manon
Today, I went to Ohara to escape the heat. It was a hot sunny Sunday. I arrived around 12:45 PM and there were already 5 groups waiting. It's crowded on weekends, especially in tourist areas. The neighboring buffet restaurant, KIRIN, also had a line. It was a bit confusing because the names are similar. Later, I checked the restaurant's Facebook page and saw that I should have made a reservation before coming. I missed that! Reservations are accepted until 12 PM. I thought cafes didn't take reservations, so I didn't check. I need to check social media before going to a restaurant from now on. There are 3 waiting seats available, but they can still be hit by direct sunlight at certain times. Instead of waiting the whole time, I decided to take a stroll around Ohara first. After about an hour, I returned thinking it might be my turn soon, but there were still 2 groups ahead of me. It took another hour for those 2 groups to leave. In the end, I waited for about 2 hours before finally getting lunch. It was almost 3 PM by then. It was more like a cafe time than lunch. But the lunch and dessert here were fantastic! The wait was worth it. The lunch was a one-plate meal for 1300 yen, with a drink for 1500 yen. I chose lemon squash with pulp, and my companion chose ginger ale. The lemon squash was delicious, and the ginger ale was made with freshly grated ginger, very authentic! The drinks were not compromised in quality. I believe that a restaurant with delicious post-meal drinks is a great place. The lunch was colorful and stylish, and most importantly, delicious! It exceeded the usual cafe level. The food and dessert, which seemed like they were made by a woman, were actually made by a man, which was a pleasant surprise. I added a lemon cake for 300 yen. The lemon cake looked perfect and tasted great, even though it wasn't very sour. It was moist and flavorful. My companion chose a canelé, which he also enjoyed. The lady in charge of serving was young but very pleasant, despite being busy. The restaurant was clean, bright, and had a nice atmosphere. The restroom was also clean, and they were diligent about disinfecting the doorknobs for COVID-19 prevention. My companion had no complaints and praised the place. It might be the best cafe I've been to in Kyoto. The food, cleanliness, atmosphere, and service were all excellent. I initially hesitated between this place and KILIN next door, but I made the right choice with this one. I trusted the high ratings from a reviewer I always refer to, and I was not wrong.