Reasonable rice gratin chain prevalent in malls

"Kobe Motomachi Doria (神戸元町ドリア)", a rice gratin chain has been recently prevalent in malls everywhere, but I haven't tried it until I have a child. Now, I finally tasted it and found the reason of popularity particularly for family. (for your information, "doria" is a rice gratin in Japan, created by Hotel New Grand in Yokohama around 1930.)

Kobe Motomachi Doria

Inside

Seafood rice gratin 

Rice omelette for kids

They prepare a variety of rice gratins with sauce of cream, tomato, curry, etc. and meat/seafood/vegetable. Each price is around JPY1,000. The taste is not so special, but what everyone likes. Service is quick and presentation with candle for keeping doria warm is interesting.Casual atmosphere is suitable for family with kids. My rating is 3.2 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

Kobe Motomachi Doria (神戸元町ドリア)
http://www.saint-marc-hd.com/brand/motomachi_doria.html   

Girls' favorite omelette restaurant originally from Shibuya

When I was a high school student, my sister took me to an omelette restaurant named "RAKERU (ラケル)" in Shibuya (渋谷). The restaurant's interior, plateware, staff's uniform, atmosphere...everything was very cute that girls like. It was one of my dreamed restaurants at that time. Nowadays we can enjoy RAKERU not only in Shibuya but at shopping malls around Tokyo. Recently, I found again I like it even after a long interval:) 

RAKERU since 1963

Inside

Corn soup

Rice omelette

Rice omelette with hamburg

Waffle and lemonade 

RAKERU's specialty is omelette, particularly, rice omelette. Soft-boiled omelette contains tomato-chicken pilaf or butter pilaf, and tasting it with tomato sauce or demiglace sauce is wonderful. Nobody dislikes the taste and texture. I could easily eat it up. And waffle with much whip, caramel and almond was also good. Most of all, their plateware of "Alice in Wonderland" made me fun and girly. My rating is 3.2 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

RAKERU (ラケル) http://www.rakeru.co.jp/    

Good old yoshoku restaurant for family in Okachimachi

Ueno Matsuzakaya (上野松坂屋) located in Okachimachi (御徒町) is a nearest department store to my house and I often go there when I want to buy good quality of foods. I seldom use their restaurants, but I found a very traditional yoshoku restaurant for family on a floor of watch, jewel, etc. The name is "Gin Salon (銀サロン)."This kind of restaurant was popular 30 years ago, and nowadays it is rather difficult to find.

Sample show-case in front of "Gin Salon"

Inside 

Small salad

Cream soup pf pumpkin

Japanese-style curry and rice

Pilaf topped with crab meat and bechamel sauce

Gin Salon has a big show-case which displays samples of their dishes created by wax. It is said this style is invented in Japan around the beginning of 20th century. Maybe when western style cuisine was not popular, this visual advertisement could be very effective. Since main customers of Ueno Matsuzakaya is middle-old generation, this good old style restaurant might be still alive.

In fact, I saw many elderly people enjoying meals even around 3pm. The taste is conventional. Comparing to ordinary yoshoku, it might be milder and gentle. As  they use good ingredients and less salt,  young and old could eat in relief. (for me, the taste was a little bit something is missing.) I would not revisit all the way, but it might be good to have small meal feeling nostalgia during shopping. The price of each dish is around JPY1,500 to 2,500. My rating is 2.7 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

 (銀サロン)　　http://www.j-frontfoods.co.jp/gin/

Elegant yoshoku in Ochanomizu

Near the Hijiri Bridge(聖橋) in Ochanomizu(御茶ノ水), there is a famous yoshoku restaurant called "Ochanomizu Ogawaken (御茶ノ水小川軒).” Yoshoku is one of the Japanese dishes incorporating Western-style cooking developed in the Meiji Era (明治時代), the latter part of the 19th century. Some of the yoshoku menus are national food of Japan such as curry and rice, croquette, beef stew, hamburg steak, etc. We cook yoshoku often at home, and going to high-ranked yoshoku restaurants is a bit special.

