Are you one of those people that have difficulty deciding what to eat? Do you like Italian or Japanese? Soy or tomato infused flavours? Look no further, at this cafe, you can have both!
Actually, I can readily identify with your indecision at this late hour. You are probably famished, but exhausted after a big day of strolling at the old village of Kishiwada, or trying to work out whether to buy that antique fan or kimono chest in Kyoto. You may have a late train or flight to catch; you would like some carbohydrates before picking up your luggage from JR or Hankyu Umeda station. Well I was thinking the same thing before hopping down for the evening train to Tokyo.
This restaurant showcases modern Japanese fusion cuisine with a distinctly Italian flair. Something that captures the Japanese appetite for the freshest seasonal produce, and combines it with contemporary Italian style pasta that is so light and enjoyable to eat.
The vegetarian pasta starts from around the 900 yen mark, and if you just want a light meal, the kinoko or okura fettuccine pasta is sure to please, with a mixture of finely chopped Japanese vegetables presented on eye pleasing country style plates decorated with light blue butterflies. Japanese cuisine is known for its broth, and from miso soup to udon noodles, the broth is the foundation of any good meal. The chefs here are well grounded in both the Japanese and Italian traditions, and you can tell from the quality of the broth used in all their pasta bases. Just don’t ask them for the recipe, as is it a highly guarded secret!
For something more Italian than Japanese, try their tomato based spaghetti with olives, red peppers, and calamari. At the 1000 yen mark, it is the best value this side of Milan.
If you want something more substantial, try their duck or beef pasta. The Shiga and Hyogo prefectures that bookend Osaka in Western Japan are famous for their beef, so here is your opportunity to taste some in their pasta. The thin slivers of beef are easy to eat, and in typical comfort food style, the pasta is topped with a raw egg that you can mix through the pasta with a creamy taste reminiscent of oyakodon, a chicken and egg rice bowl that generations of Japanese have grown up with.
For dessert, try the black sesame ice cream, fragrant and creamy at the same time. This is another example of marrying Japanese ingredients and Italian cuisine, with spectacular results. Of course traditionalists can have their cake and eat it too here, with a delightful tiramisu that will put a smile to the Italian grandmother in you.
While this place has no views to speak of, it is very convenient to the shops in Umeda, as well as offering a quiet retreat from the crowds.
