taka2000
The title is kind of ambiguous, whether it's in a good or bad sense. Recently (2020-2023), a bunch of similar trendy restaurants have popped up in the Nihonbashi, specifically Kayabacho area. Places like "KABEAT," "teal," "ease," "bank," all seem to have the same key player. They all have a similar vibe, trendy and eye-catching. The systematic operation is well-established, and the staff work like part-timers, the food is delicious but there's a sense of a big corporation's touch, making it hard to feel attached to the place. However, I do visit during weekday afternoons due to its convenient location. [Ordered Items] Carrot Cake - 980 yen (tax included) Hot Tea / Earl Grey - 580 yen. Suddenly felt like having tea, so I had a tea time on a weekday afternoon. Honestly, the sandwiches here are not that tasty, but the sweets (carrot cake, cheesecake, pound cake) are delicious. The individual pricing seems reasonable considering the current inflation. However, the prices have skyrocketed in a short period since the opening in December 2021, losing its impact. Initially, the sandwich + drink set was 500 yen, but the sandwich itself went from 350 yen to 500 yen, and the set discount was removed, resulting in an increase of about 350 yen when ordering a set. The prices of cakes also saw a gradual increase, but without the set discount, the value for money significantly dropped when using the cafe. The carrot cake, with a generous cream cheese frosting, is delicious, but the cake's elongated shape leads to uneven distribution of the cream when spread thickly on top. I wish it was flatter. The taste is great for those who like a lot of ingredients in their cake. The pound cake with dried fruits and walnuts is also delicious with plenty of ingredients. However, I'm not a fan of their coffee, so I tried the Earl Grey, which had a strong spice flavor, making it mediocre. The lunch menu is fixed, so frequent visits can get boring. But for first-time visitors, both the Pork Vindaloo and Hashed Beef mains are delicious and recommended. The separate ordering of drinks that used to have a set discount now adds up to a higher cost. It's easy for solo diners to use, but the ambiance is not very welcoming. They have large tables for solo diners, and the 2-seater sofa seats are not for solo diners, making it uncomfortable for them. There are only 3 single seats, but they are near the kitchen entrance, making it less cozy and hard to get a seat due to its popularity. Each seat has a power outlet, so many company employees bring their laptops to work there. It feels like a slightly fancier Starbucks.