I received a celebration for my long years of service. It was a women's gathering in a private restaurant setting. Since we all work in different departments, we don't get to talk much at work. It was a quiet space where we could relax and chat leisurely over delicious food. It was a very enjoyable time.

◎Date of Use: December 2014 ◎Purpose: Dinner ◎Companions: Boss, two colleagues (including a big guy) ◎Ordered: Izakaya menu items and drinks ◎Impression: The atmosphere is nice - the restaurant is located near the Hakodate warehouses. The food is a bit on the expensive side. ------------------------------------- I invited my boss for dinner along with my colleague, the big guy, and another young colleague. The young guys recommended this place, "Wa Dining Ii," located in the Hakodate Bay area near the Kanemori Warehouses. The entrance and interior of the restaurant have a nice ambiance with black as the main color and subtle lighting. The menu is written in a calligraphy style, which is a bit difficult for me to read. The young guys ordered pizza, potatoes, calamari, and salad - typical choices for young people. I added some fried dishes to the order. We didn't eat too much as they wanted to go for ramen afterwards. We had beer and highballs to drink, as we are not heavy drinkers. Next time, I would like to eat more and drink with those who can handle it. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.************************************Wa Dining Ii13-5 Suehirocho, Hakodate, Hokkaido************************************

A shop located in the tourist area of Hakodate. The building looks like it used to be a warehouse, with a nice atmosphere. It's just right for people in their 20s and 30s who want to experience something a little upscale. The menu features words like "made with ingredients from ~" which are quite appealing. I can't remember the name in detail, but I ordered a Caesar salad with raw ham, carbonara-style Sanuki udon, and a salmon rice ball. First, the salad arrived. I was expecting raw ham (the soft pink kind), but it turned out to be prosciutto (smoked). It was hard to eat, but that couldn't be helped. However, the dressing was lacking, and the onsen egg-like egg on top was too firm, which was very disappointing. The staff told me to mix it well before eating, but the egg was so firm that it didn't mix at all. In addition, the hard ham made it even stranger. Next was the potato and cheese dish. The main potatoes and caciocavallo cheese were delicious. I think it would have been even better with tomatoes. What left a lasting impression on me was the onsen egg imitator that came with this dish as well. It was just as firm and difficult to mix. Then came the udon. Like all the other dishes, the portions were generous. The udon was served on a large plate with plenty of sauce. The flavor was based on carbonara but with a Japanese twist from ingredients like green onions and bonito flakes. More importantly, the egg that came with this dish as well...I don't even want to comment on it, but if all three eggs were soft, the dishes would have been more delicious, so it's a shame. Finally, the rice ball. This was also on the larger side. However, the filling was completely salmon flakes. Not the kind of flakes that are slightly larger and more expensive, but the type where the shape is still visible. Overall, personally, I didn't find any of the dishes particularly delicious! The coffee pudding I ordered for dessert was a flavor I really liked, so that was good, but I can't say everything is fine just because it ended well. By the way, I wish the pudding was a bit smaller so I could have eaten a little more. Visited on December 12, 2013.

This is a creative dining restaurant located in the Bay Area. The interior of the restaurant is quite spacious, with partitioned seating that gives a private room-like feel. On this day, we were seated in a loft-like area on the second floor. The menu seems to focus on quality ingredients, with dishes like the long-named "pork ginger stir-fry." The portions were quite generous, making it feel a bit more upscale than a regular izakaya, perhaps more suitable for a date. The drink selection includes a variety of cocktails geared towards women, but I found them to be a bit weak. Recently, they have been offering a limited lunch special for 1500 yen on Sundays until November 30th, so I would like to revisit during lunchtime. --- I visited the restaurant just in time before the end of the Hakodate Lunch Event on November 30th. The winter version of the event will start again on December 1st, but it seems this restaurant will not be participating. I arrived a little after 11:30 AM when lunch service began, and the restaurant was already filled with customers. The lunch course consisted of cold appetizers, salad, main dish, rice, and dessert, but there wasn't any dish that particularly stood out to me. Overall, the seasoning seemed a bit strong (dressing for the salad, sauce for the main dish). The grilled vegetables and chicken in the main dish had a teriyaki-like sauce that paired well with the white rice. The rice was fluffy and chewy. The drinks had too much ice, which was also the case during the evening visit.

My husband and I went on a lunch date on our day off ❤ We visited a restaurant that I was curious about. Until the end of November, they offer a lunch special for 1500 yen on Sundays and holidays only, so we decided to check it out. The surroundings were filled with tourist spots and tourists walking around. The restaurant had a hidden gem vibe. Inside, it was dimly lit and had a nice atmosphere. You have to take off your shoes before entering, so make sure your pedicure is intact and wear appropriate socks (laughs). The service was good and the interior had a calming ambiance with partitioned areas that felt like private rooms, making it a great spot for a date. Today, we tried the 1500 yen limited Japanese-Western fusion lunch, limited to 30 servings per day. You can choose from drinks like oolong tea, green tea, cola, ginger ale, orange juice, and grapefruit juice. I chose grapefruit juice, while my husband went with cola. The dishes arrived quickly, with appetizers of mozzarella cheese & tomato, potato salad, sashimi, and salmon. They were all delicious, but I personally felt like the cheese & tomato needed a bit more salt. The salad with yam and mizuna was to my liking. They advised us to mix it well before eating, so if you're not a fan of yam, I recommend removing it before mixing. The rice was shiny and delicious. The main dish was chicken with plenty of vegetables like eggplant, turnip, zucchini, etc., with a teriyaki-like seasoning that paired well with the rice. For dessert, we had a black sugar brulee and a Catalana-style dessert, both of which were very tasty. I wanted to have another one (laughs). Overall, we were satisfied and I would like to come back for dinner sometime. It's a great spot for a date ❤

