Category Archives: Restaurants

American Gastronomy, Bar, Mochimune, Open hamburgers, Restaurants, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

American Bar Restaurant: Lunch at Paradiso in Minato Yokocho, Mochimune, Shizuoka Ciy!

March 22, 2020 dragonlife Leave a comment

Minato Yokocho front!

Service: kind and attentive if a bit shy (at first!)
Equipment & facilities: overall very clean. Shared but very clean and complete washroom.
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Great open hamburgers (“hambaagu” in Japanese!). Craft beers (although they tend to disappear quickly!)

Picture of the old Minato Yokocho!

Some time ago, CSA Real estate Co., actually based in Mochimune, among other projects took on to renew completely the old derelict Minato/harbor Yokocho/Alley to invite existing and new tenants to provide a much needed food and drinks site to the ever increasing number of tourists. Moreover, since bathers are rarer and rarer on the beach most shacks and bars have disappeared from the sea front it has become a natural spot to patronize as it caters for so many tastes and priorities!
I have already visited and written about a few places and will continue for some time!

This time I visited Paradiso!

Take your time and have a good look at the menu boards outside since it includes good pictures!
Lunch sets are a good bet and very reasonable!

Very simple but very clean settings including seats at tables and counter bar!

Craft beers on offer but they tend to change and disappear quickly! LOL
Night owls will find it very practical, too!

It was our first visit and that at lunch so we opted for almost the same set lunch!
Above is the Missus’ order: Wagyu (yes, you read it!) hambaaguu (Japanese style open hamburger)!
Ridiculously reasonable price at 1080 yen!

My own version!

But with two deep-fried prawns! For 1380 yen!

But don’t overlook the Kuroge/black hair wagyu gyusuji/tendon curry, the tako/octopus rice and fried food set lunch including prawns, oysters and fish! All accompanied with a small salad!

Can you guess what I will have next time? LOL

PARADISO

〒421-0122 shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Mochimune, 2-17-2, inside Minato Yokocho
Tel.: 090-5038-3479
Opening hours: 11:00~12:00, 17:00~22:00, closed on Mondays
Credit cards ok

GOOGLE MAP

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rre.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: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
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Cakes, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka City, Uncategorized, Vegan Dessert, Vegan Gastronomy, Vegan Restaurant

Vegan Cakes at LOCOMANI in Shizuoka City!

November 30, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly although a bit shy!
Equipment: Great overall cleanliness. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Inventive vegan menus. Healthy rice flour cakes.Mainly local products.

The other day I decided to visit my good friends at LOLCOMANI in Shizuoka City for coffee and cakes in the afternoon as lunches are always impossibly crowded, especially with ladies wishing for a healthy lunch offered by this reference vegan restaurant (I am no vegan, but I can appreciate from time to time, and it is always a pleasure to introduce it to my vegan friends!).
As for the cakes they tend to vary with the seasons and ingredients available, so make a point to check them beforehand.
If you cannot read the Japanese menu the owner’s wife will make it her pleasure to explain it in simple English!
As for the drink menu there is plenty to choose from the organic coffees and tea and the home-made vegan fruit drinks!

Chocolate cake!
All cakes are basically made with rice flour in case of some clients being wheat flour allergic!

For a better view with its soymilk cream and sweet nuts sauce!

Organic Coffee!
Actually LOCOMANI’s teas and coffees are well above average, although a bit weak for some, but well-balanced and tasty!

Half cakes set!
LOCMANI have a policy to have their clients taste as many of their cakes as possible. So instead of ordering a full serving of one cake, you can combine two half servings for better enjoyment!

Chiffon cake!

Fruit cake!

For vegans and others with a sweet tooth but mindful of their health!

LOCOMANI
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 1-10-6
Tel.: 054-260-6622
Opening hours 11:30~18:00 (11:30~15:00 0n Sundays)
Closed every Wednesday and one Monday
HOMEPAGE/BLOG (Japanese)
GOOGLE MAP

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Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, 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, 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: Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

French Cuisine, Italian Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka Prefecture

Italian/French Gastronomy: Dinner at Kuraya Kato in Mochimune, Shizuoka City!

October 7, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very kind and attentive
Equipment and facilities: Overall extremely clean. Superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: superlative Italian/cuisine making use of many local products!
Short but excellent wine lists at reasonable prices.

The name Kuraya Kato means that the restaurant was created by his owner/che3f, Mr. Kato, inside an ancient “kura/Japanese storehouse”, probably one of the biggest still existing in Shizuoka Prefecture!
It is actually of rare dimensions and the inside is simply spacious and beautifully redecorated conserving as much its original cachet as possible with all amenities, all wood and white walls. A very special place whose atmosphere is enough to invite you ther anytime. But the cuisine is simply extravagant, although at very reasonable prices!

Great attention to the olive oil and butter!
The table service is beautiful in its seemingly simplicity and helps you relax from the very moment you sit down at your table.
Bear in mind that all meals must be reserved in advance, but the place will open even for a single guest!

