I was browsing Twitter and came across a post about Saizeriya Chikatetsu Akatsuka store, which has slightly different menu compared to regular Saizeriya, so I decided to visit. The location is right above Chikatetsu Akatsuka Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line and Fukutoshin Line. This was my first time going to Chikatetsu Akatsuka Station, and actually my first time going west of Senkawa Station. The name Chikatetsu Akatsuka Station doesn't sound familiar to me, I'm more used to names like Eidan Akatsuka or Eidan Narimasu. By the way, there's Tobu Tojo Line's Shimo-Akatsuka Station nearby. Upon entering, I was seated at the counter and checked the menu. There's a page for salads and cold appetizers, and they offer a ham that is not available in regular Saizeriya. In the past, Saizeriya used to have prosciutto, but here they serve Jamon Serrano. Personally, I can't really tell the difference between prosciutto and Jamon Serrano, I'm satisfied with what I can get at supermarkets or convenience stores. There's a page for appetizers and pizzas, nothing particularly different but the pancetta pizza was not available in regular Saizeriya. However, there are only these two types of pizzas, not as many choices as in regular stores. There are pages for gratins, meat dishes, and pasta. I was interested in the meat dishes, they have a similar option in regular Saizeriya but not in this skillet shape. Also, the grilled zucchini and bell peppers are not included in regular stores. As for pasta, the small shrimp with cod roe sauce is not available in regular stores. So, I ordered Chicken Diavola, Lamb and Vegetable Grill, Hamburg Steak, and Small Shrimp with Cod Roe Sauce. I initially wanted to enjoy the dishes with a bottle of wine, but surprisingly they didn't sell bottled wine here. A bit unexpected. Also, they didn't have a 500ml decanter. So, I ended up getting a 250ml decanter each for red and white wine. While waiting, Chicken Diavola and Lamb and Vegetable Grill arrived. The Chicken Diavola is similar to the one in regular Saizeriya, but I prefer the crispy skin and the option to add vegetable paste and garlic sauce that comes with the regular Chicken Diavola. The Lamb and Vegetable Grill is not available in regular stores, and it's nice to enjoy grilled zucchini and bell peppers. Overall, I had a good time with the Lamb and Vegetable Grill. The Hamburg Steak is similar to what you can get in regular Saizeriya, but I think the Chicken Diavola Hamburg would be a better choice. The Small Shrimp with Cod Roe Sauce pasta is not available in regular stores, and while it tasted as expected, it was a bit disappointing. But for those who love small shrimp, it might be a good choice. It felt like a Saizeriya with a reduced menu, but having the Lamb and Vegetable Grill made the experience enjoyable. However, I wish they had bottled wine available. Maybe the small store size makes it difficult to stock bottles?

During my day drinking in Itabashi, I stopped by this Saizeriya for a break. I had a 250ml glass of white wine, tiramisu, and pudding set, all for a total of 750 yen. It's impressive that they haven't raised their prices despite the high cost of ingredients these days. There's a yakiniku restaurant I love nearby, but it's not open yet. Let's move on to the next place!

I used it for lunchtime again this time. I was undecided on what to order, but this time I ordered a small shrimp salad, etc. The restaurant was almost full. Order details: Small shrimp salad 350 yen, Buffalo mozzarella 300 yen, Corn cream soup 150 yen, Spaghetti Pomodoro 400 yen, Decanter red (250ml) 200 yen, etc. The small shrimp salad is a salad with plenty of small shrimp. The lettuce and tomatoes were fresh and delicious. The Buffalo mozzarella was also delicious when dipped in olive oil. The restaurant is small with narrow seating, but there are counter seats which may be convenient for solo diners. The staff's customer service was lacking, possibly due to being understaffed, they seemed quite busy and not very friendly or attentive. It is an Italian restaurant near Akatsuka subway station.

On the first day of the three-day weekend, I went to Saizeriya for a solo lunch and drinks at the counter. It's a great place for women to enjoy a drink in the afternoon without feeling out of place. I always order the Spicy Chicken Diavola, and this time I also tried the Bolognese pasta for the first time. The Spicy Chicken Diavola was as delicious as ever, but the Bolognese pasta exceeded my expectations. The meaty sauce with lots of cheese sprinkled on top was surprisingly tasty for only 400 yen. I also enjoyed a 200 yen wine decanter and had a nice buzz. It was a great brunch!

