It's a popular restaurant that is often fully booked and hard to get into. I decided to go on a whim and found the first floor filled with groceries and food items. I went upstairs to buy some carrots and ended up purchasing some sweets as well. I remembered a dessert I wanted to buy last time but it was sold out when I left. So this time, I bought one of each: chiffon cake for 400 yen, chocolate chip cookie for 80 yen, and scone for 250 yen. The scone isn't very sweet, so it's nice with jam or honey. I chose honey for mine. The chocolate chip cookie was soft and I savored each bite. They were all delicious. Surprisingly, the second floor dining area will be closed until August 10, 2023, with no set reopening date. I wonder if we'll still be able to buy fresh eggs and vegetables from the first floor grocery and antique shop. I'm excited to see what new surprises they will have in store.

I saw a lunch plate on Instagram and decided to visit the restaurant. They had two options: a plate with grilled scallops and either trout or hokke fish, or a homemade bacon and broccoli cream pasta, both for 1200 yen. Both looked delicious, but since I had a lot of broccoli at home, I chose the fried lunch plate. I went in without a reservation and was seated quickly since I was alone. All the table seats were full and there were reservation signs on the counter. The sweets also looked delicious, and I was curious about the Arabica coffee from Kitami. But I decided to just stick with lunch today. The fried scallops and fish were crispy and tasty. The tartar sauce with fuki (butterbur) was a great match. I'm not a fan of beets, but the pickled nagaimo (Chinese yam) and fresh vegetables were delicious. Despite the main dishes, my favorite was the potato vichyssoise. It was so hot, over 30 degrees Celsius every day, so it really hit the spot. It was so delicious that I savored every sip. I wish they sold it separately. It's a shame I couldn't have more. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I heard that they were open during the Golden Week holidays and even on special weekends, so I decided to visit right after they opened. However, they were already fully booked! "Did you make a reservation?" I didn't know you could do that. I ordered two lunches and decided to wait for a table to open up and give me a call. After about an hour, I got the call and was seated on the terrace. I ordered the herbal curry and the butterbur miso cream pasta, each costing 1000 yen. After the meal, I ordered this month's coffee and the Sachertorte. The pasta was made with fresh noodles. The butterbur miso was a bit scarce, and when mixed in, its unique flavor disappeared. The punch from the black pepper needed a little more, so I added some powdered cheese. The cheese ended up overpowering the butterbur miso. The herbal curry had bone-in chicken that was so tender it fell off the bone. It was cooked with various vegetables. The spiciness was lacking, so I had to add some Shichimi Togarashi (Japanese seven spice) to give it a more curry-like taste. It could use a bit more spices for flavor. The portion size was suitable for those watching their diet. The pasta and curry were about half the portion size of a chain restaurant. It might not be enough for big eaters like us. We were hungry again after two hours. The Sachertorte had a taste similar to raw chocolate. This month's coffee was dark roasted and paired well with the Sachertorte. Its strong bitterness might not go well with other cakes. The low ceiling in the restaurant was cozy, and the terrace seating was nice. There were small windows and a heater was provided. Blankets were also available. You could see cherry blossoms from the terrace. The restaurant was a bit crowded and the staff, wearing cloth masks or face shields, were friendly and welcoming, but it made me a bit anxious due to the ongoing pandemic. The boutique downstairs was also stylish. It seemed like a place where fashionable women and older ladies gather.

The staff at the restaurant spoke in a loud and unsettling voice. The flavors were light to bring out the natural taste of the ingredients, but it was too bland and lacked satisfaction until the end.

When you become an adult, it means accepting your weaknesses. People are weak as long as they are alive. On a weekday afternoon, I was invited to go up the stairs without hesitation. I don't like saying no to invitations because I feel weak for doing so, even though I don't particularly feel weak towards women. But today, she was a woman, and she was beautiful. Men wouldn't invite me to a place like this, and even if they did, I would probably suggest a different place. There were 4 other customers, all regulars at the counter with a view of the sea. I'm not good at making decisions, so when asked if the daily special was okay, I replied in a polite way that I don't usually use. But, I wasn't nervous despite the fact that she was much younger. I ordered the daily lunch special for 1,000 yen, which was a dry curry made with soybeans from Abashiri. I was so captivated by her face that I didn't really pay attention to what she was saying. When I realized, I tried to respond appropriately, but it seemed to have worked out fine. After about 15 minutes of being lost in thought, she called me back to reality. The staff next to me was holding a tray with a smile, but there were wrinkles on his forehead, veins popping, and he was sweating slightly. I tried to say "I'm sorry," but I'm not sure if it came out right. The appearance wasn't something I would usually order. When she said it was lovely, I replied, not really knowing why. The meal included multigrain rice, pickled butterbur, and homemade yogurt with apple jam. The curry was spicy but slightly mild, and the soybeans were sweet and delicious. The butterbur pickles were tasty, and I even wiped my sweat and ate them. The homemade yogurt was creamy, like Caspian Sea yogurt, and the light apple jam complemented it well. The owner, who is not from Abashiri, uses local ingredients as much as possible. The unique dishes and glasses were lovely, and the fact that the restaurant is non-smoking is great. It was the second time I went, but I wonder when I'll be able to sit down next time. I should try coming right after opening next time. It was a cozy little place, with a 100% female customer rate. But I broke that ratio when I went. I'll have to try coming early next time to enjoy the view of Abashiri's sea from the counter.

It's rare to have lunch in Abashiri. I'm an Abashiri local, so what am I talking about? Some of you should understand. Lately, I've been focusing a lot on local topics. Autumn is busy, can't take a break, can't go far. It's a chance, so I'll finally visit a store I've been curious about. Is it a cafe? I've wanted to go with Yome-san, but it was closed. It's far from home, but I've been curious about it when I come for a walk. It's a bit intimidating to enter, but I'll go in. In the past, there were junior high and high schools side by side in this area, but now they've moved to a place called Koyo on a hill. They're planning a rare merger of a private high school and a public high school, changing the name from Koyo High School to Keiyo High School. When I arrived, it was right in the middle of the day on the second floor. I had a bad feeling and peeked through a window. As expected, there were only female staff members like Shishido Jo and Akita Takejo, no men. But still, I didn't feel like leaving. The blackboard said "No lunch available." I ordered Indian (Plantation A) coffee, which was dark roasted this month. The staff asked if I wanted anything else, but I declined. It took about 10 minutes and the coffee was ready. They ground the beans right there. The staff were two women and there were five female customers, all regulars, so it was very lively. The coffee was dark, strong, and bitter. This will wake you up. The atmosphere was a bit uncomfortable, so I decided to leave after finishing my drink. There was no food, but I was happy to have a strong coffee. Now, where should I go to eat?

I couldn't go because many restaurants are not open on weekends, but I finally went on a weekday when I had a day off work. I arrived after 11 am and the restaurant was already full of customers. I sat by the window and ordered pasta, dry curry, and quiche. The flavor of the quiche seems to change with the seasons. The portion was suitable for women and the taste was gentle. It felt gentle on the body. I have had quiche before, but this one was exceptional. It was satisfying to eat, and the taste was also gentle. I would love to eat it every day!