So comfortable in soft light surrounded by real wood!

A lot of attention attached to small details, making the difference!
Menus (to be decided on the phone or else while reserving) are based on full courses at varying prices. We opted for the 6,000 yen dinner, but you can require for more, citing your likes or dislikes!

Since Mochimune is a noted fishing harbor famous all over Japan expect some great fish for the starters!

Excellent sparkling wine for the occasion!

All bread is baked onsite!

Second starters!

Beautiful and elegant pasta (remember it is a starter back in Italy!)!

Unusual, reasonable and delicious red wine!

More home-baked bread!

First main dish: Shizuoka seabream sauteed with basil sauce, Italian style!

Second main dish: Shizuoka wagyu steak! No need to comment!

Beautiful classic dessert assortment combining French and Italian cuisines!

And coffee served as it should be!

Definitely among the very best in Shizuoka Prefecture!

KURAYA KATO
421-0122, Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Mochimune, 3-5-33 (ten minutes walk from Mochimune JR Station
Tel. 054-260-44959
HOMEPAGE
Lunches o reservations only only 11:00 am on the day
Dinners on reservations only minimum 24 hours in advance
Credit cards ok

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Bars, Craft beers, Restaurants, Shizuoka City

Craft Beers and Tex Mex Gastronomy at Golden Nectar in Shizuoka City!

June 23, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very friendly and attentive
Equipment and facilities: Overall very clean. Excellent washroom.
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Craft beers! Tex Mex gastronomy. Craft beer tasting sets/

Golden Nectar has deservedly established its name in Shizuoka City for a couple of years now, and it is increasingly becoming busy especially on week ends be it sunny or rainy!
It consists of a high stool bar counter where you can see all the craft beers served on the tap. Bear in mind they change regularly! I would advise to try a full sample drinking set of them!

Check the list of the day!

Tables are available for small groups and customers wanting more comfort or less exposure!

Now, it is not all craft beers on the tap but there are plenty of other American craft beers in bottles and cans inside the refrigerated display near the entrance! Choose your bottle or can and it will be served in glasses by the staff!. Pictures are welcome!

North Coast Brewing Acme IPA!

Aurora Koppyalis from San Diego!

Hazy Little Thing IPA by Sierra Nevada Brewing!

Amarilla Gorilla IPA by Smog City Brewery!

Deftones Phantm Bride IPA by Belching Beaver Brewery!

Another IPA by Smog City Brewing!

now, look at the menus! Plenty of salads for the health conscious!

My personal favorite, Texas caviar carefully made with local fresh vegetables and buritos!

As for food, I do have a suggestion: first go to loaded fries and choose the cheesy fries!

Scrumptious fries by themselves,…

But order them together with fish fritters!

And you have a Tex Mex fish and chips!

Excellent fried fish on its own, actually!
But check the rest of the menu!
Always something to discover!

GOLDEN NECTAR

420^0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogaecho, 2-16 (along the north side of Aoba Park Street/Aoba Kouen Doori!)
Tel.: 054-275-2759
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK
WEBSITE
GOOGLE MAP

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American Gastronomy, Bar, Craft beers, Restaurants, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

American Gastronomy and Craft Beers at “12” in Shizuoka City!

March 24, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very kind and attentive
Equipment: Spotless clean. Excellent washroom. Non smoking
Prices: Slighly expensive
Strong Points: American craft beers. Excellent bar food. Beers regularly changed. Large live sports screens.

“12” is an unusual name for a bar or restaurant. The owner, a fan of all sports in Seattle, USA, be they the Seattle Supersonics basketball tea, the Seattle Seahawks American football team or the Seattle Mariners baseball team, has taken a liking for their number “12” jerseys, hence the name of the stablishment. Incidentally all the games of these teams can be viewed live or later on no less than three big screens.
The whole design was conceived by American Shizuoka City resident, Derrek Buston, who has actually just opened his own bar/brewery, West Coast Brewery, in Mochimune, and some of his brews will be served on the tap at “12” from June!

It is located just next to the side entrance torii/sacred gate of Ogushi Shrine. You can surmise that all drinkers are automatically blessed! LOL

The food there, notwithstanding their common household names, is definitely of a better variety for all tastes!
My favorite is the fish and chips (Brirish food for you, but better than in Great Britain!)!

Made with fresh cod and fried on order!

Served with spicy French fries (they are Belgian!) fried on order and homemade coleslaw!

And authentic red wine vinegar!

For the moment all craft beers on the tap or in cans afrom mainly Seattle and its surroundings but sometimes from other places such as Wyoming!
There ar nine craft beers served on the tap and regularly changed. And fully described on the menu!
I actually have a liking for their canned beers and ciders as there are so many to explore!

Incidentally, vegetarians and vegans shouldn’t need worry as they have a beautiful organic salad on the menu for you!

