For lunch, there were grilled fish set meal, sashimi set meal, and today's special set meal for 800 yen. When I went around 1:30 pm, everything was sold out except for the sashimi set meal. I ordered the sashimi set meal which came with three types of sashimi, salad, miso soup, plenty of rice, and pickles. The amount of sashimi seemed a bit small compared to the rice, but it was delicious. Just so you know, the restaurant only accepts cash payment.

On the third day of exploring izakayas in Sapporo, I couldn't use my cell phone, so I had the hotel front desk make a reservation for me. The izakaya is located in a building underground, about a 3-minute walk from the clock tower. Inside, there is a counter, semi-private table seats, and tatami mat seating, allowing for a leisurely meal. The menu includes sashimi, grilled fish, sushi, and other seafood dishes, as well as local specialties like zangi and jagabata. They offer all-you-can-drink alcohol options, and I enjoyed delicious food along with fresh beer and sake.

Although I went to the restaurant with sushi in mind, I ended up choosing a set meal because I haven't had Pacific saury in a while. While waiting, I made eye contact with the fish in the tank. Or at least I felt like I did. The Pacific saury was grilled with its innards intact. I used to dislike the bitterness when I was a child. Somehow, I've come to like it now. My taste in food has changed quite a bit. I wonder if they could make the coffee after the meal 100 yen...

Today is crowded again. Maybe it's because many nearby shops are temporarily closed. It might be necessary to wait during the lunch hour. I came here with the intention of eating sushi, but I am drawn to the daily fish special. Should I choose salted salmon or mackerel miso... I think the mackerel miso might be a bit strong in flavor, so I'll go with the salted salmon. It arrived in about 5 minutes. That was quick, which is great. Oh, did the salad portion decrease a bit? It's understandable in these times. The salmon is plump with less fat. It goes well with the soft rice. Today's miso soup has seaweed in it. I can't remember the name, but it's one of my favorites. There was someone ordering alcohol in the middle of the day. Day drinking sounds nice.

The underground dining area of Shikishima Building on regular days is like a battlefield. It offers a variety of food such as curry, soba, Western cuisine, tantanmen, sushi, and set meals. The place I visited for the first time was recommended for its seafood dishes, with attentive service and quick turnover. I chose the B lunch with sashimi - salmon, whelk, and marinated cod. The portions were decent, with 2 pieces of salmon and marinated cod, and the rice was generously served. However, the salad only had tomatoes and potatoes, and the miso soup was a bit lacking. Despite the affordable price of 750 yen, I still felt the desire to eat heartily. Tomorrow's lunch, I think I'll follow my instincts a bit more. On a side note, it was the first time I experienced ashtrays being placed at each table since the start of the Reiwa era. Both men and women were enjoying their cigarettes, creating a nostalgic yet refreshing sight.

I feel like eating fish, so I visited a restaurant. It was early, so they probably still had some available. Just made it before a wait started. Got the taro saikyo-yaki set for 750 yen. The fish was thick and juicy. It was so delicious. I also enjoy eating the skin of the fish. The pickles today had a perilla flavor, which I also like. It would be great if I could go straight home from here. But I'll work hard in the afternoon as well.

I can't think of what I want to eat. But I know I'll be working overtime today, so I want to eat something before that. The restaurants at Shikishima Building are all crowded. This one seems to have a short wait, so I'll go here. They're running out of dishes. I'll go for sushi. I've been here many times, but it's my first time in the sunken kotatsu seating area. It's cozy being tucked away in the back. The sushi toppings are delicious and easy to eat. The hikarimono and tuna were especially tasty today. The miso soup had dried tofu in it. It's been a while since I've had that.

Sometimes I have a sudden craving for vinegared rice. Today is one of those days. So, I decided to have a sushi lunch. Nigiri Sushi Set with Plum for 800 yen. While the main focus is on the vinegared rice, I prefer nigiri over chirashi. Oh, the scallops are the red ones. The fatty texture of the salmon is really good. The tuna is so tender and delicious. The salmon roe is popping with flavor. Maybe it's the season for it. I am quite satisfied with the quality at this price. Good value for money.

