Hyperlocal Tokyo

The drink service was incredibly fast, it was shocking! It felt like the speed of a beef bowl chain's service, even though the menu said it would take some time. On the other hand, the drinks that weren't listed on the menu were served at the speed of regular cold water. I ordered the half-and-half chiffon cake with a drink set. The strawberry and caramel nut cake paired so well with the original blend coffee, I was surprised. Before I knew it, both the plate and the cup were empty. The menu's design is a bit like a class roster, but the inside is more like a picture book, very cute. The store is overflowing with books from various genres, I was so excited. There are books lined up right in front of you at the central table and the counter on the left, so you can pick them up and enjoy your coffee... maybe? The tables have a few books with a specific theme. The staff were very refreshing and the atmosphere was great, I'll definitely come back again.

I visited this place because it was buzzing around the neighborhood. I ordered a galette and a drink set with a Wiener iced coffee. There were many drink options to choose from, which made it feel like a good deal. The galette was chewy and delicious, and it was a generous size, so I was full. The seating in the restaurant is independent, so you don't feel rushed, and you can immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere. The prices are a bit on the higher side, but I was satisfied with the special experience.

A haven for book lovers, this cafe offers a tranquil atmosphere where you can enjoy delicious tea surrounded by books. The service provided by the gentleman in a traditional Japanese tunic is impeccable and discreet. It's far more relaxing than the service you might find at a maid cafe. There are also hidden menu items and playful surprises to discover. Hint: Come early in the morning.

【♪I'll be waiting for you〜♪】 We visited "Cafe Kurozawa Bunko" on the 4th floor of the Shin-kan (new building) of Takashimaya, a department store, for lunch. The cafe is tucked away on the 4th floor, which is mainly a shopping area. Although only about 30% of the tables were occupied, we were told to wait outside and put our names on the waiting list. What's going on...? After waiting for 5 minutes, we were called in. We ordered the "Complete Set" with a galette for the lunch set, which costs ¥1,880 (including tax, ¥2,068). This menu is available every day, including weekends. However, there is only one griddle for baking the galette, and it takes 12 minutes to bake one. We would have to wait 24 minutes for two. We were asked if that was okay, and we simply said "yes" and waited. ... The first galette was indeed delivered in almost 12 minutes. It was quite large, with a decent amount of dough. The ingredients inside were salad, ham, mixed cheese, and egg. Looking at it, I saw that black pepper was sprinkled on top, but it wasn't very spicy. The taste was rather light. I think it would have been better if the cheese and other flavors were a bit stronger. Because it was a large size, I started to get tired of the taste halfway through, so it would have been better to have the drinks ready from the start. We made the mistake of ordering them after the meal. The lemon water was rather bland. The drinks were part of the lunch set, and you could choose any non-alcoholic drink except for the frappe cappuccino. I chose "iced tea" for my drink. You could choose from three types of tea: ① Darjeeling, ② Assam, and ③ Earl Grey. I chose Darjeeling. You could also choose between lemon, milk, or straight. I chose straight. It's good because it's part of the set, but if you order it separately, it costs ¥1,650 (including tax). However, this iced tea comes with ice and tea, and it's made by dissolving hot tea in ice. So, it's designed to prevent the tea from becoming diluted. I've seen this with coffee, but it's the first time I've seen it with tea. It doesn't get diluted, and it's a delicious, non-cloying taste, which is a relief. And then there's another dish. You can add the dessert of the day for an extra ¥330, but I really wanted to try the "Echiré Butter Plain Crepe" (¥880 including tax), so I ordered that as an extra. ...The crepe dough is a moist type with Echiré butter on top. Mmm, the fermented butter flavor is so luxurious and irresistible. The crunchy texture of the sugar in the dough enhances the deliciousness. If you have room in your stomach, definitely try it. It took quite a while for my partner's post-meal coffee to come out, so I wondered if they had forgotten about it. I don't know why, but it's best to come to this restaurant when you have plenty of time. If you come here with the mindset of waiting a while and taking your time, you can enjoy a relaxing time.

The atmosphere was really nice. On the day I went, there were several staff members who were absent due to illness, and they apologized that service would be slow. However, the wait wasn't too boring. The food was also satisfying. My friend ordered the stew bread, which looked very hearty and delicious.