Service: very friendly and easy-going if a bit shy
Facilities: very clean overall. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable~a little expensive
Strong points: Spanish & French Fusion bistro gastronomy doubling as a wine bar. Open late. Reasonable wine list. Extensive use of local products.
Spanish gastronomy has always been popular in Japan although it can be disappointing at times. Some restaurants call themselves Tapas Bars, but the Spanish would have some difficulty to find themselves at home there…
On the other hand some establishments take another track by combining the characters of different European gastronomies with a far more pleasurable result for the customers. After all, if you visit a bistro in French Catalogne/Catalunia you will find that most of the specialties are “Spanish”!
Looking at the menu blackboard by the stairs leading to Hoteiya you will realize that many influences govern Chef Takashi Sugiyama/杉山猛さん’s cuisine!
Discovering the door on the second floor you realize that Hoteiya is a Kakureya/隠れ屋/”Hidden Place” that many Japanese appreciate for ofttimes much wanted privacy!
But the place for all its secrecy is not a dark place full of unknowns!
Chef Takashi Sugiyama/杉山猛さん behind a beautiful Spanish Ham!
Have a good look at the recommendations menu board first before ordering and have a chat with the Chef as well!
What I did have on that particular night should give you a good idea of what to expect.
Shall we start then?
Of course, Spanish raw ham cut in front of you!
French-style chicken liver paste!
A real beauty concocted with Port wine!
It would be enough if you came just to drink wine with a snack!
Fresh Horse Mackerel/Aji/鯵 caught off Yaizu harbor in salad with fresh local vegetables including home-made semi-dried mini tomatoes!
You just can’t beat fresh local products!
Aubergine/zucchini gratin!
Great comfort food on a cold winter night!
Hot and delicious!
I was luckily hungry on that day and I had plenty of space left for a succulent bistro-style dessert!
Nougat glace!
Creme brulee!
A little European haven away from the crowds?
To be continued (still too many beauties to sample!)….
HOTEIYA
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 1-2-15, Celize Building 2F
Tel./Fax: 054-251-8027
Opening hours: 18:00~01:30
Closed on Tuesdays
Private Parties welcome!
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
SHIZUOKA GOURMET 