.  

First of all, if you're in a hurry, it might be better to go to Mac;  the service is not as fast as most Japanese restaurants.  The coffee had a nice aroma and toasty flavor when drunk black. 

The yogurt came with blueberry jam, and jelly cubes (aloe) that were chewy and bursted with a slight sweetness that went well with the sour yogurt. The salad was regular with a French dressing.  There's not much to say about the hard boiled egg and the slice of bacon (except that the bacon here in Japan is more like cold cut ham, soft and no crispy edges).  

I'm not sure if they meant it to be an English muffin, but this muffin is nothing close to it.  The round shape might be the same but it seemed like a hamburger bun.  It did however soak up melted butter quite nicely and was only slighty toasted so the soft, yet chewy texture of bread could be enjoyed.  This is definitely a good deal when it comes to price and volume in this city! 

I decided to give this cafe another try since you can't judge a cafe based on morning sets alone.  It was after 3pm when I went so if there were any lunch sets I probably missed it.  However, the menu still includes various items from pastas and sandwiches to dorias and stews.  I ordered the spring special,  sakura ebi (tiny dried shrimps) pasta (¥900).  I think, with the lunch set you just save a couple of ¥100 coins to add a drink.  Like before, it did take a while for the kitchen to make.  

The pasta came with a mini salad, with a creamy thousand island dressing.  I like that it included a tomato and broccoli floret for a bit of color.  The pasta was a butter soy sauce flavor.  The butter flavor didn't really come through.  Brussels sprouts are quite difficult to find in the regular grocery stores here, so it was nice to have it in this dish.  The reason I like brussels sprouts is not only for the concentrated cabbage flavor, but how it soaks up moisture.  These brussels sprouts did not let me down,  they must have been cooked in a different broth than with the pasta because they had more buttery flavor than the pasta which was seasoned with a bit too much shio-kosho mix (it's a mix of salt, white pepper, black pepper and probably msg).  The sakura ebi had a good slighlty crunchy texture but the flavor was overpowered by the shio-kosho...I was so thirsty by the end. 

The store prides itself on the iced coffee and their in store baked croissant. So before going to work one day, I stopped by for morning service again.  This time I just went for the regular, not the premium set which is the price of a drink (¥450 for the iced coffee) and includes  bread of your choice plus a boiled egg.  

I must admit their iced coffee was pretty good, with a richness that fills the mouth with one small sip.  The croissant wins for flakiness, but it's so flaky and light that the inside is almost hollow.  Because they are small, the ratio of outside crustiness rules over the softer inside. I prefer my croissants to have a bit more density and bite (chewiness) on the inside.  

Kihachi Cafe: Affordable version of this chain

Area:  Meitetsu department store at Nagoya station, 4th Floor  名鉄百貨店
Restaurant:  Kihachi Cafe   キハチカフェ
Website:  http://www.kihachi.jp/cafe/index.html
Map:  http://www.kihachi.jp/shoplist/cafe_nagoya.html

Hours: 10am-10pm



I've been wanting to try this sandwich for a while, being the sandwich lover I am.  It's a fried shrimp and avocado sandwich.  This restaurant has a monthly seasonal plate, but because this sandwich has become one of their staples, it's always on their menu.  I ordered the half plate because it comes with salad and it is still the size of one regular sandwich (¥1296).  The green salad had a nice mixture of different types of leaves, and was dressed with a mild vinaigrette which went well to accent the natural flavor of peppery arugula.  The carrot salad had a bit more punch to it, with I believe an olive oil based vinaigrette dressing and bits of fresh parsley and oregano.  The tomatoes in this salad added a bit of acidity, but the hard boiled egg mellowed the vinegar accent out.

Now for the sandwich...the menu prides itself on the perfect balance in this sandwich from the thickness of the bread to the flavor of the tartar sauce, the crispy fried shrimp and the amount of creamy avocado and arugula.  I must say there's a lot going on in this sandwich but the flavors do meld well.  I especially like that the bread was toasted and could hold up to the sauce and fried batter.  The slightly sweet and mild mustard sauce was a good contrast to the spicey arugula.  However the avocado was overpowered by the rest of the flavors and only added a pretty green colour.  

