中野ゴリラマウンテン
A new restaurant called Citraba has opened in the back of Ai Road, a shopping street leading from Nakano Station to Arai Yakushi Temple. I was very happy to see the announcement poster as I used to visit the Citraba at the north exit of Nakano Station once a month. The area used to have a gloomy atmosphere after a dry cleaner went out of business and remained vacant for a while. Citraba (a pizza restaurant) opened in this spot, joining the popular Cuban sandwich shop SUNSETBEER FC and the delicious Indian curry restaurant Marorogabawan. As you get closer to Arai Yakushi Temple along Ai Road, the number of shops decreases, but the arrival of Citraba revived the area around the corner from the liquor store. Now, let's talk about the dishes I ordered this time:
- Uni cream and seafood, Kujo green onion pizza
- Lightly smoked duck and grilled leeks
- Beef salad with low-temperature cooked beef
- Rare sautéed swordfish with wasabi-flavored tartar sauce
- Squid ink and salted fish roe rich risotto croquette
First, the Uni cream and seafood pizza. The taste was almost non-existent, and it didn't have the flavor of Uni. When it comes to Japanese-style pizza, it can feel a bit monotonous without a punch. The amount of octopus and shrimp was also minimal, and it didn't feel like a seafood dish, so I was disappointed with the pizza. Next, the lightly smoked duck and grilled leeks. This dish also lacked flavor and was a menu that highlighted the ingredients. The impression was almost non-existent. It's a cold dish that can be served quickly, but it didn't stand out. Beef salad with low-temperature cooked beef. This was delicious! The balsamic vinegar was strong, the meat was not stingy at all, and the generous portion was great. The truffle was also fragrant. Swordfish rare sauté. My partner said this dish was the most delicious. The tartar sauce was delicious! The amount was generous, and it was satisfying to share between two people. Squid ink and salted fish roe risotto croquette. This was my favorite dish. When you cut into it, the inside was pitch black, and the sauce was also very good. As for drinks, all the beers seemed to be delicious. I was drinking lemon squash, which also had a good balance of acidity and was refreshing. On weekdays, alcohol is 20% off for customers who enter by 4 p.m. Since it was the first day of opening, the restaurant was extremely crowded. It was very lively and noisy, making it difficult to hear each other, and they were playing music like Deep Purple at quite a high volume. The song selection was nostalgic and good, but it would have been appreciated if the volume was lowered. I think the menu will continue to change, so I would love to visit again.