はらまるこ
Finally, the day has come to review this restaurant. Due to the summer vacation period or the limited seating due to COVID, I couldn't get a reservation at all, but suddenly saw an opening and quickly made a reservation. About a month later, the day arrived. My kids had been counting down for days. Thankfully, everyone was in good health and we finally got to dine at this place.
The interior of the restaurant has a warm atmosphere with wooden accents and cute decorations that really lift your spirits. Personally, I was expecting a more sleek and silver-themed decor, but the cozy ambiance was still enjoyable. We ordered from a tablet menu, and the prices were on par with a certain amusement park, as expected. My kids ordered the Pikachu plate, while I chose a Pokemon-themed latte. The latte's design can be chosen from 493 different Pokemon. It was a tough decision... Pikachu seemed a bit too common for me. Growing up with the original generation, Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur are what come to mind when I think of Pokemon, but it seems different for my kids. After some thought, I settled on the gentle Dragonite from a recent anime I watched.
After a while, the plates arrived. It was indeed cute. I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow." If I tried, I could probably make it myself, but the reality is that I won't. The Pikachu plate featured chicken rice for the face and a fluffy omelette for the tail. Crispy leafy vegetables were also quietly placed on the side. Under the Pokeball was macaroni gratin, packed tightly. Other dishes included shrimp fry, hamburger, and french fries - a parade of my kids' favorite foods. However, everything tasted better at recent family restaurants.
The latte arrived with the adorable Dragonite art on top. It was small but cute. With a sip, I found the milk to be cold, fluffy but lacking silkiness. It was lukewarm, a bit disappointing. Lastly, the Pikachu pancake. I forgot to take a photo of this. It was also beautifully decorated. The pancake was not as fluffy but moist. Topped with maple syrup, it provided a sweet ending to the meal.
Throughout the meal, Pikachu made appearances and the staff added some entertainment, making it a fun experience for the kids. If the food had been better, I would have been eager to make another reservation, but for now, I think I'll wait. Still, we enjoyed the cute Pikachu plate and the decorations in the restaurant as we left.