温泉ラヴ
"昼飲み" refers to a plan where you can compare drinks for 2,200 yen. I made a reservation through Tabelog and visited on Saturday. It's a plan available only on weekends and holidays from 12:00 to 16:00 (last order at 15:30), where you can enjoy unlimited Japanese sake, assuming you bring your own food. It seems to be the concept of the restaurant. So, while wandering around the nearest department store basement with my friend, we discussed which foods looked good, bought several deli items, and sushi rolls before heading to the restaurant.
The location is near Shinjuku Sanchome Station, exit C6 (elevator only). As soon as you exit, the building is just a few steps away. There is an elevator right at the entrance of the building. There is also a staircase (emergency use only) on the right, but it was not in use on that day (or perhaps not usually). So, access to the restaurant is only via the elevator. The restaurant we aimed for was on the 6th floor, so we didn't have the option of taking the stairs, and there was only one elevator, so it took quite a bit of time when multiple guests arrived at once, especially around 12:00.
For those who want to make the most of their time, be aware of this. The maximum capacity is 6 people, but most people bring a significant amount of their own food, so it felt crowded with 4-5 people in reality. We ended up going back and forth twice before arriving at the restaurant at around 11:57. Upon entering, there is a process for disinfection, settling the bill, and age verification. Don't forget to bring an item that can confirm your age, like a driver's license!
The interior of the restaurant consists of tall tables and stools, with a capacity of around 30 people. I felt that there could have been a bit more space between the tables. You might say it's "close enough that you'd bump into someone if you didn't walk carefully," and that might convey the feeling. We had a reservation, and maybe because there were only two of us, we were guided to the counter seats by the window. There is an acrylic partition for every two people. There were water bottles and cups on the counter. While the view from the window is limited to buildings like Big X, just having a window gives a feeling of openness, which is nice. It's surprisingly enjoyable to watch the people passing by below.
After an explanation from the staff, we could enjoy alcohol until 16:00 (last order at 15:30). "When you go to get more, please wear a mask and disinfect your hands," they said. Of course, that's natural in these times. According to previous reviews, it seems that you could go to other floors before, but now you can't, which is a bit disappointing. The staff was friendly and answered our questions about alcohol content and taste. They provided disposable chopsticks and silverware, large plates for the food we brought, and small plates for sharing. There were various types of glasses and sake cups for alcohol, including tokkuri and choko for warming sake, although we didn't use them.
They also had small packets of soy sauce, sauce, instant miso soup (with bowls), and even ice, water, and carbonated water from a machine, like you often find in drink bars. It's quite attentive. Personally, I was a bit disappointed that the cups for water were plastic. Did it make you feel a bit cheap? It felt like a sudden transition to a cafeteria. Beer is served by the staff, and it's only draft beer. For other drinks, you can help yourself from the refrigerator, and Japanese sake is separated by taste category on the shelves in the refrigerator. There were about 30 types, but I didn't count. There were also several types of spirits and plum wine. There were also several types of shochu. Soft drinks included oolong tea, green tea, orange juice, etc. You can enjoy a wide variety of combinations.
While enjoying the drinks, we were given nuts with an unknown spice (is it a replacement for the appetizer?). It was a timing when the alcohol was starting to hit, so I missed asking about it. My apologies for the rudeness. Before visiting, I thought it would be a very noisy place with a lot of chatter because it's a place to drink, but I was pleasantly surprised.
The End