The cafe itself is a good place to go for affordable Kihachi food.  There also seems to be a Kihachi restaurant in the JR towers, but it is fine dining at fine dining prices.  

The atmosphere, is calm but somewhat upbeat with the warm deep yellow lighting and the jazz piano music playing.  

Nagoya Oyster Bar: a great find!

Area: Lucent Tower 2F, about 500m north of Nagoya Station, ルーセントタワー

Restaurant:  Nagoya Oyster Bar  ナゴヤオイスターバー

Website and Map:  http://tyu.co.jp/shop2/

Hours: 11am-11pm  (LO 10:30), Lunch serverd until 3pm

This is the first Oyster bar I've been to in Nagoya.  The nice part about it is that it's open through the late afternoon and early evening hours.  They also don't charge a sitting fee.  There is a lunch menu served until 3pm (for less than ¥1000), but there is also the option of ordering a la carte.  The black olive tapenade (around ¥580) was addictive with the salty puréed olive seasoned with plenty of pepper. The oysters were lightly coated in flour or starch before cooking so it had a somewhat crispy outer that soaked up the flavour of the dressing.  The shrimp was cooked to the point just before becoming overcooked.  The onions were a perfect flavour balance addition to this dish. 

The fig and ricotta baked oyster (¥470) was an interesting combination.  The topping was sweet like dessert, but this brought out natural and fresh flavor of the oyster (unlike the stir-fried version which had a more sea water fragrance).  

I returned again to try the lunch menu (served until 3pm). There are various sets to choose from such as oyster chilli mayo, fried oyster, etc.  I  was kind of curious to see what a garlic steak oyster lunch was (¥850), since there was actually no steak in the picture. Turns out it used steak sauce, infused with butter and garlic infused this sauce.  It went deliciously well with the oysters.  The salad had a light emulsion vinegrette.  It was plain but refreshing.  It's a bit disappointing that the salad was made up of the same veggies in the rice bowl.  The set might benefit from more variety in this area. The barley mixed in with the sauce gave the rice a chewy texture. 

   The soup was not miso soup, as I had expected, but being an oyster bar, I'm guessing it was an oyster broth.  Perfect in sodium level, it was a nice change from the regular soups.  

This restaurant has made me become addicted to oysters.  This time I ordered the fried oyster tortilla ¥820.  On the menu it says it's their most popular item, and I can see why.  I was a bit surprised in the amount of heat and spice in this dish since I thought the Japanese don't really go for strong aroma spices.  But I guess in this case, this isn't necessarily a Japanese style restaurant and the spices add more smokiness than heat to this dish.  The mayonnaise had a chipotle flavour and it was sprinkled with perhaps dried ground chipotle.  Inside the chewy wrap was lettuce, avocado, breaded fried oysters and tomato salsa.  All of the flavors melded well, and although high in the sodium factor, the smokiness from the chipotle, the creaminess of the avocado and the juice of the oyster all added an extra level to this dish.  After all, this is a bar so the flavours are going to be bold to make you want to drink more.

After having so much success and after receiving some coupons, I've yet again returned.  This time, I ordered the ginger marinated oyster (¥580).  I had a coupon for the day's special appetizer which was pork shoga yaki (a sweet soya sauce based gingery sauce), a Japanese home staple).  The pork is thinly sliced and is sautéed in a pan with the sauce.  Sometimes onion and other veggies are added, but this one was just the pork.  The pork in this dish had a nice fat to meat ratio and was not at all dry, but not so fatty as to feel gross after eating it.  The ginger flavor was mild and tasted like standard shoga yaki.  The house-made special ginger marinade on the oyster was a delight.  The ginger was minced as oppose to grated (in the shoga yaki), so the ginger's heat and flavor stood out.  It had a nutty flavor (perhaps peanut or sesame oil was used).  The oysters were covered in flour or starch before cooking making them crispy with a juicey interior.  It was topped with candied myoga (a small shallot-like Japanese veggie).  It had a familiar flavor, and I think it was sweetened with maple syrup!  The sweetness went perfectly well with the salty and spicey ginger sauce.

