goigoigo
One of the entrances to Harukas, Abenobashi Station on the Kintetsu line. Head towards Hoop & And. Further south towards And, take the left road and you will arrive in about 2-3 minutes. A Mediterranean bar made of red bricks, Sympatico. Normally opens at 5 pm, but today it opened at 5:30 pm because the hall staff arrived late. So at the beginning, the owner was working alone. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is calm. As it is a Mediterranean bar, it probably includes Spanish and Italian dishes. It's smoking allowed, which is understandable given the type of establishment, but a bit disappointing. The menu is diverse with a variety of ingredients, making it hard to choose. The tapas, in particular, were very appealing. A 3-item tapas set for ¥950 and a 5-item set for ¥1350 are very cost-effective. We ordered a draft beer, sangria, 3 tapas, and a pizza. The tapas set cannot be chosen, but they are accommodating if you mention any dislikes. As a starter, we were served potato salad with cashew nut sauce and bread. The bread is meant to be dipped in the table's olive oil, but we prefer to enjoy it with the sauces and all. They kindly provided butter for my partner who doesn't like olive oil. The tapas included a Western-style nanbanzuke, smoked salmon, and liver pate. The tapas were vegetable-heavy, which was nice, but the slightly bitter red lettuce was a bit challenging. The smoked salmon had a wild flavor with a slight rawness, but the strong saltiness and accompanying vegetables made it a crowd-pleaser. The Western-style nanbanzuke was also tasty with plenty of vegetables. The liver pate, which may be divisive, had a spicy curry flavor that balanced the liver's richness. This is a dish that lasts long. The pizza we ordered was Gorgonzola and chicken. The cheese's unique sharpness was skillfully mellowed, creating a flavorful dish. The contrast between the thick, fluffy crust and the pumpkin seed texture was interesting. However, considering the initial bread serving, we may skip the pizza next time. We then ordered the oven-baked squid and broccoli with aioli for ¥650 and the recommended dish of the day, smoked calf ham with pineapple and grain mustard sauce for ¥750. The owner, who had been working tirelessly by himself, was joined by a female staff member around 6 pm, and the atmosphere calmed down. The tables were filled with reservations, and the counter was also full. It seems to be a popular spot. The female staff member provided excellent service. The smoked calf ham and pineapple dish was reminiscent of prosciutto and melon. It didn't quite suit my taste, but the ripe pineapple paired well with the smoked calf. It may have been a bit too high-end for my budget-friendly palate. The squid and broccoli dish featured tender yet chewy squid and oven-baked broccoli that complemented the aioli. Aioli, a garlic mayonnaise sauce, can be easily customized and enjoyed in various ways. Overall, this restaurant has a gentle, feminine touch with a balanced aioli that has a hint of garlic. It's simply delicious. The dishes that were served and even those we didn't order were all appealing. The service was commendable. This cozy restaurant is perfect for winding down the day or gathering energy for tomorrow, like going to an izakaya.