Hidden gem restaurant in the village of Ujitanahara-cho. Surrounded by tea fields in a mountainous village, the roads around the restaurant are quite narrow. The restaurant itself is a renovated private home, so it looks like a regular house from the outside. There is a small sign so you can kind of recognize it as a restaurant! I made a lunch reservation the day before and when I arrived, there was a sign saying "reserved" outside - could it be just for us? I wondered as we entered, and we were greeted by a white-haired chef owner. We were guided to our reserved seats. The interior of the restaurant feels like a living room in a regular house that has been renovated, and we took off our shoes and put on slippers before being seated at a table. There are only 4 table seats, so the capacity is not very large. It seems like the chef runs the restaurant by himself, so that's probably the limit. We received an explanation of the menu options, but the "chef's recommendation" was strongly encouraged, so we ordered that. We had a window seat, so we could see the veranda and garden through the large window, giving off a vibe as if we were visiting someone's grandfather's house! While sipping on the tea served, we were served bread and soup. The bread was all handmade with natural yeast, and had a very chewy texture. The scent of wheat was nice and the bread was delicious. The cup of soup was corn potage, with the sweetness of the corn fully blended in a rich flavor. The soup had a smooth texture and was pleasant on the palate. We waited quite a while for the main course to arrive - about 15 to 20 minutes. Finally, the main course arrived, consisting of "hamburger steak," "herb-grilled young chicken," and "pork loin cutlet." The hamburger steak was topped with tomato sauce and cheese, with sautéed shimeji mushrooms on top. It was juicy and meaty. The young chicken had a nice herb aroma, crispy skin, and tender and juicy meat. The pork cutlet was made with tea-infused breadcrumbs, although the tea flavor was not very noticeable. The overall main course had decent portion sizes and delicious flavors! However, it was a bit disappointing that the dishes were slightly cold when they arrived. We finished with a dessert platter and coffee. The desserts also had matcha sprinkled on them, giving a refreshing taste. Overall, we were satisfied! You can have a cozy time chatting with the talkative chef. The "reserved" sign is always out, so if you ask, you might be able to eat there even without a reservation. But it's better to make a reservation for lunch just in case!

In Ujitawara-cho, Tsuzuki-gun, I remembered a Western-style restaurant that is often featured on TV. It's located on the way to the birthplace of Souen Nagatani. I couldn't decide, so I ordered the chef's special for 1700 yen. As a greeting, they served clam soup with the basic flavor of bacon followed by the taste of the clam. The main dish is a one-plate meal with sautéed white fish, popular cheese hamburger, and cutlets with a hint of green tea flavor, all enjoyed at once. On this day, they also served Lindenbaum curry, which was featured as a special curry in Tsurubei's family. It is a type of curry that simmers beef and vegetables until tender, adding fruits as well. It is delicious. If you really want to try it, it might be a good idea to ask in advance. Finally, coffee and a dessert platter are also included. Relax and enjoy at this hidden gem in Ujitawara.

I had the Set Lunch Special with three kinds of dishes for 1,700 yen. It included clam chowder, natural yeast bread (or black rice), a variety of dishes (fried sea bream, pork cutlet, hamburger), dessert, coffee (or tea), and a snack. It's amazing that you can enjoy such a meal in the mountains of Uji Tahara. The flavors were a bit strong, maybe catering to people from the countryside. The variety of dishes included two types of fried items... It would have been nice if the sea bream was prepared with herb breadcrumbs. The hamburger was delicious with a flavor I liked.

I stopped by after visiting Shoujuin. It's a hidden gem known to locals. There are only a couple of parking spots in front of the shop, and you have to enter through a very narrow road along the river. The shop is clean and seems to be run by one cook and one server, so it may take a bit of time. If you're in a hurry, it's better to avoid it. I had the hamburger, fish lunch, and fish and red chicken lunch. The set includes corn cold soup, main dish, dessert, and coffee for 1,600 yen, which is a good deal. Being a handmade Western-style restaurant, the food was satisfying.

