《April 2022 Revisit》It has been 4 months since my last visit at the end of last year. Even before the pandemic, I would go out for drinks in the city about once or twice a month, but since the beginning of the year when the number of COVID patients increased rapidly, the opportunity to go out for drinks has almost disappeared. I like to try different restaurants, so visiting the same restaurant multiple times in a year means I am a customer who is not necessarily appreciated by the restaurant. This time, I visited relatively early after the opening, and after 7 pm, it seemed like the seats were quite filled. First, I quenched my thirst with a "Guinness". I used to drink canned Guinness at home, but recently I haven't had many opportunities to drink at home, so Guinness itself felt quite nostalgic. Some people may not like Guinness, but I feel it is rather easy to drink for those who are not very fond of beer. While savoring the "Smoked Duck" ordered as a snack, I finished the Guinness with its creamy foam, and for the second drink, I ordered "Kilchoman Machir Bay" from my favorite Islay single malt whiskies on the rocks. When it comes to Islay malts, the super popular "Bowmore" is the representative, but personally, I prefer the slightly more distinctive "Laphroaig" or "Ardbeg", and sometimes I feel like drinking them. Kilchoman distillery started brewing in the 2000s, making it a relatively new distillery, and this was my first time trying it. The Kilchoman Machir Bay, which is the standard product of Kilchoman, is a powerful whiskey aged in bourbon barrels, and I felt its personality was not inferior to the aforementioned Laphroaig. For the second drink, I chose one of my favorite Highland Park 12-year-old. I feel like this restaurant didn't have Highland Park on the menu before, but has it been added recently? The reason I like Highland Park is that it is a very well-balanced whiskey, with a powerful and smooth taste, giving a sense of being suitable for everyone. If you like Macallan, you will definitely enjoy it. As I mentioned in a previous review, the nearby "Gupps" and this sister restaurant have slightly different selections of whiskies and cocktails, so it might be interesting to try them out depending on your mood that day. ============================== ◇ 4,100 yen (Guinness 800 yen / Kilchoman Machir Bay 1,000 yen / Highland Park 12 years 900 yen / Smoked Duck 800 yen / Charm 600 yen)

The shot bar under the elevated structure at Chitose Station is usually full of izakayas, but a recently opened bar caught my attention. It's a cocktail-focused bar and the staff make delicious original cocktails based on your preferences. Despite my lack of knowledge about cocktails, the owner and staff have a wealth of knowledge and are able to serve delicious cocktails even to amateurs like me. I tried various drinks like Gin Buck, Red Eye, and Hibiki (whiskey), and the bill for two people came to just over 4000 yen, which is quite reasonable. They open for morning service from 8 am to 12 pm and in the evening from 4 pm to 1 am. I definitely want to go back again.

《December 2021 Revisit》 It has been two months since my last visit, and this is my second time here. The overall rating has dropped by about 0.5 stars compared to last time, but the actual evaluation of the restaurant has not changed much. As an old-style reviewer, I only give ratings in 0.5 increments, so the drop from 4.0 to 3.5 this time actually represents a fluctuation between 3.7 to 3.8. Well, there may have been a slight celebratory factor last time, but... This time, I started with a beer, ordering a glass of "Sorachi 1984." "Sorachi 1984" is a brand of "Sapporo Beer" that uses a unique hop variety called "Sorachi Ace" developed in Hokkaido. Just like the "Edelpils" I had last time was a beer made with Saaz hops from the Czech Republic, this one also focuses on hops. Initially, canned products were the main focus, but it seems that more and more places are now offering draft beer. For the second drink, I had a Scotch whisky, "Ardbeg 10-year-old," on the rocks. Similar to the "Laphroaig 10-year-old" I had before, this is an "Islay Malt" whisky produced on the Isle of Islay in Scotland, known for its vivid and intense flavor. I quite like Islay Malts, with "Bowmore" being one of the classic brands, but personally, I also enjoy the distinctive flavors of "Laphroaig" and "Ardbeg." I may not buy a bottle, but when I go to a shot bar, I can't resist having a drink. For the third drink, I had "Jack Daniel's" in a highball. I don't usually drink bourbon, but I enjoy it in a highball as it brings out its sweetness. For snacks, I ordered a "Cheese Assortment of 3." I'm not familiar with cheeses, so I can't identify the exact brands, but at a glance, it might be nice to have more visual variety in the way the cheese is cut. This time, I visited around 9 p.m., and the place was about half full. It's a nice place where you can relax and enjoy without any pressure. ============================== ◇ 3,900 yen (Sorachi 1984 700 yen / Ardbeg 10-year-old 1100 yen / Jack Daniel's 700 yen / Cheese Assortment of 3 800 yen / Charm)

