Rubynyan
Personally, the first night in Shibuya during the COVID-19 pandemic. As I get older, the familiar scenery and shops have mostly disappeared, making it feel like a distant memory. A friend from the days when I used to hang out in Shibuya suggested having a year-end party there after a long time, so we made a reservation at this restaurant. I got lost. Partly because I headed from the Tokyu Department Store side, but many of the roads that I thought were there were blocked due to building construction, leading to a maze-like situation. I barely made it to the reservation time, but the entrance to the restaurant had a fire door. I was standing in front of a door that seemed like a staff entrance, making me feel like I shouldn't enter without permission. The name on the restaurant sign was different from the one I had reserved, causing a slight panic. (Note: The reservation was for "SOBA TO Hoshigaru" three days before the visit, but the name on the visit day was "Soten Purapura.") One person was coming late due to work, making the lost situation even more certain. The entrance being a fire door meant that the restaurant was like a shelter underground. There were about 10 counter seats and 3-4 table seats packed tightly. The "2.5-hour all-you-can-drink winter delicious food feast 6500 yen course with [sake all-you-can-drink]" that I reserved this time was a great deal for this season. First of all, the 2.5 hours! It may be just 30 minutes, but the importance of 30 minutes is significant. During this season, when restaurants are busy, probably 90% of them have a 2-hour limit, with drinks ending in 90 minutes. As soon as we sat down, there was a storm of food delivery and drink orders like the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, making it a restless time, typical of this season in restaurants. So, the length of these 30 minutes was essential. The dishes were served individually in small portions, perfect for enjoying with drinks. Everything, including the soba at the end, was delicious. What was disappointing was that the food stopped in the middle. For about 30-40 minutes, there was nothing to eat. The restaurant was full, and it was understandable that they were busy, but no one from the restaurant checked on the status of each customer. When the staff came to announce the last order for drinks, I told them, "The course dishes have stopped," and they hurried to prepare them, but the dishes were rushed and felt different from before, as if they were prepared to meet the end time. Still, it was a year-end party in Shibuya after a long time. I am grateful for the delicious and enjoyable time we had. Thank you for the meal.