Wandering new curry mania/fresh ramen mania, a solo middle-aged man. This is a memo-like review from an old man. If you are looking for concise information about the restaurant and the food, please move on to other people's reviews. This is part 2 of the series on eateries frequented by acquaintances. I have already visited three restaurants in this underground shopping area: - "Indo" - "Edelweiss" - "Budou no Hana" So, in reality, this is part 5 of the series. I used to visit "Indo" over 30 years ago when my workplace was nearby. I used to frequently enjoy their curry dishes and also their meat sauce made by stir-frying boiled spaghetti (slightly burnt in some places). I would always order the extra-large portions back then. Two years ago, I visited after a long time and tried their cutlet curry. Oh, was it this salty back then? I thought. At that time, I saw someone ordering fried rice, so I decided to try it next time, even though they mentioned it would take some time. The other restaurants besides "Indo" have been reviewed by me. Now, onto this unvisited restaurant. It is located at Nishi 3-jo, Kita 2-jo, Chuo-ku. It is on the basement floor of the Shikishima Building. If you enter from the street side and go down the stairs to the underground, it is right in front of you. By the way, "Edelweiss" is right below these stairs. They are facing each other. I arrived around 12:20. I entered from the Kita 2-jo street side, so I went down to the basement through a different staircase and circled around. The "Cafe" and "Tantanmen" places had a line outside. "Indo" was also almost full with salarymen. The other restaurants seemed moderately filled as well. After walking around the basement, I arrived in front of this restaurant. Oh, it seems like this place is also crowded. There were 10 people waiting outside. "Edelweiss" across the street was the same. People gather here for the taste and price. Maybe it's also a gathering place for smokers? After about 12-13 minutes, I was shown to a table inside. Even though there were 9 people in front of me, there were 2-3 people leaving, so the pace of turnover was quite fast. The interior of the restaurant has counter seats facing the kitchen. There are two counter seats with small partitions. Behind (towards the wall) there are several table seats that are semi-enclosed. Since it was crowded, I couldn't observe the interior carefully. Oh, the smell of purple smoke from both sides of the counter. Smoking is allowed in the restaurant even during lunchtime. This seems to be better ventilated than "Edelweiss." Maybe the cooking smell is masked by the smoke. I looked at the handwritten menu and thought about ordering the salted mackerel set, the plum or bamboo sushi, or the seafood bowl (which comes with white rice). Then, I saw "Escalope" on the menu. Oh, when you think of Nemuro, you think of the flower crab. Then, the escalope. If you add something different, there's the Dutch senbei, Wanaka Komai, Thai-style grilled chicken bento (from Hasesto), and maybe a Pacific saury festival. At that time, "Nemuro Hanamaru" wasn't really talked about. Maybe because it was only the "Nemuro branch" back then. In revolving sushi restaurants, "Nagoyakatei" in Kushiro was always a hot topic. Now, about the "Escalope." Originally, the "Red Escalope" was the first to appear. Initially, it was beef cutlet on spaghetti. Then, the spaghetti was changed to ketchup rice. And the beef cutlet was changed to pork cutlet. Then the "White Escalope" came out and became the mainstream. It is pork cutlet on butter rice. I tried the "White Escalope" at "Nemuro Dorian" before. I also did some research with my colleague from Kushiro before going to the Pacific saury festival. Oh, about 20 years ago. The rice had a stronger butter flavor than I expected, and it was memorable that they chopped bamboo shoots into 1cm cubes and mixed them in. Why bamboo shoots? Maybe for the texture and ease of availability? The name "Escalope" comes from the French word for "thinly sliced meat dish." That's why the cutlet is thin. It's not thin to cut costs.

While wearing a kimono, I want to eat while sitting on the floor, so I went to Shikishima Building. Today, I felt like eating fish. The A lunch set costs 750 yen. The place was crowded but not too packed. They work efficiently, so I guess that's why they can handle the crowd well. The food was served quickly. The mackerel had just the right amount of saltiness and was fatty and delicious. I was happy that I could eat to my heart's content at a reasonable price.

It's hot. I wonder how long it will last. I decided to visit a place for lunch. I ordered a sushi set with pickled plum for 800 yen and an iced coffee for 150 yen. Why do I hesitate to order the cheapest sushi? But I still ordered it. Oh, they have salmon roe. Even though it's pickled plum. And my favorite mackerel too. Yes! Sushi made by people is great. The tuna was rich in flavor and delicious. The squid was also tender and tasty. I might prefer this over the sashimi set. I might come here to eat occasionally.

July. Summer. Hot. Busy morning with sweat from the start of the month. It's cool outside. Thank goodness for the breeze. It's hot, so maybe sashimi, oh, how about a tuna medium fatty tuna bowl. Let's go with that. Daily special C Tuna Medium Fatty Tuna Bowl 750 yen. Seafood at this price makes me happy. Seems like other customers feel the same way, lots of bowls being ordered. The unique medium fatty tuna has a rich flavor. It's been a while since I've had pickled ginger. The rice is piled high. Forgot to ask for less rice... but the warm rice here is so delicious, can't resist. Finished it all. Phew.

Today, the restaurant is crowded as usual. I slid into a seat at the counter and ordered the A set meal for 750 yen, which included salted mackerel. I didn't like it much when I was a child, but as an adult, I quite enjoy it. It's a bit dry and hard to flake apart. The saltiness is just right. The rice is piled high. I left a little bit uneaten. Phew, I finished eating. Let's keep going strong in the afternoon.

