Returning from a short business trip to France last Tuesday it struck me that life had become more expensive in my home country than in Japan!
This was more acutely felt when I walked past some restaurants inside (big) Shizuoka Railway Station, especially when their food is regularly shown outside with very fine plastic models often offering a more trustful image than pictures on menus!

I thought it might be a good idea to talk about the cheaper but still good food available in this country and Shizuoka. I will try and show you a few examples in the days to come. After all not anyone can afford great sushi everyday!
The place I’m introducing today is called Maccaroni with 2 “C’s” and is an “Italian” restaurant cum cafe.
It is very easy to find in one of the alleys in Asty building leading to the entrances to the tracks.
As for prices count 120 yen per Euro or 94 yen to the dollar (that might change a little in the future as the Euro is falling down!)

A pint of beer costs between 390 and 490 yen and (small) glasses of wine for 290 yen!

Mozzarella cheese, Basil and tomato sauce spaghetti for 790 yen and Bolognese style spaghetti in stewed sauce for 840 yen.
All prices are tax included.

About 20cm wide pizzas:
Margherita for 940 yen and Chorizo and meat sauce for 990 yen.

Oven-baked casserole of escargots and mushrooms in garlic and basil sauce for 820 yen, large oven-baked cheese-stuffed eggplant for 720 yen and and Italian raw ham with Grissini for 790 yen.

Antipasti misto salad. seafood spaghetti and soft drink for 1290 yen.

Tomato, mozzarella cheese Caprese salad for 720 yen and and fresh fish carpaccio for 620 yen. Now, that is cheap even in Japan!

For the beer lovers:
Fish and chips for 720 yen, seafood fritters for 620 yen, fried potato and onion rings for 720 yen.

Coming soon with another place in the same area soon!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City