Caldera Lounge, which opened in Akigawa Village this year, is run by a Polish owner and her Japanese husband. I visited the store today because I missed the chance last week when they had a pop-up at Wing Bay. I was interested in trying the Polish fast food called Zapiekanka, which is a type of pizza bread with various toppings on a baguette. I chose the Meat Zapiekanka from the three options available - Classic, Pomodoro, and Meat - for 1200 yen as a set, which came with potatoes and a drink. The Zapiekanka had crispy baguette with Hokkaido beef, onions, curry sauce, and a generous amount of natural cheese on top. It was delicious! The crispy baguette was the highlight, and the beef and cheese were plentiful, providing a satisfying meal. The garlic flavor was also quite strong. The potatoes were not fried but baked, making them a healthier option. As a bonus, I also received some fresh cherry tomatoes as a service, which were delicious. I finished off the meal with a refreshing apple juice. It was so tasty that I will definitely be going back again.

On a day off, I went to Yoichi for the first time in a while, and then I went to this place in Akai River for a slightly late lunch. I had been curious about this place for a while, but since it's in Akai River, I hadn't had the chance to go. However, this time, my friend Nocchimu also wanted to go, so we decided to go. The restaurant is surrounded by nature and is located next to a campsite. When we entered the restaurant, there were several groups already seated in the eat-in space. The Polish wife of the owner was very busy serving customers, while her children were playing energetically nearby. We were told that it would take some time to prepare the food, but we had plenty of time, so we waited patiently. Looking at the menu, I was tempted by the Polish Zapiekanka, but this time I ordered the Wagyu beef burger set. The Wagyu beef burger set came with a bun that had a chewy texture, perfectly roasted to a crisp, with a delicious patty that was simply seasoned to enjoy the taste of the meat. The pickles had a mild acidity and added a nice accent to the burger. The tomatoes were juicy, and the crispy texture of the onions and lettuce also added to the overall experience. The baked potato in the set was not fried, so it was light and easy to eat, with a crispy texture on the outside and a fluffy potato inside. The set drink, orange juice, was 100% natural. Enjoying the delicious burger surrounded by the nature of Akai River, I would love to visit again if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal.

I was really curious about Mairevi-san who was visiting the restaurant! The order was quite busy and it would take over 30 minutes. I was eating bread and not in a hurry, so I waited leisurely. The staff apologized many times, but since it was a one-man operation and the store wasn't crowded, I wasn't really bothered at all, so I felt bad instead lol. - Hokkaido Wagyu hamburger set (+ bacon TP / spicy ginger ale) They use buns from Yoichi's bread shop, with a crispy outside and a soft inside, giving a unique burger-like feel. The baked potato was moist and there were quite a lot of them. The meat is not the rough American type, but more of a refined gourmet burger with a sweet meat juice dripping. It's not too thick, so you can bite into it cleanly without it spilling out (although I'm still messy). They offer sweet and spicy ginger ale! I was happy that it was served in a bottle (I really like the spicy ginger ale in a bottle). The pickles were delicious without any sourness...! Oh, depending on the season, there are a lot of bugs, so if you don't like them, it might be better to take out. I'm glad I was able to go this time! Thank you, Wu-ta-san!!! (((orz

I found this café while looking for a campsite. I had some business in Yoichi, so I decided to visit the site while on a drive. I was a bit late, so the popular burgers were sold out, but I tried the Zapikanka instead. Although it looks the same, I had a different one as part of a set. The bread was crispy and crunchy! It was a bit messy to eat because it crumbled everywhere, but the staff kindly reassured me, saying "That's how the bread is, so don't worry!" with a smile. The set came with potatoes that were thicker than chips but easy to eat, and I really liked them. The bread and buns are made by local bakeries in Yoichi, "Pansho" and "Le Pan", and the taste was super delicious! It felt like they were seasoned just right for Japanese taste. Next time, I definitely want to try the classic to enjoy the authentic taste. My husband really wants to try the burgers next time. Although we don't go to Akai River often (it's the neighboring town), this has become a place we would love to visit again.

In July 2022, on my way back to Otaru from Yoichi via Akai River, I stumbled upon a new hamburger joint called "Caldera Lounge" that had opened on April 20th, so I decided to stop by for lunch. The name seems to be a combination of "Caldera" and "Lounge." Although there was no one in the restaurant, a friendly Japanese-speaking woman (originally from Poland) came running energetically from a separate building on the property (her home). She mentioned that she had worked in Kiroro ten years ago and later married a Japanese man. Looking at the menu, they offered a Polish pizza-style baguette called "Zapikanka," but I opted for the lamb burger set (1,000 yen) with additional toppings of cheese and bacon (each 100 yen). The set came with baked potatoes and a soft drink (I chose ginger ale). The buns were deliciously soft, and I found out they were custom-made by a bakery in Yoichi called "Pan-dokoro." The lamb patty was well-seasoned, accompanied by lettuce, tomato, cheese, bacon, sour cream-like sauce, and a hint of mustard, making it a delicious departure from typical fast-food chain burgers. I refreshed myself with a stick of pineapple yogurt-flavored ice cream made with non-homogenized glass-fed milk. I also purchased some mini tomatoes (400g for 200 yen) grown by the friendly owner in his field. I left the restaurant with a determination to come back for the Zapikanka next time. The mini tomatoes were incredibly flavorful! Many thanks to the delightful owner or manager for the delicious burger and warm hospitality!

I had a Wagyu burger. The lettuce was fresh and crunchy, very delicious. The onions added a sweet flavor. The patty was flavorful and juicy, almost like a sauce. The buns were soft but had a crispy, delicious outer layer.