La Pattola - The Feeling of Being in Italy

Restaurant Review by K.I.

Have you ever been to Italia? It is far from Japan, so it is difficult to visit there. but even though you are in Japan, you can feel like “I AM IN ITALIA NOW!!!” The way to do it is to go to the restaurant La Pattola.

La Pattola is a restaurant where you can taste real Italian food. The atmosphere in the restaurant is nice and casual. There are a few tables outside of the restaurant, so you can enjoy a meal with your pets. It is barrier-free, and there is a Braille menu, too.

The service staffs are so nice and kind. I always talk with them. You can have a really nice time with them and your family or friends. You can go without a reservation, but it is better to reserve a table because it is sometimes crowded and you may have to wait.

The menu is abundant. There are many kinds of antipasto, salad, pasta and pizza. They use Barilla, which is the most famous pasta in Italy with 32 kinds, and four kinds of pasta sauces.

The pizza is available in ten varieties, and the diameter is about 27 centimeters. You can also take out. My favorites are the antipasto with uncured ham and avocado (￥714), the clam and green onion with soy sauce pasta (￥924) and Pizza Margherita(￥714). I always order pizza with double cheese.

As a dessert, you can choose ice cream and the sherbet that goes best with the season. Of course, there is the basic Italian tiramisu. From 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm is called tea time. You can choose one dessert with a drink for 609. At a low price, you can spend an elegant afternoon time.

This restaurant has 4 stores, but I go to the one in Ofuna. It is near the Kamakura Art Building, far from Ofuna Station. However, all the main train routes stop at Ofuna, so it is easy to get to. It takes about 15 minutes on foot to La Pattola from Ofuna Station. You will become a captive if you go to this restaurant once. So do not miss this great chance to go to the Italian restaurant, La Pattola!

La Pattola
Address: 2-25-2 Ofuna, Kamakura, Kanagawa 〒247-0056
Phone: 0467-45-3567
URL: http://www.pattola.co.jp/index.html
Hours: 11:00 am-11:00 pm (last order 10:00 pm)

Let's Enjoy an Irish Pub in Japan - Green Sheep

Restaurant Review by S.Y.

Today, I'd like introduce Green Sheep, which is an Irish pub and restaurant with a homey atmosphere. Green Sheep is about a 10 minute walk from the west exit of Yokohama Station. It may be little difficult to find Green Sheep, because there are many bars and izakayas around Yokohama Station.

I went there with my friends. We ate and drank so much. First, two friends ordered Yona-Yona Real Ale (beer). My other friends ordered standard cocktails and I ordered Irish whisky. We drank to our job hunting success. Then, my friends each ate many kind of foods, such as fish & chips, salad, pizza, pasta and more. I ate three Irish foods.

One thing I ate was Shepherd's Pie which is a traditional Irish food. I also ate Irish stew and traditional Irish soda bread. This bread uses whole wheat flour and baking soda, so you can enjoy an elastic tough. Dipping the bread into the Irish stew is a very delicious eating style. Every food was very delicious.

We drank about 3 or 4 glasses each. During our eating time, a soccer game showed on the big screen, but I didn't know either team. In Green Sheep, we enjoyed watching soccer games with soccer fans. Live Irish music is held mainly on weekends at dinner time. Customers not only enjoy eating, but they also enjoy soccer and a live show at Green Sheep.

At Green Sheep there are many foreigners who speak English, so it's a chance to be exposed to English conversation. Ireland is so far. However, Green Sheep is in Yokohama. If we go to Green Sheep, we learn the atmosphere of an Irish pub and eat delicious Irish traditional foods. Please go to Green Sheep.

Green Sheep
Address: Burira-ru Yokohama 1F, Nishi-ku, Minami-Saiwai 2-10-13, Yokohama, Kanagawa
Open: Mon.~Thu. 17:30~2:00 Fri. 17:30~5:00, Sat. 15:00~5:00, Sun. 15:00~1:00
Access: From Yokohama Station (west exit), take the Minami Saiwai Bridge; go straight for 5 minutes and at the hair salon, turn left.
Web site: http://www.foodcom.jp/green-sheep/

MANOA Aloha Table - Hawaiian Restaurant

Restaurant Review by K.F.