To be continued, of course!

“12”

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamchi, 7-14, 1F (next to Ogushi Shrine)
Tel.: 054-204-2707
Opening hurs: 16:00=24:00
Closed on Mondays
Homepage
facebook: twelveshzuoka.com
Instagram: tewlve_shizuoka
Credit cards OK
Private parties possible

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Italian Cuisine, Restaurants, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Soloio

Italian Gastronomy: Dinner at Soloio in Shizuoka City (June 2016)!

June 29, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Team!
Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さん

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable considering the quality
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

Time goes fast and I hadn’t realized I hadn’t visited my favorite Italian Restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely Soloio, for almost a year!
It certainly was time to make amends and enjoy some classics and new dishes concocted by Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん!

The setting has somewhat changed for even better!

You certainly won’t mind a stiff neck reading out some of the specials of the day overhead!

So, what did we have?

Plenty of wine of course, but we started with a glass of this brilliant sparkling wine: Chardonnay “Le Vacanze” by Cantina d’Autore in the Veneto Region!

Skillet-grilled aubergines/eggplants and duck raw ham salad!

Wild boar (caught in Mikkabi, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture) terrine!
I would come any day just for that!

Shizuoka prefecture madai/seabream carpaccio!
The vegetables include uri/gourd!

Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん creates the best risotto in the whole Prefecture and the above one was no exception with Umbria summer truffles!

Little jewels!

A superb dish not on the menu!
Shizuoka Prefecture tachiuo/scabbard fish (also called cutlass fish) cooked on a skillet with avocado!
A true discovery!

As we still wanted a light dish before the pasta (we have no respect for traditional order! LOL) we consulted the menu of the day again!

Chicken thigh Rotoro/Rolled chicken thigh and stuffed with figs, marinated mushrooms and canederulli in carupione fashion/white-fleshed fish balls!

The pasta!
Spaghetti Bolonese with beef stew sauce!

By that time we were full but just for the fun we had a tiny dessert consisting of very sweet Shizuoka corn grilled on a skillet!

SOLOIO

Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さん

420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours:
Lunch: 11:30~13:30 (l.O.) (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Dinner: 17:00~22:00 (l.o.), 17:00~23::00 (Friday, Saturday)
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Entirely non-smoking!

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French gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka City

French Gastronomy: Dinner at KAWASAKI Restaurant in Shizuoka City!

June 22, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Facilities & Equipment: Spotless clean. Superb “bilingual” washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Extensive use of local products, especially organic vegetables, game/gibier. Wines and local sake.

At long last I had the opportunity to re-visit KAWASAKI restaurant in Shizuoka City for a full dinner!
The restaurant is located along the Aoba Street in Aoi Ku on the second floor of a cute red-brick building!

You can’t miss it!

The entrance on the second floor!

Take your time and check this board past the entrance!

The specialties of the day!

Can you guess what it represents?

Home-cured meats and hams, including game/gibier!

Very decent and well-chosen wine list bu the glass or the bottle!

Some of the Top-class vegetables organically grown under Mount Fuji!

The restaurant holds seats at a counter and three tables. It is always a good idea to reserve in advance!

One can order a la carte but we opted for the “Menu Terroir” for 6,200 yen mainly dedicated to vegetables.
Two other set menus are available, a “Menu Saison” for 4,200 yen and a “Menu Degustation” for 8,000 yen (on reservation only)
As for lunch, 3 set menus at 1,200, 1,800 and 2,400 yen!

The first appetizer: wild venison rillettes on mushroom grown by Mr. Hasegawa in Fuji City!

The second appetizer!

Shellfish and burdock tart!!

The third appetizer!

Cauliflower Mousseline and broad beans in broad beans jelly!

The fourth appetizer!

Home-cured ham, wild duck and vegetables salad!

The fifth appetizer!

Chicken mousse filled zucchini flower!

Beautiful colors!

The vegetable dish!

All vegetables are locally grown (mainly Fujinomiya City), exclusively seasonal and organic!

Beautiful palette!

The main dish!

Veal raised at Okamura Farm in Fujinomiya City!

Once again mushrooms from Hasegawa Farm i Fuji City!

Pre-dessert: citruses in hibiscus (roselle) jelly!

The dessert!

Chocolate and walnut terrine and citruses sauce and jam!

Coffee and mignardises served as they should be!

See you there again for lunch!

KAWASAKI French Restaurant
Chef Yoshinori Kawasaki/川崎芳範さん

420-0034 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa Cho, 1-8-5, BROOKLYN SQUARE 2F (Along Aoba Street just before junction with Showa Street)
Tel: 054-272-0066
Opening hours: 12:00~14:00, 18:00~22:30
Closed on Sundays and 3rd Monday of the month
Credit Cards OK
Private parties welcome
Entirely non-smoking!
HOMEPAGE
KAWASAKI Facebook
Chef Yoshinori Kawasaki facebook

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