Zaby
I visited the seafood izakaya "& FISH" for lunch, a little over two years after its opening on November 25, 2019. The restaurant had no customers when I arrived and no customers afterwards. The interior had 4 counter seats, 2 tables, and 4 raised tatami tables. I was greeted by the handsome owner with a two-block haircut and a young female staff member. They asked if I was dining alone and directed me to a seat at the counter where I could see the TV. The news was reporting on the Omicron variant spreading rapidly, and the region was about to implement new prevention measures. The restaurant served me a large glass of water in a typical izakaya style. The menu offered a variety of options including seafood, fried dishes, grilled fish, curry, and soba. The display of empty sake bottles on the wall was impressive, but I wondered if they were actually available for drinking. I decided on the sashimi set for 950 yen, which came with rice, miso soup, salad, and pickles. The sashimi included red tuna, sea bream, marinated mackerel, salmon, and octopus, each with two pieces. The freshness was decent, but I felt the presentation could have been more impressive for the price. The rice was average, the salad was generous with dressing, and the miso soup was a bit too salty for my taste. Nearby, there were popular lunch spots and Chinese restaurants, indicating a fierce competition for diners in the area.