As many of you know, our teacher, Kevin, comes from Hawaii. Do you know Hawaii has a local specialty food? Loco Moco is a popular food in Hawaii. And you can try Hawaiian food at MANOA Aloha Table in Sakuragicho, Yokohama.

MANOA Aloha Table is a Hawaiian restaurant. It has many dishes. Loco Moco, pasta and hamburg steak are on the menu. They are all reasonably priced. This time, I tried the original Loco Moco priced at ￥880. It was very delicious. There are also plenty of Hawaiian drinks and appetizers. And there are five Hawaiian beers, so you can enjoy drinking. By going during happy hour, you can get some drinks cheaper.

The atmosphere at MANOA Aloha Table is very good. Hawaiian music is played there, so you can relax and enjoy eating or drinking there.

MANOA Aloha Table is located on the 1st floor of Colette Mare Minato Mirai, near Sakuragicho Station. Sakuragicho is a famous area, and many people use Sakuragicho Station, especially on holidays.

MANOA Aloha Table is open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm and between 4:00 and 7:00 pm is Happy Hour. So if you want to drink a lot, you should go there between 4:00 and 7:00 pm.

MANOA Aloha Table
Address: Colette Mare Minato Mirai, 1F, 1-1-7 Sakuragicho, Nakaku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 〒231-0062
Phone:(045)-664-7110　
Hours: 11:00~23:00
URL: http://www.alohatable.com/manoa/
Access: From Sakuragicho Station, go into Colette Mare Minato Mirai.

BuBu - Famous Ramen Restaurant in Chigasaki

Restaurant Review by M.Y.

Have you been to Chigasaki? Actually, my hometown, Chigasaki, is secretly famous because there are so many good restaurants all over town. This time I'll introduce BuBu, one of the especially recommended ramen restaurants.

BuBu is a "tonkotsu" (pork bone) ramen restaurant. There are five kinds of ramen and some side menu items. BuBu-1Go is the most popular tonkotsu ramen of all. When I go to this ramen restaurant with my friends after school, I always order that. BuBu-1Go is a special menu in BuBu. The noodles are thin and a little hard. The soup contains pork bone broth, scallops, dried kelp and other ingredients. These ingredients serve as a foil for the noodle and soup's taste. I thought, "What a creamy and smooth soup!" when I tasted it for the first time. There are slices of roast pork, bamboo shoots, nori, leeks, and so on. The price is ￥630! It is very reasonable!

Most ramen restaurants have spirited staff, but this restaurant's staff is not too loud. I like it! Perhaps you think it is hard for a woman to enter this restaurant, but don't worry! Many women are visiting there! Of course, men are, too. And the staff will give you some dessert free.

The location is near Chigasaki Station. First, you should go to the south end of Chigasaki Station. Then you can see the widest street, and walk to the first block. Then you turn to the right, take 10 paces, and you can see BuBu soon. It takes about 5 minutes from the station. A cute pig is on the signboard.

If you visit Chigasaki, you should go to BuBu!!

BuBu
Address: 22-26 Matsushita Bld. 1F, Saiwai Town, Chigasaki City, Kanagawa, 250-0072
Phone: 0467-84-0537
Hours: 11:30-15:00; 18:00-1:00 a.m.; closed on Tuesdays

An Amazing Italian Restaurant – Capricciosa

Restaurant Review by M.W.

I'd like to introduce one of my favorite Italian restaurants, Capricciosa. This restaurant is a chain store so you might have heard of it before. I always eat at Capricciosa More's by Keikyu Yokosuka-chuo Station. It's in the department store called More's and it's very close to the station.

When you enter the restaurant, they will welcome you by saying "Buon giorno!" which means "Hello" in Italian.

I had the Chicken Genovese Spaghetti. Genovese sauce is made from basil. It is not what you can eat in every Italian restaurant, so please try it!

My friend ordered pizza with tomatoes and mozzarella on it, and we ate sausage. They will bring you their original spicy oil. It goes well with everything, so if you want to make your food spicy, you can add it to your pasta or pizza.

Our selections were delicious and inexpensive, so you should definitely go and have lunch or dinner! During lunch time, drinks are refilled free.