Ochanomizu Ogawaken

Restaurant with open-kitchen

Table setting

Amuse (pickles)

Salad with small squid with Americane sauce 

Assorted starter 

Quiche

Croquette 

Bread and red wine

Grilled scallop and mushroom 

Beef stew 

Hamburg steak with foie gras 

Cream puff

Pancake 

Coffee with cookie 

The atmosphere and taste of Ogawaken are elegant. Mature people enjoyed in a relaxing manner. Ogawaken is not flashy like trendy restaurants, but the price setting is high. Hence, it seemed only those who understand the value came to taste and spend congenial moments. 

Actually, considering the location, the price is a bit expensive objectively. Even so, I felt it adequate. Every dish was beautiful and delicious. Orthodox but creative. Even if the appearance looks simple, the tasting is rich. Good ingredients are used. Beautiful plates of Richard Ginori also made the dishes more appealing.   

In addition, I liked the chic service of a mature male staff. He made recommendations gently and following his proposals was very pleasant. My rating is 4 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

Ochanomizu Ogawaken (御茶ノ水小川軒)　http://ogawaken.com/   

Hearty and tasty yoshoku in Sendagi

Near the cross road in front of the Sendagi(千駄木) metro station, there is a popular yoshoku restaurant called "Ryu(リュウ)."  Whenever I go, I can be happy with their hearty and tasty yoshoku! I guarantee everybody can be satisfied with the taste and price. All the set meals are around JPY1,380 including soup, main dish and rice/bread.

Entrance of "Restaurant Ryu"

Interior 

Beer and red wine

Fried shrimps and crab croquette 

Salad

Hamburg 

Breads 

The Ryu's dishes may not be so much sophisticated, but delicious as we expect. The crab croquette and fried shrimps were juicy but crispy! The hamburg with rich demiglace sauce was yummy. The portion is big enough. I want to visit Ryu when I am very hungry. The atmosphere is cozy that eve individual customers can be relaxed. My rating is 3.9 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

Restaurant Ryu(レストラン リュウ) http://r.gnavi.co.jp/6181697/  

Nikko in Autumn

Nikko(日光) in Tochigi Prefecture(栃木県) is a popular spot for autumn colors in Fall. The city is definitely famous as the UNESCO World Heritage of Shrines and Temples of Nikko. If you have never been there, it is worth for visiting at least once. The most striking thing is Toshogu Shrine(東照宮), which dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu(徳川家康), founder of Tokugawa Shogunate. Tokugawa shogunate lasted for approx. 300 years in peace, which greatly contributed to the modern Japan. The Toshogu Shrine is magnificent with colorful and detailed wooden decorations. Particularly in Autumn, it is more beautiful.

Torii gate

Approach

Nikko-Toshogu 

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

Sleeping cat

Near the Toshogu Shrine, the Nikko Kanaya Hotel(日光金谷ホテル) is located. The hotel was established in 1873 as the first resort western-style hotel in Japan and the building is designated as important cultural properties. Many celebrities such as Einstein, Helen Keller, etc. stayed the hotel.The classical atmosphere is very nice. 

Nikko Kanaya Hotel

From the window of main dining of Kanaya Hotel

Consomme soup

Corn soup

Croquettes of crab meat and cream 

Beef steak

Profiterole au chocolat

Sorbet

Their main dining offers orthodox French dishes and yoshoku. The taste is delicious without discussion. Classical, conventional but not old. The dishes cooked in careful manner gave us great satisfaction. Tasting yoshoku after visiting the Toshogu Shrine is very nostalgic and I like it. The above lunch set costs JPY3,500. My rating is 3.9 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

Toshogu Shrine(東照宮)  http://www.toshogu.jp/

Nikko Kanaya Hotel(日光金谷ホテル)  http://www.kanayahotel.co.jp/nkh/index.html