For lunch on this day, I went to Saizeriya near Akatsuka Station. I chose the Spicy Tomato Hamburger from the six lunch menu options. First, the salad arrived. The salad had delicious dressing, and the self-serve soup was also good. Then came the main dish. The hamburger was generously covered in sauce, served with potatoes and corn. The sauce on the hamburger was rich, possibly with cheese. The potatoes and corn were also tasty, making it a high-quality lunch experience.

In the past, near my Akatsuka Station, there were four family restaurants - Saizeriya, Jonathan's, Kaya Yobei, and Bamiyan. However, last year, all except Bamiyan closed down. Personally, I was sad to see Saizeriya and Jonathan's go. Saizeriya was a great place for affordable lunchtime drinks, and Jonathan's had a variety of small dishes perfect for a casual drink. This year, a Gusto has opened in the former Jonathan's location, and a smaller Saizeriya has opened in the former Lawson's spot. I visited the new Saizeriya for a light wine and found it to be a cozy place with a lot of counter seating, perfect for solo drinking. You have to write your order on a form and hand it in, which I like. I ordered the asparagus with soft-boiled egg, a combination I had never seen before. I also ordered the popcorn shrimp, expecting it to be very spicy based on the name "Hell's Kitchen," but it turned out to just have a tomato flavor and was not spicy at all. The egg was delicious, though. I'll try the green peas next time. The old Saizeriya was a relaxing place, but this smaller one is a bit more hectic. Still, I'm happy to see it back in business.

I visited a restaurant in the Akatsuka area where I ended up due to several closed establishments. I ordered a rich Demi sauce-based seasonal menu item, beef shank stew without risotto, a warm salad with soft green peas and Pecorino cheese, lamb skewers, escargot, and freshly baked petit focaccia. I enjoyed them with a bottle of Lambrusco Seco. It was a satisfying meal.

The world's largest Italian chain, Saizeriya, is a place that has been a constant in my life, from studying with a girl in high school and college, to becoming my girlfriend, then my wife, and now a place we casually visit for dinner on Sunday nights. The affordability of Saizeriya is one of its biggest draws, with the option to enjoy a drink with the Magnum size for only 1000 yen. The food may not be exceptional, but everything is tasty, the staff is friendly, and all at an affordable price. Recently, Saizeriya has introduced a new concept of smaller convenience store-sized locations where you can dine in or take out items like frozen spicy chicken, escargot, and tiramisu. The first of these compact stores is the Saizeriya Subway Akatsuka branch, offering the same quality and value in a smaller space. Saizeriya's affordability comes from their self-sufficient supply chain, importing ingredients like pasta, cheese, and wine from Italy, and sourcing vegetables from their own farms. The new menu item, "Uovo in purgatorio," is a must-try, featuring a rich tomato sauce with a hint of acidity and a comforting egg. Enjoying a meal at Saizeriya, whether alone or with someone special, is always a pleasant experience, especially when paired with a bottle of wine and dishes like the mini frittata, red wine stew, and spicy chicken. The cozy atmosphere and delicious food make Saizeriya a timeless spot for a casual and enjoyable dining experience.

I went alone early in the day and was seated at a table for two. Most of the seats were for solo diners, separated by plastic partitions. There was a freezer and they also sold takeout food. Ordered items: All Free Non-Alcoholic Beer 250 yen, Prosciutto 400 yen, Fresh Cheese Tomato Salad 300 yen, Escargot Oven-Baked 400 yen, Arosticini 400 yen, Tiramisu Classico 300 yen. Total: 2050 yen. The Arosticini, a lamb skewer with spices, was incredibly tasty! I usually drizzle olive oil on the Fresh Cheese Tomato Salad myself, but when I asked, they brought it to me. Saizeriya truly offers great value for the price!

There is a new Saizeriya near Tokyo Metro Subway Akatsuka Station. It is quite small as it is located where a convenience store used to be. Despite its size, they have a drink bar. The ordering process involves writing on paper and handing it to the staff, and there are acrylic panels installed, all in consideration of the pandemic. I ordered the Trifle Ice Cream from the dessert menu. It came out quickly and was a large scoop of ice cream! Inside the hazelnut chocolate ice cream, there was milk ice cream. The food menu is so cheap that the desserts felt a bit expensive, but I still think the dessert was worth it! They also have a takeout frozen case, which is a unique feature during the pandemic.