You can also enjoy the view from the restaurant. When the weather is clear, you can see Skytree and Mt. Fuji. And the city lights are pretty at night, so I recommend Capricciosa for couples too!

Capricciosa
Address: More's City, 9F, 2-30 Wakamatsu-cho, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa-ken
Phone: 046-822-8558
Hours: 11 am-10 pm (last order 10:30 pm on Fridays)
URL: http://www.capricciosa.com/index.html

Korean Style Barbecue - Moise

Restaurant Review by C.S.

I'd like to introduce a Korean style barbecue called Moise. If you want the same taste as a real Korean restaurant, you should go here. It is a 5-minute walk from Shin-Okubo Station. Many Japanese people enjoy eating Korean food in Shin-Okubo.

At Moise, you can eat Korean-style barbecued pork ribs. When I went to Korea, I ate Korean style barbecued pork ribs. At Moise, the meat is cut with a scissors by an old woman. She came to Japan from Korea. She was very kind and made small talk. She puts her nose into everybody's affairs.

We can eat for about ￥1500 per person. The food is always served with at least two kinds of dipping sauces. Just dip your meat into the sauce. Then add kimchi, sliced raw garlic, sliced raw garlic and long green onions. Put it on Asian lettuce, called sanchu, and roll it up.

I recommend pork at Moise. It is cheaper than beef, and it is juicy, tender and so delicious.

Moise
Okubo 1-15-11, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Access: Yamanote Line; 5 minutes walk from Shin-Okubo Station
Hours: 11:00-1:00 a.m.
Phone: 03-3205-2373

Komeraku - A New Style Food Shop

Restaurant Review by Y.M.

I often eat out, so I think I know many restaurants. I recently ate at ramen, yakiniku, pasta, and Japanese food places. This time I would like to introduce an unusual food, but it's my favorite food.

Komeraku is a Japanese restaurant. The shop is an ochazuke specialty store. Ochazuke is Japanese tea with rice and some other foods. It is common in Japan. However Komeraku puts rice into their original soup! For example, you can get kelp soup, tonkotsu (pork bone broth) soup and so on. I ate pork, cod roe and rice in my tonkotsu soup. It's very, very delicious and healthy. And what's more, you can eat as much rice as you like!

The shop's interior decor looks like a café, so many women eat here. I think the shop is popular among all people, because old people like ochazuke, young women like the interior, and young men like to be able to eat a lot. Therefore the shop is very popular. However the shop is very small. When I go there, it's always crowded. This is a problem!

The shop has a lunch menu. You can take out, and it's never closed for business.

Komeraku
The Landmark Tower, 1F
Minato Mirai, Yokohama
Phone: 045-640-5088　
Hours: 11:00 ～22:00
URL: http://www.yokohama-landmark.jp/page/floorguide/detail/?id=45

Wired Café - Stay Connected While Dining

Restaurant Review by C.H.

This time I will introduce a cafe called Wired Café. I went to Wired Café at Joinus in Yokohama with my friends. I have visited there twice. Wired Café is in front of FrancFranc on the top floor of Joinus.

Wired Café is very recommended for staff meetings, dates and relaxation. There is an open terrace with about 88 seats. It:s an oriental atmosphere and it's very fashionable. As the lighting is dim, they put a candle on each table. The service staff are friendly.

At Wired Café, you can use the Internet for free. Also, there are many kinds of magazines. They offer a surprise birthday plan, and credit cards are accepted.

I ate the Loco Moco plate. This is a hamburger steak, a sunny-side-up egg on rice. Salad, potato and soup come with it. I like it so much. The price is ￥1050. The King Loco Moco plate is the most popular item at Wired Café.

There are many kinds of sweets and drinks. My recommended sweet is malasada gelato parfait with fresh strawberries. There is strawberry ice cream with the malasada. The price is ￥780. Malasadas are a Portuguese sweet.

Wired Café
Nankou 1-5-1, Nishi-ku, Yokohama Shi, Kanagawa
Hours: 10:00-22:00; lunchtime 11:00-15:00; last order 21:30
URL: www.cafecompany.co.jp/brands/wired/yokohama_joinus

Spanish Restaurant - Amapola

Restaurant Review by S.K.