"Wa Dining Ii" located at 13-5 Suehirocho, Hakodate, Hokkaido. Phone number: 0138-22-0016. The restaurant is situated in a corner of warehouse buildings, housed in an old warehouse from the early Showa period that has been renovated into a creative cuisine restaurant. The modern interior exudes a Japanese atmosphere and can be enjoyed with a private room feel, with sunken kotatsu seats for a relaxing dining experience. It feels like a hidden gem for adults. The shrimp fritter with aurora mayonnaise dressing is fluffy and delicious, while the grilled five-grain chicken thigh is tender and tasty, beautifully presented. The tofu with Italian-style sauce is exquisite and eye-opening. The eel stone bibimbap, reminiscent of hitsumabushi, is flavorful with eel, seaweed, and crispy rice. A restaurant that makes you want to come back again and again.

I visited my hometown for my childhood friend's wedding, and a local high school classmate offered to take me out for dinner the night before. They took me to a trendy Japanese dining restaurant with delicious food and drinks. The abalone steak was especially tasty.

At the end of the year, I went on a date with my husband. I was happy to find a restaurant open at the end of the year when many places were closed. Since it was newly opened, there were few tables and we were seated in a private room on the second floor. The staff, who seemed to be in training, were polite and provided good service. I was pleased to see tonic water on the drink menu. The overall food was average, neither good nor bad. The deep-fried tofu was delicious. We ordered something like an aioli dish, which I found to be a bit pricey for what it was. It seems like a good place for a young couple on a date! The menu was a bit hard to read, which made it difficult to decide on what to order. What I liked the most was the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the staff!

Japanese Dining: Traditional vs Modern I visited this restaurant thinking it was a traditional Japanese eatery, as I was craving some seafood dishes. I wanted to have sashimi, grilled dishes, simmered dishes, soup, and some sake. However, it turned out to be a place that mainly serves creative dishes. I tried dishes like crab miso and Okinawan sea grapes, which seemed a bit different from what I had in mind. The crab miso didn't taste like what I was used to, and the sea grapes were small and lacked the usual burst of flavor. It made me wonder if they were able to maintain the freshness of ingredients all the way from Okinawa to Hokkaido. The restaurant itself had a traditional Japanese atmosphere, as if it was converted from an old warehouse or storehouse. It might be a good choice for a first stop when you're hungry.

During the daytime, the bustling Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses with a large number of people suddenly become quiet at night. In that area, there is a quiet little shop called Ii Ii. When you open the creaking sliding door, you take off your shoes and enter the store. The store has private rooms, so your privacy is protected. The dim interior with dim lighting makes me feel calm. The menu is quite extensive and the presentation is beautiful, but... I don't know, the taste was just okay. The service, interior, and atmosphere were not bad, but I didn't find anything that made me think "this is delicious!" It's a shame, but I hope they evolve and improve their flavors. I might give it another try in the future.

I revisited on December 20th, this time heading to Hakodate for the Christmas fantasy. The weather was decent during the day, but it started raining at night. Due to the bad weather, I arrived at the restaurant 45 minutes before my reservation time. Me: "I'm sorry. I arrived much earlier than planned, so I guess it's not possible, right?" Restaurant staff: "(*^(エ)^*) Thank you for always coming. Please, we've been waiting for you." They even remembered my name, which made me really grateful and a bit emotional. The variety of cocktails, sours, and other drinks here is great and delicious. Of course, the creative dishes are visually and tastefully enjoyable. I'm planning to visit during cherry blossom season or Golden Week next time. When going to Hakodate, I always make sure to reserve a table here. It's located right near the Red Brick Warehouses in the Bay Area. The restaurant has sunken kotatsu seating and second-floor seating. The second floor has a slightly steep staircase, which might be a bit tough for women in skirts, but it's a cozy spot. This time, I made a reservation again, and when I entered, a female staff member greeted me by saying, "Oh, it's Ms. ○○, right?" It seems like they remember my face before my name. I visited two days in a row during Golden Week last time. While they offer a la carte dishes, this time I tried the "Hakonavi Special Selection Plan" course for 8,640 yen per person through the restaurant reservation site. It was a very satisfying course in terms of taste and portion. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is nice, and they have a wide variety of drinks, with about 30 different sour cocktails alone. I've tried their regular menu before, and their dishes are delicious for both drinkers and non-drinkers.