あか。
The other day, on my way to the outdoor hot spring bath on the ice of Lake Shikaribetsu, I happened to be in Furano at lunchtime, so I decided to try this place, "Cafe Goryou." It is located in Kami-Goryou, Furano City, and the map can be found here https://goo.gl/maps/GVsnK94qogB2. The cafe is open from 11:00 to 20:00, closed on Tuesdays, with parking available and non-smoking. There are also occasional days of closure besides the regular closing day. For more details, check their website at https://www.goryo.info/cafe/.
The cafe is housed in an old barn-like building, not exactly a trendy old folk house. There is also an accommodation facility adjacent to it. Upon opening the door, you are greeted by wooden planks bridging the earthen floor, which is quite charming. The interior has a strong retro vibe, with a stove adding to the atmosphere. There is even a second floor, accessed by pulling a string to open a door, reminiscent of a ninja house.
I was pleasantly surprised to see my favorite "Junboku-ya" sky bean chair, of which there were three lined up in the cafe. The interior decoration is said to be handmade. The menu offers a variety of unique items, such as the Mushroom Stroganoff for 900 yen (excluding tax). While the base is Russian cuisine, it is prepared here in an original way. It was creamy and delicious, with a distinctive flavor that is not too overpowering, making it quite enjoyable. The portion size was also decent.
I also tried the Goryou Sandwich for 900 yen (excluding tax), which came with a generous serving of chickpea-filled minestrone soup that was delicious. The soup had a rich and deep flavor with a mild acidity, making it very satisfying. The sandwich, made with chewy ciabatta bread, was filled with cream cheese and shimeji mushrooms, providing a good balance of textures and flavors. While it was a bit messy to eat, it was definitely worth it. Overall, it was a satisfying lunch experience.
Oh, and the staff, especially the friendly and cute waitress, was very welcoming.