This is a Spanish restaurant named Amapola. It is located on the east side of Yokohama Station on the 6th floor of the Lumine department store.

Amapola serves a mixed seafood paella and a squid ink paella among others. They have tapas, such as shrimp, squid, and scallops mixed in olive oil. They also have Iberian ham, which originated in Spain, and they have wine, too.

Every day they have lunch specials for a reasonable price. You can eat the lunch set, which includes bread, salad, dessert and drinks that you can choose. At night they have dinner courses from ￥2000-￥4000. The atmosphere is also good.

If you feel like eating Spanish food such as paella or tapas, you can go here and enjoy the lunch set menu or the dinner course. When you’re in Yokohama for shopping, you should drop in her and feel at home, like in Spain.

Amapola
Yokohama Station east exit; Lumine 6th Floor
Hours: 11:00-23:00
Phone: 045-453-6851
Reservations accepted.

Ramen Shop Tetsuma

Restaurant Review by K.T.

Last Saturday, I went out to eat ramen in Sahara. It's my favorite ramen shop. I was impressed with this ramen the first time I ate it. Whenever my friends want to eat ramen, I take them here. Now I'll introduce Tetsuma.

When I go to Tetsuma, I always order Negi Ramen. This is my favorite ramen in Tetsuma. It's ￥700. And if you pay ￥300 more, you can get gyoza and rice. Negi means long green onion. The Negi Ramen has a lot of green onions. It's so good. There are two varieties of broth, shoyu (soy sauce) and tonkotsu (pork bone). I always put extra garlic in the ramen.

I always order gyoza and rice, too. The gyoza is good, but I like the Negi Ramen more than the gyoza. I don't know why I always order gyoza.

The shop has few employees, but everyone is friendly. The shop is near my home, so I often go to Tetsuma. This ramen shop opened five years ago, and the shop's location is good for me.

If you want to eat ramen, you should go to Tetsuma.

Tetsuma
4-6-9 Sahara, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa
Phone: 046-848-5615
Access: About 1.5 km from Kitakurihama Station. Take the bus to Nobi Station.

Devil Craft - Chicago Style Pizza & Draft Beer

Restaurant Review by K.M.

[More recent (2017) review of Devil Craft is here.]

I confess, I have a monthly craving for pizza. Unfortunately for me, the standard pizza chains found in every town in Japan just don't satisfy that craving. And while I enjoy the traditional, thin crust, brick oven pizza places that have sprung up in recent years, I still can't seem to find that New York style pizza that I really enjoy. When I heard about Devil Craft, a new Chicago style pizza restaurant in Kanda, I really had high hopes that this would be the place and my search for the perfect pizza in Tokyo would be over.

Devil Craft is a combination beer bar and pizza restaurant. Their pizza specialty is deep dish Chicago style pizza. The pizza is about 3-4 cm thick, and a slice of pizza is like a thick slice of tomato pie. We ordered the The Devil Works (￥2800 large), which is supposed to have some of everything on it. It looks beautiful, as you can see from the picture, and it does have a little of everything. However, I found the tomato sauce to be somewhat bland, with very little meat or cheese. We thought it was good, filling, and a healthy alternative to chain pizza, but not up to our expectations.

Fortunately, Devil Craft's allure is not only its pizza, but also it's selection of interesting micro-brew draft beers. I chose Mountain Ale, an amber beer with little carbonation. My wife had the Hoegaarden White, from Belgium. There are 15 draft beers on the menu, and a glass runs about ￥1000 a pint.

I may go to Devil Craft again someday, but since it's in Kanda, near Tokyo Station on the Chuo Line, it's not exactly close by to us here in Tsurumi. I would say the pizza is good, and better than chain pizza, but it's not fantastic. I guess that means I'll have to keep looking for the most awesome pizza in Tokyo!

Devil Craft
Nihonbashi, Muromachi 4-2-3, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-6265-1779
Access: Kanda Station, South Exit, 3 min. walk
Seats 44; reservations recommended on weekends
Web Site: www.devilcraft.jp

Let's Go to Grazie!