I heard from my mother last year that there is a wonderful Western-style restaurant, so I bookmarked this place. I wanted to go there a few times, but it was closed or reserved, so I couldn't visit the restaurant. This day was a Sunday, and I had some business in this area, so I remembered this restaurant and decided to call just in case. Luckily, they had availability for a reservation. Finally, I was able to visit the countryside restaurant I had been longing for. I drove along Route 307 and took a side road near a place called "Takada Tsusen-en," known for its delicious matcha soft serve, until I reached the restaurant. If there were no green signs along the way, I would have been really anxious about whether I was on the right path! The parking lot was a gravel space near the restaurant, so I parked my car there. The exterior of the restaurant looked like an ordinary house, and without a sign, you wouldn't know it was a restaurant. I took off my shoes at the entrance and put on slippers. A man who seemed to be the owner welcomed us. (It seemed like he was in charge of cooking and serving as well.) The lunch menu had 3 options: Hamburger Steak Sicilian Style (topped with cheese and tomato sauce), Grilled Young Chicken Herb, and Pork Loin Cutlet with Tea Aroma. Each set came with soup, dessert, drink, natural yeast bread or rice (pickles), all for 1500 yen. I ordered the Grilled Young Chicken, and my partner had the Hamburger Steak. First, we had clam chowder soup, which was flavorful and full of ingredients. The natural yeast bread had a simple taste, but the more you chewed, the more delicious it became. After a while, our mains arrived. The grilled chicken was covered in a generous amount of mushroom sauce, which seemed to be soy sauce-based. It also came with herb-breaded white fish. It wasn't exceptionally delicious but had a comforting taste. My partner really enjoyed the hamburger, so maybe I'll try that next time. For dessert, we had matcha roll cake, matcha ice cream, tiramisu, and strawberry compote, which were all delightful. We enjoyed a leisurely time sipping tea. Thank you for the meal.

I went to the restaurant Lindenbaum in the mountain village of Ujidawara. It took about an hour by car from my house, and it was a rural area with only tea fields. The building looked like a regular house without a sign, but the interior was nicely renovated to resemble a modern townhouse restaurant. The chef, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit, greeted us and led us to our reserved table. The restaurant was very bright, with sunlight streaming in from the veranda, creating a warm atmosphere. First, we were served tea and given menus. There were three lunch options, and I chose the Sicilian-style hamburger steak, which came with bread. The lunch set included soup, dessert, and a drink, all for 1,500 yen. The warm bread was made with natural yeast and included a soft round bread, baguette, and raisin bread. It came with a small butter, and we enjoyed it. The soup was a light clam chowder with plenty of clams and vegetables, and it was creamy and warm, perfect for warming the stomach. The hamburger steak was topped with melted cheese and mushroom demiglace sauce, while the mackerel was served with Parmigiano and tomato sauce, giving it an Italian flavor. The morning-picked salad used a variety of fresh vegetables and had a refreshing aroma. The hamburger wasn't the juicy type, but it was delicious with the cheese and demiglace sauce. The meal also came with red rice, so I was already full! The organic coffee was smooth and enjoyable, and the dessert platter included matcha ice cream, La France pear, cheesecake, and roll cake, making it a delightful addition to the lunch. The La France pear was perfectly ripe and delicious, and the cheesecake was rich and satisfying. Another couple arrived during our meal, but we were in no rush and enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the slow-paced atmosphere of the rural restaurant. The classical tableware was from NIKKO, and the well-used cutlery was from TODAI. We had a relaxing and delicious lunch in a serene setting. It was a great meal! Thank you for the feast! Now, it's time to head back home after the one-hour drive!

My husband had been wanting to go to this restaurant for a while, and we finally got the chance to visit. It's a bit difficult to get to from Uji city, but it should actually be closer. The entrance to the restaurant looks like a regular house, so it was a bit hard to find. We had contacted them before going, and there was a sign at the entrance saying "Private until 1 pm," which made us hesitate a bit. But as soon as we opened the door, the staff came out to greet us, so it was all good. Inside, there was one room with about four tables, seating around 16 people. There was also a table in the hallway facing the garden, which seemed like a smoking area. The menu changes daily, with options like cheese hamburger steak, herb sautéed chicken, and tea-flavored pork cutlet. I was surprised there was no fish dish, but then the main dish arrived with a side of fish. I chose the pork, while my husband chose the chicken. The tea, probably sencha, was a nice touch as it is a tea-producing area. The pork cutlet had a tea-flavored coating, which was subtle but delicious. The chicken was also tasty and had a home-cooked flavor. The chef, an elderly man, handled both the kitchen and the dining area by himself, and he seemed to enjoy chatting with customers. The restaurant had a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, without any background music. It was a pleasant experience. They only accept dinner reservations, which I would like to try sometime. They also occasionally have guitar live performances, which I would love to attend as well.

★Great Western-style restaurant★It's better to make a reservation for this cozy house restaurant.