A hidden gem in Otaru. A restaurant located near the Asahi Observatory, with the first floor serving as a restaurant and the second floor as a guest house, designated as a historic building by the city of Otaru. The interior has a charming Showa-era atmosphere, but I was a bit bothered by the spiderwebs in some places. The menu includes lunch sets, but I heard that the carbonara is delicious, so I ordered it a la carte. It was indeed rich and tasty. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and the flavor of the cheese was delightful. I felt like having another serving. I will definitely visit again next time.

Visited the restaurant "Pasta Club" located on the first floor of the Otaru Guest House, which can be seen after climbing a fairly steep hill from the middle of Jigokuzaka in Otaru in early August 2018. This building is a designated historical building in Otaru City and has been open for about 30 years. This was my first visit, although I had known about it for a long time due to various local reasons. This time, I had lunch and decided to go for the Chef's Choice Lunch (1,330 yen) with a free drink, choosing iced tea from several options. The first dish was a pork tomato stew. The meat was well cooked and the sauce had a mild tomato flavor, making it easy for me to eat. For the pasta, I chose Negi Pepperoncino with soy sauce base, and the slightly thin pasta was cooked al dente. The dish was simple but well-seasoned. For dessert, I had a pear tart which seemed homemade. While the restaurant was empty except for me when I visited, it is impressive that they have been in business for 30 years. Especially considering that the road becomes even narrower in winter and may be challenging for inexperienced drivers to reach by car. By the way, this is not a place for men to visit alone (laughs), it suits adult women better.

I visited the restaurant on a Sunday afternoon at the beginning of October. I went to Otaru with a friend for a mini drive. I'm not good at driving, so I was in charge of navigation. However, I got us lost as usual and had to get off midway. My friend is also a bit directionally challenged. We had visited this restaurant multiple times before, but it had been several years since our last visit. We hadn't planned on going to this restaurant, but the one we were targeting had closed down. The restaurant is located on a hill, and the narrow road leading up to it can be a bit treacherous in winter. There are two parking spots available, so no need to worry about that. The interior of the restaurant has a couple of two-person tables by the windows and three larger tables towards the back. The staff consists of a young male chef and a friendly female server. We ordered the lunch sets - I got the pasta lunch for 1130 yen (tax included) and my friend got the pizza lunch for 1230 yen (tax included). The soup was a bit bland and the pasta was slightly undercooked. The pizza had a thin, crispy crust but the toppings fell off as soon as we lifted a slice. Overall, the food was decent but not outstanding. We both chose an iced drink from the free drink menu, but they were not very cold. My friend, a pizza enthusiast, was unimpressed. After leaving the restaurant and looking down from the parking lot, my friend muttered, "The view is the best part."

Located between Otaru University of Commerce and a commercial high school, Pasta Club is a charming restaurant with a guesthouse on the second floor. The building, originally a private residence built in the early Showa era, exudes a nostalgic atmosphere. The restaurant is closed during winter, but the guesthouse operates year-round. The interior has a retro vibe, with a few tattered sliding doors adding to its charm. I opted for the Spring Cabbage Pizza lunch set, which came with soup and a free drink for 1230 yen. The soup was tasty but a bit small in portion. However, the pizza was a delight! The crispy crust paired perfectly with the sweet cabbage topping. Despite its size, I managed to finish it all. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I went to Otaru. My reviewer has also visited. The road to Otaru University of Commerce is called Jigoku-zaka. Italy's flag is there, and as you proceed, is this it? Such a narrow road? Can we pass each other? Truly Otaru. A stylish Western-style building, a private residence converted into a restaurant on the first floor and a guesthouse on the second floor. Inside, there is a modern interior that combines Japanese and Western styles. The grandfather clock seems to have stopped moving. The inside of the store is not air-conditioned but feels cool for some reason. And there's an old-fashioned cash register. Please choose your favorite seat and go to the back seat. The menu includes pizza lunch, pasta lunch, and various other items. We ordered pizza and pasta. Ariko got the BLT pizza, and I got the eggplant arrabbiata pasta with a drink bar included. The warm drinks stay warm, and the cold drinks stay cold. You have to choose one. Since it was hot, I chose a cold drink. There are options like oolong tea, orange juice, apple juice, iced tea, iced coffee, etc. It's nice to be able to drink so many drinks for this price. First, we had onion soup, which was light. This is a normal pizza. It looks delicious with cheese and bacon on a nice dough, topped with vegetables and mayonnaise sauce. At first, I was worried because of the mayonnaise sauce (Ariko doesn't like mayonnaise), but it was light and not too heavy. And the dough was unexpectedly delicious - crispy and flavorful. It was the best pizza dough I've had recently. Surprisingly good pizza. It may not be from a stone oven, but the dough is excellent - crispy and flavorful. It was bigger than I expected, but Ariko also enjoyed it and finished it. The pasta had a rich tomato sauce. It was a tomato sauce I liked. This sauce goes well with alcohol! I want to eat pizza and pasta with a designated driver. It was quite foggy that day, but it would be beautiful when it's clear. Thank you for the meal♪

