にゃーほりっく
Lunch time with a friend, we arrived around 12:30 and found only one seat left.
**Ambiance:** The large windows provided an open and airy feel, which feels great on a nice day. Personally, I prefer high ceilings, and here the ceiling felt quite low. Sitting by the window can feel somewhat dark and cramped, but if you sit on the window side, it’s really pleasant and spacious. The interior features a chic and refreshing space with white chairs and sofas. However, white can easily show dust and hair, so maintaining such a color scheme in a restaurant can be quite challenging.
**Food:** Now onto the meal. The French toast was recommended, so I ordered the savory version (referred to as "salé" on the menu). I wondered if it would be completely non-sweet, but being French toast, the egg mixture has a touch of sweetness. The French toast itself can be sweet or savory, and since there’s powdered sugar on top, it's not purely a savory dish. The toast is quite thick, made from French bread, which makes for an appealing presentation! I took photos from different angles.
On top, there was bacon, a sunny-side-up egg, salad, and their original cream. The bacon was thick and reminded me of England—not the suspicious red bacon but a natural-tasting good bacon. The egg was perfectly runny; if it were overcooked, it would have been disappointing. I was enjoying the egg and thinking about how, just like when I make it at home, it has to be consistently good in a restaurant. If they get distracted and overcook it, that would be a problem too!
The salad portion was quite generous. Sometimes it’s just a token amount, but this was substantial, which was nice. I was a bit skeptical about whether French toast could be considered a meal, but this turned out to be quite filling, feeling more like a brunch menu with a good amount of protein. It wasn’t heavy since it wasn't sweet, so I thought a savory French toast is definitely a good option.
**Post-meal Thoughts:** After finishing, I thought about enjoying a drink and relaxing. However, perhaps because of the low ceiling, the space felt quite loud overall. It appears to have 48 seats, but the corner setup seemed to amplify the sound. The lively voices of a six-member group and the conversations from the table opposite me made it difficult to concentrate on our own discussion. So, we decided not to order drinks and to leave instead.
This might depend on the seating position. There were sofa seats which looked spacious and comfortable by the low windows, so if I had reserved that seat, I might have been able to relax more. Most customers seemed to be taking their time. When considering if I would come back next time I’m in Ikebukuro, I’m personally unsure. Cafes can be lively, but I’m not fond of excessive noise, and I usually seek a more open feel, which also includes higher ceilings.
As I think about it while writing, it might also be about luck with the seating. The seat I had (the leftmost window seat from the entrance) faced the restroom and the back of the restaurant, making it feel less calm. The view was more of the behind-the-scenes rather than the guest area, contributing to that uneasy feeling. The décor was beautiful, the food delicious, and the clientele were mainly adults, which gave a calm impression. So, good seat selection might be essential here.
My expectations for cafes have become quite specific. Kudos to the management team! The male staff member’s service was excellent. Thank you for the meal!