Next was the 4 cheese pizza (¥950), not as thought out as the other dishes in this restaurant.  It sounded interesting because it had Gorgonzola, my favorite cheese, and was accompanied by honey to drizzle on as desired.  The other cheeses used were a regular processed cheese, ricotta and powdered parmesan, sprinkled with pepper and dried oregano.  The crust was not greasy and was more bread like.  The cheese flavors didn't really match the honey, which just made it sweet.   

The raw oyster (¥300) was however nice.  It didn't have any fishy sea flavor, meaning it was pretty fresh. 

The nori gratin (¥730) had a familiar flavor, almost like clam chowder.  The nori did give it a pretty seafoody taste.  Little cubed potato and carrots also added to the clam chowder feel.

The fried oyster was juicy and the batter was nice and crisp.  It came with 2 dips; the first was a mayo that seemed house-made because it was a bit more vinegary and less salty than the usual Japanese mayo.  The red sauce was strong on the tomato paste and perhaps had some chipotle flavor.  

The red and yellow pepper (and onion) marinade was such an interesting experience in my mouth.  Almost like it had been marinated in soda, it was fizzy! Not salty or vinegary either.  I didn't really fancy the mushiness of the onion.  The real highlight of this dish was not the flavor but the fizziness.  

Chicken wrapped oyster with ricotta tomato sauce (¥850).  This is an interesting combo that takes 30 min to bake in the oven.  It's really difficult to tell from the picture and description that this is what the dish was.  I'm not so sure chicken works well with oyster though.  The flavor of the oyster overpowers the chicken.  Because it was slow baked, the chicken came out a bit dry and chewy.  The sauce, using fresh tomatoes tasted like a rose sauce, but played off the mildness of the ricotta nicely.  It was better off kind of deconstructing the roll and eating the chicken and steamed spinach with the sauce separately from the oyster.  The chicken could have used a bit more seasoning.  The fried veggie laid across the top was simple but was a nice addition.

The green onion and salt sauté's base was a strong garlickey oil which was the key to this dish's goodness.  It was indeed salty but that's ok when salt is included in the dish's name.  It came on a bed of salad, so eating the lettuce and warm sauce was a good combo.  Shrimps were also included giving it some volume.  This one was more of an Asian flavour, probably soy sauce. 

I wouldn't recommend the Tomato risotto if your looking for an Italian dish.  It was basically ketchup rice with a lot of cheese, bacon, and tasted more like pizza.  In Japan, I believe this is a dish adored by kids.  The rice did have barley in it, but it could have used more oomph somewhere. 

I've posted a lot here, both yummy and not so yummy dishes, but I will keep coming back to try new flavors and to get my oyster fix! 

Coq D'or: Nice for a breakfast with a bit of variety

Area: about 400m east of Nakamura Kuyakusho station 中村区役所駅
Restaurant:  Coq D'or  コックドール
Map and info:  http://tabelog.com/aichi/A2301/A230101/23038353/dtlmap/

Hours: Weekdays 7:30a,-7pm, Weekends and Holidays 7:30am-6pm


It feels like a kissaten (Japanese coffee house) with a slight European flare with the fan lights hanging from the ceiling, street-like lanterns hanging by the window, and doll decorations that are clearly not Japanese in style.

Today's intent was to come for the morning service since it looked like it was a bit different than the regular toast and hard-boiled egg.  There were 3 sets to choose from.  I chose the French baguette toast set.  All sets are the price of one drink only (coffee was 400 yen).

The salad consisted of shredded cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, carrot and a white French dressing that was mildly salted and had a touch of lemon juice.  

The pizza toast had an onion, green pepper and cheese topping.  It tasted like pizza my mother used to make at home with a premade crust and sauce.   The other baguette's topping was a mayo and egg salad.  Although high in the mayo content, it was creamy and not too salty. Mild flavors good for morning.  

The coffee somehow had a honey essence to it, although not sweet.  

I liked the use of European tea cups and water served in glass bottles for you to pour freely. 

Journey and West-Life were playing in the background giving a relaxing and spirit lifting start to the day.