I want to have a meal in Otaru ... When looking for a restaurant, it is important to find a delicious one. It is also good to look for a restaurant that makes you feel the charm of Otaru. You climb a steep slope between Otaru University of Commerce and Otaru Commercial High School. Eventually, you will see the tricolor national flag, and there is a private residence built in the early Showa period. The first floor is a restaurant called "Pasta Club". I had lunch on a weekday. The pasta lunch set includes pasta, soup, and a drink bar. I ordered the "Peperoncino" pasta. First, the soup arrives. The minestrone is a classic tomato consommé soup with simmered vegetables and bacon seasoned with consommé, salt, and pepper. The vegetables (zucchini?) melt in your mouth. The Peperoncino pasta has firm al dente noodles. Simple pasta like this makes you feel satisfied. The drink is a drink bar with unlimited refills. After the meal, you can enjoy a moment looking at the sea in the distance. The manager explained the history of the restaurant and the view from the restaurant. Even though we are in the same Otaru, the expression of the sea is different. This restaurant may be a hidden gem in Otaru. With access to the restaurant, the meal and atmosphere, and the view from the restaurant, this place may be irresistible for Otaru lovers. I was able to welcome the 1000th review in Hokkaido. It's amazing how far it has come!

This place is located in Otaru, known as "Jigoku-zaka" (Hell Slope), where you have to climb a steep slope comparable to "Funamizaka" to reach Otaru University of Commerce. From the main road, there is a narrow road where only one car can pass, just before the university, and the shop can be seen up the mountainside. Recently, there are signs that make it easier to find. This shop on the hilltop naturally overlooks the town of Otaru below. The exterior looks like a mansion built in the early Showa period converted into a hotel (Otaru Guest House), with the first floor operated as an Italian restaurant. Upon entering, you will see antique Western-style chairs and tables. There is a stylish large dressing table with some small items for sale. Old wine bottles line up, photos of the Tomioka Association hang on the walls, enhancing the Western atmosphere. The next room is completely different, with a Japanese-style taste. Scrolls hang in the alcove, red carpets on the floor, a pillar clock on the wall, and photos of churches, giving a different impression. It's more of a "stylish retro-chic fusion of Japanese and Western rooms" than purely Japanese. Looking at the menu, there is a variety of options from chef's choice lunch, pasta, pizza, risotto, oven dishes, a la carte dishes, seasonal fish, meat dishes, desserts, and even homemade cakes available for takeout with pizza. I ordered Margherita, chef's choice lunch (salad/seasonal dish/pasta/drink/dessert), scallop and asparagus (spinach) pasta (L size), and fresh tomato and garlic (L size). The Margherita arrived first, with plenty of melted mozzarella cheese on the pizza. The crust was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a great combination of cheese and tomatoes. Next was the chef's choice lunch salad, which was a standard French salad. The scallop and asparagus pasta in white sauce was delicious, with the sweetness of scallops and asparagus complementing each other. The fresh tomato and garlic pasta was simple yet satisfying. The chef's choice lunch pasta was a spring onion pepperoncino, a classic pasta with spring onions, garlic, red chili pepper, and olive oil. The olive oil and roasted garlic aroma was enticing. Finally, the dessert, chocolate gateau, marked the end of this long journey.

I visited this small hotel called Otaru Guesthouse during my trip to Hokkaido in July 2008. The hotel is located at the top of a long and steep hill in Otaru city. The first floor of the hotel has a restaurant called Pasta Club. During my stay, I had a meal at this restaurant. The interior of the restaurant had a slightly antique feel, with old stoves adding to the atmosphere. The photo shows my breakfast, which included a vegetable quiche that was like a slightly egg-like omelette, fitting for a morning meal and quite delicious.