One morning, I visited "Bar Sfizio" for breakfast. There is no parking lot in front of the store, so be careful if you come by car. There was one customer before me, and the shop was run by two female staff members. I had already checked the menu and decided on the "Duck Wrap Sandwich (¥400)", but then I learned that you can choose the dressing. The options were Teriyaki, Aurora, and Vinegar. I had never heard of the latter two before, ignorance is scary! I chose Vinegar dressing, and also added Honey Mustard (¥50) as a topping! For my drink, I ordered a "Regular Coffee (¥350)". I was intrigued by the topping option of "Popcorn" for ¥200, which turned out to be popcorn syrup, not actual popcorn. I decided to add this as well, making my drink cost ¥550 in total. Oh, with the sandwich, the breakfast ended up costing ¥1000! The sandwich arrived after a short wait, and it was a single layer. The sandwich had a good amount of duck, along with onions, purple onions, and lettuce. Since it was a single layer, it was easy to eat quickly, making it perfect for a light breakfast, like before a drive or work. The duck was juicy and flavorful, without any unpleasant smell, and the meat was mini-sized but packed with flavor. It had a light and crispy texture, which I found to be a good match. The vinegar dressing was not too strong, with a nice acidity level. The vegetables were crunchy and not mushy at all, providing a pleasant texture. The addition of Honey Mustard added a nice touch of sweetness. The coffee had a sweet aroma from the syrup, with a balanced sweetness and bitterness that made it easy to drink. Ordering coffee as a set with breakfast is a good deal. The staff's service was good, and I left the restaurant feeling satisfied. I wish I had more time to relax and enjoy the experience. Thank you for the meal.

In October 2021, when I visited JR Chitose Station for the first time, I found various establishments such as a convenience store, izakaya, and karaoke box located under the elevated structure near the south ticket gate. As I passed the entrance and faced the "Karaoke Grand Prix" entrance in front, I noticed a "Seven Eleven" on the west side to the right, and on the east side to the left, there used to be a yakitori restaurant, which was later replaced by the popular bar "Albo Grande" operated by the Grand Prix. The bar was running smoothly but unfortunately closed due to the circumstances of the establishment. After being vacant for a while, a new bar called "Sficcio" opened in September. I wonder what that name means and in what language? The owner is also the owner of the dining bar "Gupps" located next to the public bath "Suehiro-yu," and this is considered their second store. The owner originally worked at the aforementioned "Albo Grande," then opened "Gupps" independently, and now has revived a new store at the former workplace. The bar opens at 4:00 PM, which is quite early for a bar, and they even offer a morning service, attracting customers even during the morning hours. During my visit, I had one beer, one cocktail, and one whiskey, totaling three drinks. I also ordered mixed nuts as a snack, and remembered that they come with a charm, just like at Gupps. The draft beer options were Sapporo's "Edelpils" and "Sorachi 1984." I have tried the canned version of "Sorachi 1984" before, but it was my first time knowing that they serve it on tap. With its prime location advantage, once the pandemic is over, the bar is sure to become lively again, becoming a popular spot for casual drinking. The interior of the bar only has counter seats, and the food menu is minimal. If you're more interested in eating than drinking, it would be better to visit the first store "Gupps" located a 5-minute walk away. ==============================◇ 3,600 yen (Gimlet / Laphroaig 10-year / Edelpils / Mixed nuts / Charm)

Dining bar Gupps in Chitose, the owner opened a second bar. It was our first visit to the bar. We ordered a hot sandwich with egg (dressing: aurora) for 400 yen and an iced coffee for 400 yen. The bar is conveniently located under the elevated structure directly connected to Chitose Station, opening at 7:30 in the morning. It seems useful for adjusting time or meeting up. The customer next to us was watching something on their smartphone. Free Wi-Fi is available, and the seating is only at the counter. In the evening, they operate as a bar and serve hand-drip coffee carefully brewed according to your preferences. I asked for less acidity in my coffee, and it was made just as I requested. The bread was fluffy, and the hot sandwich was delicious even without any additional toppings. Adding cheese might make it even tastier. The place is managed by two girls, and they are considering offering a Sunday morning menu in the future. They are still figuring out the pricing for the morning menu. Takeout is also available. I almost left my handkerchief behind but they ran after me to return it. Thank you for the meal.

The appetizer was delicious, and it was a nice bar to casually drop by.

Nighttime accompaniment when staying at JR Inn: ==========