mapiko47
Yesterday, after dining at a French restaurant, I said goodbye to my daughter as it was time for my grandchildren to come home from school, and I headed to this place alone. This Hirai Station, which I would not have gotten off at if I hadn't gone to that French restaurant. As soon as my daughter mentioned having lunch at Hirai Station, the name Wanmore San immediately came to mind. It's a famous cafe that I've been curious about even before starting to use Tabelog. Luckily, it's just a short walk from both the French restaurant and the station. I couldn't resist stopping by for a coffee. This is a long-established coffee shop founded in 1971, so it has been around for over 50 years. The atmosphere exudes a scent of the Showa era even from the outside. It has been featured in various media, but what left the most impression on me was when it was introduced on "Ma-tsuko's Unexplored Region." Their famous hot pancakes, baked on a copper plate, were praised by Ma-tsuko as the pinnacle of homemade pancakes, and the visual aspect made it strangely convincing that it could be made at home. A pancake critic featured on the show even said it was the best pancake in Japan. However, I must apologize because at that time, I wasn't in the mood for pancakes (laughs). I was more intrigued by the other signature item, the French toast, so I ordered that instead. If you look at the menu, the cafe operates from 9:30 to 16:30, offering a sandwich set for 800 yen (with coffee or tea) from 9:30 to 13:00, and a French toast set for the same price from 13:00 to 16:00 (last order), making it a great deal no matter what time you visit. The coffee was simply delicious and satisfying, just the way I like it, with a strong and bitter taste. The French toast, as seen in many photos on Tabelog, is made by layering two slices of 8-piece bread with lemon on top. Both the toast and maple syrup were on the lighter side in terms of sweetness, and despite it being after a meal, I finished it in no time due to the thinness of the bread. The refreshing acidity of the lemon also played a role in enhancing the taste. While the French toast itself was nothing particularly special, the lemon surprisingly complemented it well and paired perfectly with the coffee here. Before I knew it, I couldn't stop myself from eating it. The 4 counter seats were occupied by regular customers, and there were 5 tables for 2 people and 5 tables for 4 people, with only 2 other groups of customers who left early. When I asked the elderly couple who run the cafe if I could take photos, they kindly agreed with a gentle smile, saying, "Feel free to take pictures where there's no one around." It's a delight to see the vintage Wedgwood Harmony cups as part of the cafe's long-standing tradition.