Restaurant Review by Y.K.

You should go to Grazie!

I'll introduce one of my favorite restaurants, Grazie. This restaurant is an Italian family restaurant and you may have seen it because it is chain restaurant. Its name is “Grazie Gardens,” but I call it Grazie.

This restaurant is in local areas. I use it when I meet with my local friends. But this time, I want to introduce the Yokohama Grazie Gardens. It's between Yokohama Station and Sakuragicho Station. It's about 15 minutes away from Yokohama Station in the Yokohama Jack Mall.

There are many items on the menu, such as pasta, pizza, salad, soup, grilled foods, appetizers, desserts and a drink bar. The price is moderate, but it is more expensive than Saizeriya.

I ordered steamed chicken with umeboshi perilla on spaghetti, French fried potatoes and a strawberry chocolate waffle. I like this spaghetti, but the best item is Chinese garlic fried rice. Even though this restaurant is not a Chinese restaurant, I recommend eating Chinese garlic fried rice.

Also you can order a large size pasta. I think that is good for when you are eating with many people. You should go to Grazie!

Grazie Gardens in Yokohama Jack Mall
Address: Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 〒220-0012
Phone: 045-680-0435
Hours: Every day 10:00~23:30
URL: http://www.skylark.co.jp/grazie_gardens/index.html

Korean Foods - Tomato

Restaurant Review by S.K.

There is a Korean boom in Japan, so Korean food is popular with many people. The shop I went to with my friend is called Tomato. It's in Shin-Okubo. The shop's atmosphere is like a yakiniku restaurant in Korea. Most of the clerks are Korean, and some customers are Korean, so we can hear the Korean language. People who are interested in Korea enjoy this shop. The clerks can speak Japanese, too. Moreover, I think that you can enjoy seeing Korean music programs here.

We ordered Samgyeopsal and Chige. Most people order Samgyeopsal. This is pork yakiniku like in the picture. We wrap the ingredients in Korean lettuce. The ingredients are pork, kimchi, Korean miso, long green onions and garlic. The kimchi isn't hot when it's grilled.

The clerks grill the pork and kimchi for us, so we just wrap it and eat it. This is very delicious and healthy. Chige means “one pot dish.” The ingredients are tofu, short-neck clams, onions and egg. This is very hot, so I couldn't eat it without rice. But it is very delicious.

We ate these dishes and had one drink. It cost about ￥2500 in all. It was very delicious. This shop has many kinds of chige and topokki, and it's all you can eat for ￥1500. Please try to go to Tomato.

Tomato
Ookubo 1-14-18, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Access: Yamanote Line, 6 minutes walk from Shin-Okubo Station
Hours: 17:00-05:00; last order 04:00
URL: http://mobile.gnavi.co.jp/iphone/shop/a816800

My Favorite Restaurant, Mokichi

Restaurant Review by A.M.

Have you ever been to Mokichi? Mokichi is my favorite Italian restaurant. Pasta, Shonan beer, and pizza all taste very good. My boss went out with me and showed me this restaurant. The restaurant has a long history.

First, we got tidbits, which were pieces of puffed wheat. Shonan beer is the most famous menu in this restaurant, so the first tidbit is wheat.

My favorite Mokichi menu item is Mushroom and Beef Pizza. It is very delicious. In the old days, I ate this pizza with my boss, so this food brings back memories. There are also salads, rice croquettes and many delicious foods in this restaurant.

Mokichi is located in Chigasaki. Chigasaki is my home town, so it's easy to go there. The restaurant is well-known for its bread, so even if you don't eat at this restaurant, it's OK to buy bread. When my family goes to my grandmother's house, we buy that bread. My grandmother likes the bread very much, so she is glad when we buy it. The bread comes fresh out of the oven.

The inside of the shop is very wide and is decorated in a wood style. Most of the customers are families and relatives. Of course, going with your friends or your boyfriend or girlfriend is OK, too.

Chigasaki has many stylish restaurants, but when I want to eat out, Mokichi is my favorite place to go.