The world's largest Italian chain restaurant, Saizeriya, is known for its great value for money compared to other family restaurants. Recently, they have developed a new concept of small-sized stores that offer dine-in options as well as take-out items such as frozen spicy chicken, escargot, and tiramisu. The first store of this kind, Saizeriya Subway Akatsuka, has opened along the Kawagoe Highway. Saizeriya's competitive pricing is due to their in-house sourcing, processing, logistics, and sales operations. The restaurant has been serving Italian cuisine since 1973, importing ingredients directly from Italy and having their own farms for vegetables and processing facilities in Australia for beef. Despite the small store size, Saizeriya continues to offer quality dishes at affordable prices.

From the Akatsuka subway station, I walked out onto Kawagoe Kaido and found that the Saizeriya that used to be on the second floor of Papasu has now opened as a street-level store in the former Lawson location. It seems to be the first Saizeriya store of its kind, adapted for the COVID era! I ordered a Margherita pizza for ¥400, a Peperoncino for ¥300, and sautéed spinach for ¥200, totaling ¥900. With prices like these, the cost performance is excellent at under ¥1000. The pizza wasn't as hot as before, which was a bit disappointing, but the Peperoncino was still good. The spinach and bacon added to the Peperoncino provided a generous portion for the ¥200, and I enjoyed customizing the flavor with powdered cheese, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Overall, it was a satisfying dinner. COVID measures in place included acrylic dividers, sanitization, and social distancing.

Today, I came to this restaurant that was reported on the news program. I arrived at 11:30. Wow, it really is a small shop. Upon entering, I sanitized my hands with alcohol and was seated after providing the number of people in my group. They asked if I knew the ordering method. That's right, it's the method of writing down the number on a piece of paper. I chose the Milan-style Doria with colorful vegetables (with salad and soup) for 500 yen from the lunch menu, added the lunch drink bar for 100 yen, and also ordered the Arrabbiata for 400 yen from the regular menu. I handed the paper with the numbers to the staff. They showed me where the soup and drink bar were located. I scooped up the soup and oolong tea and returned to my seat just as the salad was served. I ate the soup and salad while waiting, and in 10 minutes the Arrabbiata arrived, followed by the Doria. Now, time to taste. Arrabbiata: The sauce is quite watery... it feels like there is too much liquid. Maybe an issue with draining the pasta. The pasta is cooked al dente, which is good! It lacks spiciness, so I added hot sauce. Still not enough, so I added more hot sauce. I also added some cheese. It's getting better. Milan-style Doria with colorful vegetables: Hmm... the normal version may be tastier. And I remember the previous ceramic dish had a better cheese melt and charred edges which made it tastier. Finally, I enjoyed a hot coffee to end the meal. Overall... the layout of the restaurant doesn't feel cramped at all, you wouldn't think it's in a convenience store space. The only downside is that making coffee at the drink bar takes time, which can be a bit inconvenient for those trying to get soft drinks. It's interesting to see the commercial refrigerators and freezers for selling ingredients. The food is okay, but considering all I had to eat and drink for 1,000 yen, it's a result of the company's efforts. Thank you for the meal.

I went to the newly opened "Saizeriya" last week, which was being touted as a new form of dining during the pandemic. It was located near Akatsuka subway station, but a short walk away from the station. The unique dining concept included smaller seating area with individual partitions, and a large freezer display filled with food items. I ordered lamb steak and hamburger for dinner, and was quickly satisfied. The price and portion size were great, explaining the popularity of the restaurant with a line forming outside.

Margherita pizza for ¥400, Milan-style doria with half-cooked egg for ¥350, refreshing carrot salad for ¥200, totaling ¥950. The lack of Parmesan cheese is a downside.

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio for ¥300, Margherita Pizza for ¥490, Refreshing Carrot Salad for ¥200.

Margherita pizza ¥400, Spaghetti Aglio e Olio ¥400, Soft Edamame and Pecorino Cheese Salad ¥200

After exiting Akatsuka Station and crossing the Kawagoe Kaido, I visited the convenient and single-person-friendly Saizeriya once again. I ordered the Pancetta Pizza for ¥400, Lentil and Spelt Wheat Minestrone for ¥300, and Sautéed Spinach for ¥200.