～December 2006～ I went back again. This time, I had the chef's special lunch again. Unlike last time, there was snow and a Christmas tree at the entrance, creating a great atmosphere. The meal started with tofu lasagna and salad. The tofu lasagna was delicious with fried tofu, tomato sauce, and plenty of cheese. Next was eggplant arrabbiata, which had a sweet taste from the eggplant. The apple and sweet potato tart was a perfect sweet treat for winter. Ah, once again I felt happy. ～November 2006～ I climbed up the narrow slope between Otaru University of Commerce and Otaru Commercial High School, and found Pasta Club Italia inside a hotel called Otaru Guest House. The Italian flag was displayed outside, making it easy to locate. It was still early, and a friendly chef was adjusting the wood stove. The room was warm with sunlight streaming in. I ordered the "Chef's Special Lunch," which includes a weekly changing dish adapted from the dinner menu, pasta, drink, salmon, and dessert. I chose the ice drink option from the drink bar. The garlic toast served with salmon was amazing. The salad was refreshing, and the balance of salmon, salad, and garlic toast was perfect. The minestrone soup was slightly oily but went down smoothly. The leek peperoncino pasta had a unique taste with soy sauce flavor. The pumpkin pie dessert was sweet and delicious. All this for only 1180 yen, such a great deal. I want to try their famous Pescaatore dish next time.

If you climb the slope of Shotengai Street in Otaru City, pass Otaru Shokogyo, turn left into a narrow alley, and continue up a steep slope, you will find Pasta Club on your right. Further up the slope, there is a parking lot on the left about 10 meters ahead and on the right about 20 meters ahead. It is located on the first floor of a Western-style building made of reinforced concrete built in the early Showa period. The second floor seems to be a small hotel. There were 7 table seats in the living room consisting of two rooms on the first floor. The store was supposed to open at 11:30, but the staff didn't show up until around 11:40, and then they started preparing, making us wait quite a bit. Maybe they are a bit casual about customer service (laughs). They also had lunch options, but I wanted to try my favorite pasta, so I decided to order a la carte dishes. I ordered the salmon and mushroom (tagliatelle) pasta. The sauce was white sauce, and the pasta was tagliatelle, a slightly wide noodle. It was delicious with plenty of salmon and shimeji mushrooms. Next was Suppli. Suppli is an Italian-style rice croquette. It was filled with plenty of rice, cheese, garlic, etc. inside the crispy coating. I ate it with a spicy tomato-based sauce, and it was delicious. The vegetable quiche-style dish was baked with asparagus, broccoli, shimeji mushrooms, potatoes, and sausages with eggs. Quiche is a traditional dish from the Alsace region of France made with pie crust. It was a bit different from what I had imagined, more like a vegetable omelet. There was a unique building at the back of the main building, so I took a photo. It caught my eye when I went around the back before opening. I wonder if someone lives there? There was a curtain hanging for each season of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. It has a nice feel to it.

The building has been designated as an important cultural property and has a classic and charming design. When I entered the restaurant, I was worried about the old-fashioned tables and chairs scattered around. I ordered the chef's special course set (around 3000 yen), which included a salad and a consommé soup. The soup was amazing, with a delicate yet flavorful taste that made me crave more. The pork and tomato spaghetti and the beef stew steak were also delicious. The chef manages everything alone, so don't expect too much in terms of service, but definitely go for the chef's skills. It's recommended to make a reservation before going, as I experienced some limitations in the menu and the wine not being chilled when I went without a reservation.

It is a quaint restaurant and hotel in a single house. It is perfect for a secret date with your loved one, but driving there in winter requires courage. The narrow roads with continuous slopes can be challenging, but when you finally arrive, you can feel a sense of accomplishment. The cuisine is gentle and easy to savor without any pretense. Since it is never too crowded, it is an ideal restaurant to quietly spend time. Highly recommended for special occasions.

I have visited this restaurant twice, once for a stay, and it has been a while since my last visit, but I felt nostalgic so I decided to write a review. It is located on a hill called Jigoku-zaka, below the Shoka University. The road in front of the restaurant is narrow, especially during winter it can be difficult to access. However, the building itself is really lovely. It has a charm that is hard to match. I understand why women would want to visit this place. Otaru is known for its many old Western-style buildings, but this one stands out as particularly wonderful. Now, onto the food. I had pasta, oil fondue, sweets, and pizza. Everything was delicious, but the oil fondue was especially enjoyable as I don't often have it. If you find the tourist spots along the canal a bit lacking, and want to spend some private time, this restaurant might be a good choice. However, I must emphasize again that during winter, even those used to driving in snow might find it challenging. There is a parking lot, but if you're not confident, it might be better to leave your car in the city and take a taxi here. (The snow removal on the roads is not great, especially on narrow, hilly streets.)