Mokichi
Chigasaki-shi, Kagawa 7-10-7
Access: JR Tokaido Line, Chigasaki Station; 10 minutes on foot
Holidays: Closed the third Tuesday of each month
Hours: 11:30~23:00 (14:30~17:30 Cafe Time)
Budget: About ¥3000 (Lunch Time ¥1500; Banquet dinner party ¥5000)
Phone: 0467-84-0123
URL: http://www.kumazawa.jp/

Kitakuriya - Ramen with Quality AND Quantity

Restaurant Review by A.K.

Kitakuriya is a ramen restaurant located near the Keikyu Kitakurihama Station in Yokosuka. It is one of the best ramen restaurants in the city - possibly the best.

The first thing you'll notice is its very convenient location. If you get off at Kitakurihama Station, it won't take you a minute to get there, making it tempting to get off at that station every time you're hungry.

The great thing about Kitakuriya is its friendliness to students. Unlike some ramen restaurants, Kitakuriya serves very delicious ramen for a low price. What stands out especially for students is the special menu for students. They have Gakusei Ramen, which is Japanese for "student ramen." This tasty tonkotsu flavored ramen comes with rice, and you can ask for as many refills as you want. You can also ask for extra noodles for just ￥100. This special menu is exclusive to any student, from pre-school to college students, and the price is only ￥500. Students like me with little money and a huge appetite can certainly be satisfied with the affordable price. The taste is brilliant and even better than a lot of very expensive ramen restaurants out there. No matter how many times you eat it, you never get tired of the taste, and you want to go back again and again.

Most of the time, it's only the owner and his assistant serving food, but you can feel their energy as if there were 10 of them working. There are only 10 counter seats and no table seats, but customers come, eat and leave at a fast pace, so no one is kept waiting for long, even if the seats are full.

If you're someone who loves ramen, especially if you're a student, I highly recommend you get on a train and stop by Kitakuriya for your next meal.

Kitakuriya
Negishi-cho 2-21-16, Yokosuka
Phone: 046-837-7999
Access: Keikyu Kitakurihama Station, 1 minute on foot
Hours: 11:00-1:00 a.m.; closed Tuesdays

Pronto - Café by Day, Bar at Night

Restaurant Review by R.T.

I'd like to introduce my favorite restaurant, Pronto. Pronto is located on the 5th floor of the Haneda Airport, International Passenger Terminal (but also many other places). It's about a 10 minute walk from the Haneda Airport International Terminal Station.

Pronto has two faces. In the daytime it's a café and at night time it's a bar. We can enjoy a different atmosphere with each time.

I recommend a pasta that I think is a good seller; tomato cream spaghetti with shrimp. The price is ￥690. This pasta has a very delicious mild taste, but with not too strong of a tomato flavor.

In the daytime, the café drinks are inexpensive. I recommend buying a delicious drink together with pasta. Incidentally, my favorite drink is iced mocha. Alcoholic drinks are available in the bar-time menu.

This restaurant in in the Haneda Airport, and a planetarium is attached to it. If you buy a ticket, you can visit the planetarium. This place is good to satisfy hunger during free time while waiting before departure at the airport. It's also good to relax with a cup of coffee. Please drop into Pronto when you go to Haneda Airport, International Passenger Terminal.

Pronto
Address: 2-6-5 Haneda Airport, Ota-ku, Tokyo
Haneda Airport, International Terminal, 5F (Cool Zone)
Train: Keikyu Line, Haneda Airport International Terminal Station
Phone: 03-6428-0694
Hours: Café 8:00-17:30, Bar 17:30-23:00; Open 365 days a year!

KuuKuu - the Best Chinese Restaurant in Zushi

Restaurant Review by M.N.

I'll introduce my favorite restaurant, KuuKuu, the best Chinese restaurant anywhere in Zushi. It's near Zushi Station. The owner doesn't talk much, but he is a skillful cook. The inside of the restaurant is small, but it has many regular customers.

Ajitama and roast pork is a delicious Chinese noodle dish. The coriander leaves in this soup are easier to eat than in other Chinese restaurants.

Another popular dish is deep-fried chicken. The skin of the chicken is crisp, and gravy spills from the chicken.

This restaurant does not seem like Chinese food because it's not oily. You should visit this restaurant when coming to Zushi.