I feel like having some warm rice for lunch today. The daily special is tempura rice bowl. The lunchtime is almost over and the place is not crowded. I can easily find a table. I chose lunch set C, tempura rice bowl for 750 yen. The rice is warm and the tempura is freshly fried. I prefer tempura over fried food. There is bamboo shoot tempura in it. Yay! The rice is fluffy and the tempura is crispy. The shrimp is juicy. The scallop is tender. The vegetables are also delicious. This is a great deal.

I decided to order the tempura bowl after looking at the daily menu, but then I smelled the delicious aroma of meat. Suddenly, I changed my mind. I ordered the escalope for 800 yen including tax, and it came on a stainless steel plate with soup. It had a nostalgic feel of Showa-era Western cuisine, with a thin cutlet covered in a thick sauce. The butter rice had something mixed in it, which I couldn't quite figure out. When I asked the staff, they told me it was bamboo shoots. The butter rice was delicious on its own as well. The overall presentation and taste gave off a nostalgic vibe.

I felt like eating fish so I visited the restaurant. I ordered the grilled fish set meal for 750 yen including tax, which came with grilled pickles. I was expecting it to be warm, but it was cold. It was also salty for my taste. There were two pieces of fish, which was a good amount. The potato salad was delicious as always. The miso soup had plenty of seaweed, which made me happy. Despite my initial doubts, I finished the meal. Next time, I will make sure to ask if I am unsure.

Today I felt like having some fish. I couldn't decide between grilled fish and sashimi, but I ended up choosing the sashimi set for 750 yen. I also had a coffee after the meal for 150 yen. The service was incredibly fast, which surprised me. The sashimi included yellowtail, salmon, and octopus. They were a bit small but very delicious, especially with lots of wasabi. The side dishes were also tasty and the rice portion was generous. I quickly finished everything. The iced coffee was served in a small glass with just two ice cubes, but it was satisfying. I leisurely enjoyed my coffee. The staff's quick response was also good. The grilled fish looked delicious too, and I also want to try the escalope. I'll definitely come back again.

I suddenly remembered the difficulty of choosing a profession due to the freedom of choice, which was mentioned by Katsuhichiro Kamei, as I read modern literature with great enthusiasm in my younger days. I spent the day as usual without thinking, but I couldn't find a clear answer when I questioned myself. There is time to spare, but I cannot find any intention. It's frustrating to finish lunch. Without finding a direction, I headed towards a place I usually end up when I'm lost. I found myself in a series of old-fashioned shops in the basement of a mixed-use building. I felt that if I explored the restaurants in the basement, I would sink even deeper. Then, a lunch menu sign caught my eye. Despite entering the shop assuming it would be a fish-based lunch from the name, I was faced with lunch menus other than fish that led to indecision. I questioned myself and asked what I had come for. Articulately, I asserted "sashimi set meal" and there was no more room for hesitation. I visited smoothly because it was sashimi. Contrary to the large amount of rice in a small bowl, the red salmon, flounder, and sardine seemed somewhat melancholic. This feeling undoubtedly stemmed from the confusion caused by indecision. After realizing the volume of the salad, I tried the sashimi. The flounder and sardine had a bland taste, leaving little impression, but the red salmon made the rice disappear quickly. Although the reality fell short of the imagined amount of sashimi that would make the rice insufficient, there was no other choice. Of course, I do not adhere to the principle of leaving food or wasting it, and I even reject eating while doing other things. My creed is to eat beautifully and cleanly, considering the imbalance between the volume of rice and sashimi. Embracing the time spent encountering indecision, confusion, and sashimi in food...

During my time working at the station front for the first time in May 2019, I was taken care of by the Shikishima Building basement. Many of the tenants have remained unchanged since then. The curry, zosui, and sushi restaurants are still going strong. I didn't have much time, so I thought about getting some stand curry, but I decided to visit this izakaya called Futamatsuri, which offers a relatively casual seafood bowl. This place didn't exist back then. "Fukuyoshi," the first yakitori restaurant from Bibai to expand to Sapporo, has also relocated from this basement now. This area has a lot of salarymen, so all the shops get pretty crowded during lunchtime. The "seafood bowl" costs 750 yen. Since it's an izakaya, I expected it to be decent. The quality of the ingredients was okay for the price - salmon, tuna, cured mackerel, octopus, shrimp, kanpachi, and squid. I would have been happier if they included tamagoyaki. However, the biggest mistake was that I didn't ask any questions before ordering. To my surprise, the rice was warm instead of vinegared. As someone who always prefers vinegared rice with seafood dishes, I was shocked by my lack of attention. I usually confirm whether it's vinegared rice when ordering a seafood bowl. Despite regretting my own mistake, I had to eat the lukewarm sashimi with rice as a side dish.

As the year-end party season approaches, I was lucky to find one available seat and decided to join in. There were plenty of fresh seafood available, and the guests from Kanto region were also satisfied. It was a shame that they didn't have live squid, but I enjoyed the fresh herring and saury sashimi.