esora24
Friday night is as happy for me as sitting in a cafe, when I go shopping after work. On this day, I went shopping in Shinjuku and planned to have some pancakes at Sarabeth's in Lumine afterwards. However, I got too caught up in shopping and arrived at Sarabeth's after the last order time had passed, so they were closed. Feeling in the mood for pancakes, I decided to head to this cafe in San-Chome that I had been curious about. This cafe is known for its vegan and vegetarian options, and their pancakes are rumored to be delicious. The last order is at 10:00 pm, so I could still make it even though it was getting late. The cafe is located past Isetan, so it's a bit of a distance from JR (I went from the south exit...). The closest exit is C5 from the underground, and for the metro, the Fukutoshin Line's exit closer to Isetan's ticket gate is the most convenient. Until I arrived, I was skeptical if there was a cafe styled like a house in the middle of Shinjuku. But as I carefully looked around a bustling corner of the city, I spotted a lovely building with exposed concrete. It had a fresh appearance with white curtains and greenery surrounding it. It must look even more charming in the daylight. In an area filled with crowded buildings, it might be easy to miss this cafe if you don't look closely. Outside the cafe were dinner menus and photos of popular pancakes. Peeking inside, I saw an angel flying on the glass door. Just as the sign "Heavenly Pancakes" suggested, I imagined fluffy and cute pancakes. The cafe seems to understand women's preferences very well. The kitchen is located at the back of the first floor, and the space felt lively due to its small size. Although they didn't offer seating at this time, it seems there is also a basement floor. It's impressive how spacious it is, typical of Shinjuku. I was guided to the second floor, which had a French chic interior with a soft lighting, creating a charming attic-like space. There were mostly groups of women dining, but there were also couples on a date. Those seated in the separate tables could enjoy their meal without being bothered by neighboring tables, making it a lucky spot. They provide self-service water with fruit-infused water available. The ordering and table setting on the second floor were handled by a handsome European-looking gentleman. The cafe truly understands women very well (laughs). During dinner time, you can enjoy both meals and desserts from the menu, but ordering a la carte can be a bit pricey. If you plan to have pancakes after your meal, the course menu is much more cost-effective. They offer vegan and gluten-free sweets, so it seems like a fun place for women to enjoy a meal together. The "Heavenly Vegan Pancakes" (¥1,620) uses a vegan cheese called "Sheese" as a substitute for animal products (milk and eggs). The pancakes were surprisingly fluffy and delicious, despite not using eggs or milk. The batter had a nice rise, a soft and moist texture, and a slightly salty cheese flavor. The pancakes had a scone-like browned crust, crispy on the outside, and a fluffy interior with a good chew. The subtle saltiness of the cheese complemented the sweetness of the fruits and soy milk whip nicely. I usually don't like doughy textures or trendy flour-like pancakes, and I often get tired of the overly sweet cream taste in typical pancakes. However, the slightly savory cheese flavor in this batter was perfect for enjoying with fruits and soy milk whip.