KuuKuu
喰う喰う
JR Zushi Station East Entrance, 5-minute walk
1-10-26 Zushi, Zushi-shi, Kanagawa
Phone: 046-873-3990
Hours: 11:00-14:00, 17:30-22:00
Open every day

My Favorite Café, CAFFE VELOCE

Restaurant Review by Y.O.

Today, I'd like to introduce my favorite café, Caffe Veloce, in Fujisawa City. It is about 2 minutes from Fujisawa station to Veloce. I go there at least once a week, so I'm a regular customer there. Now, I'll introduce some reasons why I like it.

First, there are many items. I can't choose the most yummy item, but I always order café latte and hand made cookies. They are a staple for me. I often go there when I have free time and I want to be alone. Then I drink a great café latte and have some great cookies. At that moment, I feel very relaxed and comfortable.

Other drinks on the menu are Blended Coffee, Café Mocha, Cocoa, Tea and Maccha Latte. We can choose iced or hot for everything. Then the other food menu items are some cakes, sandwiches, dessert and more. There are many delicious drinks and foods. Also every item is very cheap.

Finally, I'll tell you the most important reason why I like Veloce. Veloce has a smoking area in the store!! I'm a heavy smoker, so it is big advantage that we can smoke in the store.

Veloce has many stores in Japan. For example, near the station or big streets downtown. You can go to there and taste some items.

CAFFE VELOCE
Address: 5-9 Minami-Fujisawa, Fujisawa city
Phone: 0466-29-2758
Hours: 7 am-10:30 pm

Okonomiyaki Restaurant - Sometaro

Restaurant Review by S.T.

There are many kinds of restaurants in Japan - Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Italian. This time, I will introduce a Japanese okonomiyaki restaurant called Sometaro.

This restaurant is in Asakusa in Tokyo. It was featured on TV. Sometaro is about a 10 minute walk from Asakusa Station.

In Sometaro, there are 19 kinds of okonomiyaki. The simplest okonomiyaki is osomeyaki, and the price is ￥780. I ate curry okonomiyaki, osomeyaki and shrimp okonomiyaki. Of course, at Sometaro's, all okonomiyaki are delicious.

My recommendation is curry okonomiyaki. Curry spice is a good match for okonomiyaki.

There is only one Sometaro in Japan, in Asakusa. This okonomiyaki restaurant is famous in Askakusa.

Sometaro
Address: 2-2-2 Nishi Asakusa, Daitou-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3844-9502
Hours: 12:00-22:30 (last order 22:00)
URL: http://www.sometaro.com

Lord Buddha - Indian & Nepali Food at Tsurumi Station

Restaurant Review by K.M.

This Indian and Nepali food restaurant should be pretty obvious, yet it's easy to overlook. It's located right above Docomo in Fuga 2 when you leave the Tsurumi JR Station via the 2nd floor West exit. I passed it by almost every day on my way to school for a year and a half before finally noticing it and giving it a try. Surprisingly, the food far exceeded my expectations. This is a place everyone at Tsurumi University should know about.

Lord Buddha is a small place, and the interior is nothing special. It's quite plain, actually. However, the curries are delicious, and the garlic nan is extraordinary. For this review, I tried the Sag Chicken (￥980), a dark green spinach curry with ginger spice. It goes so well with the garlic nan (￥500). I wouldn't have this too often, though, as it's quite buttery and is certainly not diet food!

I also had a 4-piece plate of tandoori chicken (￥1,180) and a samosa (￥300 or 2 for ￥500). The tandoori chicken is tender and juicy, and the samosa (a spicy potato and vegetable fritter) is fantastic. You shouldn't leave without trying one of these.

Dinner prices are not exactly cheap for students, but two people could have one samosa each and share a curry and nan and pay less than ￥2000 total. Several lunch sets are also available (curry & nan ￥700; 2 curry set w/ nan, salad & dessert ￥950). If you like Indian food, please give this place a try!

Lord Buddha
Tsurumi JR Station West Exit, Fuga 2 Building, 4th Floor
Phone: 045-575-4422
Hours: 11:00-22:30, everyday, except the 2nd Thurs. of each month when Fuga 2 Bld. is closed.