しぇるふ
Under the JR overpass in Umeda, there is an Italian restaurant called "Umeda EST".
- You can enjoy authentic Neapolitan pizza in Umeda
- Although it's casual, the prices are a bit on the higher side
- Lunch ranges from 1400 to 2000 yen, including a mini salad and mini soup
Suddenly, isn't pizza delicious? I had some time to spare in Umeda, so I quickly searched and found this place. It's located under the JR Osaka Station overpass, so you can often hear the sound of trains passing by. However, the interior is stylish. It's dimly lit but still lets in natural light, making it a nice spot for couples. The restaurant has quite a large number of seats. It was almost full on a Sunday before noon, and there was even a group waiting outside, so it seems like reservations are popular. There were many groups of women dining there, and a few couples as well. I sat at the counter towards the back, next to the kitchen where a person wearing a face mask was baking pizzas in a stone oven.
The menu seems to also feature pasta, but today, I wanted pizza! (laughs) The lunch sets all come with a salad and soup. For pasta, they also include focaccia. Quite generous.
- Margherita Pizza Lunch 1430 yen (as of August 2022)
It's a bit on the pricey side, but considering it's tax-inclusive and in the heart of Umeda, it's understandable. To my surprise, the pizza was quite large, about 25cm in diameter. The cheese stretches well! The crust is chewy and quite firm. If you have a weak jaw, it might get tiring (laughs). The crust edges are on the smaller side. The tomatoes are fresh and have a good acidity. Some basil leaves were fragrant, while others weren't as much... but overall, it's a pizza that showcases its quality. The salad and soup come together. The soup is a small cup of corn soup, similar to a demi-tasse. The salad consisted of only sunny lettuce, more like a side dish.
For drinks, it's an additional 300 yen. They offer coffee, tea, as well as soft drinks like cranberry juice and pink lemonade, which are popular among women.
Lately, there are more restaurants serving delicious pizzas. This place also had a chewy thin crust and was delicious. It seems like everything from reservations to securing a seat, and using points is all systematized, which probably helps the restaurant cut costs. I wasn't expecting much in terms of quality under the JR Osaka overpass, but this place served a much more authentic and tasty pizza compared to other nearby restaurants. Thank you for the meal.