Scribbler's Cafe

The coolest resaurant EVER!

This is from almost a month ago, but since it’s been so long since I’ve posted, it doesn’t matter much.

One of my best friends in Japan took me to the possibly the coolest restaurant I have ever been to. It was located deep in Umeda’s entertainment district. I would have clicked right past it, if he hadn’t stopped me and gestured towards a low opening around the alley side of a tall building. I had to bend to enter and found myself in a narrow hall that ended in a door I could not open.

“Wait,” he said, and then pushed aside a panel of wood to reveal a number pad. He typed in a code and the door slid open to reveal a downward spiraling stone staircase lit with warm light.

My eyes circled round as the moon. I stepped aside and let him lead. We descended down down down to a tiny room occupied by a podium and a man with a pen. He exchanged greetings with my friend and bowed low to me. Then left wall slid open without warning and a beautiful girl in a traditional kimono motioned for us to follow her into a maze of narrow hallways.

We were shown to a small private room. We slipped of shoes and sat at the recessed table. Our table was pressed up against a glass window on the other side of which a landscaped, forest style waterfall drip dripped, splattering occasional drops on the pane. There is only one thing on the menu, a set of amazing courses. I would hear a knock and a low “Sumimasen”, the door would slide open and either a kimono clad maiden or an ancient chief would come into our room on knees and place a dish before each of us. There was a small grill set into our table over which we would grill the meats and vegetables. We had filets arranged on evergreen sprigs, stewed vegetables we roasted wrapped in broad leaves. Dainty salads and soups in cups with tiny ceramic lids. Cold noodles with a set of spices to choose from. Mochi ice cream decorated in gold leaf and mint clips. So delicious.

When we finished eating, all of the kitchen staff and waitresses lined up in the hall and bowed to us. A woman led us up a different staircase and to a wooden door half the size of the first that we both had to bend completely in half to exit. When we stepped outside into the busy alley, the door closed behind us, invisible in graffiti and paper flyers.

It was an incredible experience. I want to go again, but I don’t know the code. I will have to wait for my friend to escort me.

posted by Scribbler @ Wednesday, February 08, 2006