over garden (Eclectic)

4-36 Yokai-cho, Nishinomiya/0798-32-2567/11:30-14:00,14:00-16:00 (teatime)17:30-22:00(L.O21:00)
/¥4000-6000/6 pickles/

"o(umlat)ver garden" (pronounced "woo ba rey gor den" ) offers healthy natural cuisine in a breezy modern Scandinavian setting.

It's difficult to find "över gården" at first. It looks like a furniture showroom. Although situated along a typical street of Japanese houses, shops, and warehouses, the interior succeeds in conjuring the spare warmth of scandinavian design. You can see someone put their heart into this place. From a blond wood table, you see only the sleek open kitchen and, through large plate glass windows, a lovely garden in the back.

In keeping with the light touch of the decor, this restaurant offers natural and healthy food in an eclectic French/Italian style. They contract several farmers to get top quality vegetables and eggs. Although not all materials are organic, the approach is decidedly so. Like the room, the food is a not unpleasant surprise. Though not likely to be a smash hit, the restaraunt is deservedly a modest success.

Lunch starts from ¥1500 that comes with salad, pasta, home-made bread, dessert and coffee(or other drinks). On weekends they offer ¥1800 and 2500 yen lunch courses. Their dinner courses start from ¥2,500 (salad, main course (fish or meat), home-made bread and coffee (or other drinks). When we went, we very much enjoyed main courses consisting of "fish farci (foie gras and vegetable puree inside)" and "meat stew (with beef, pork and chicken)". They also have ¥3,800 and ¥5,000 courses as well as a la carte menu. Service is not bad, but not sophisticated or particularly attentive. Their wine selection is small but very reasonable. English is not spoken, and there is no English menu. This one is probably better for lunch - it is particularly nice on a sunny day. Clickhere for their homepage.

Food: 6.5 Service: 5.5 Ambience: 7 Total: 6 pickles

How to get there: It's on Sakagura-dori in Nishinomiya. From Kobe, take R43 and turn right at "Honmachi" crossing (R43/Futaba-suji). Turn left at the next big crossing (Futaba-suji st./Sakagura-dori st.). Pass two blocks and it's on your left. Parking available. (The landmark near this restaurant is a big red sign of Japanese sake brand written " 日本盛"(nihonsakari)).

Chiso Wabisuke (Soba)

10-19 Hagoromo-cho, Nishinomiya/0798-35-5539/11:30-14:30&17:30-23:00(22:00LO)/Closed on Wednesday/JPY1000-3500 lunch, 2500-5000 dinner/6 pickles

Sophisticated soba lunch.

Soba noodles, made from buckwheat, are a favorite Japanese lunch item. If you are willing to settle for ordinary soba, you can find soba restaurants just about everywhere in Japan. But truly delicious soba can be hard to find. What's the difference? The best soba is not starchy and is freshly made. Like pasta, it must not be mushy and should be slightly 'al dente'. The aroma of freshly ground grains lingers in the best soba and it should slip ever-so-smoothly down your throat when swallowed. But these are mere words. To really know great soba, take yourself to Chiso Wabisuke, the Shukugawa shop of Ashiya soba superstar, Dosanjin.

Chiso Wabisuke is not so easy to find - it resembles a Japanese house. Duck in a small entrance in a light moss-green wall and you are greeted by sophisticated jazz and a room with the appearance of a converted Japanese farm house. If soba isn't your idea of dinner, then try their 1500 yen lunch. It consists of soba (in either cold or hot soup), a couple of Japanese dishes, tempura and rice and is suprisingly filling. (FYI, to best appreciate the freshness of their noodles, try the cold soba). When you're finished, don't forget to use the hot water used to boil the noodles (soba-yu) that they provide to wash down the delicious soba dressing.

Food: 6 Service: 6 Ambience: 6 Total: 6 pickles

No English menu. The shop name reads 馳走侘助 in Japanese

How to get there: Turn right from the main gate of the Hankyu Shukugawa and take the narrow street that proceeds up the hill toward the Catholic church. The restaraunt is on the right side after walking about 80 m from the station, before you reach the small railroad overpass. It's next to the Chinese restaurant "L'avenir China".

Masaya (Yakitori)

3 locations in Nishinomiya, 2 each in Ashiya and Kobe (see link below for locations and opening hours) / Yen 3000 / no credit cards / 6 pickels / ¥

Extremely popular Yakitori chain in the Kobe area

Dining at Masaya is a noisy and entertaining affair. Once you enter the place, you feel like Scotti beamed you into rural Japan. Masaya has a rustic, but attractive and cozy ambience, with waiters shouting the orders to the cooks. But not so fast. Usually after entering, you have to go out once more to find your place in the queue outside. Because at least the 2 Ashiya restaurants are always packed. Fortunately we never had to wait for too long. And I would never wait if it wasn't worth it.

Having eaten in numerous Yakitori-yas, I can happily confirm that this is my favorite. Such places are rarely a fine dining affair, and Masaya isn't either. But everything we were served was hearty and tasty. And if you feel the taste still isn't strong enough, then your savior comes in form of their fabulous sauce, which is better avoided if you are afraid of bothering people with your smell the following day.

Ordering at Masaya is simple. On your table you will find a pen and some copies of the menu, on which you simply indicate how many orders of one dish you would like to have. This menu is also available in English. Once you push the call button, the waiter will arrive at lightning speed to collect your order.

So far we've only dined at the 2 Ashiya restaurants, but for those we can say that there is hardly any noticeable difference in any area. We are unaware if the same can be said for the other 5 places, hence comments are welcome.

Food: 6 Service: 6 Ambience: 6.5 Total: 6 pickles

Click for Masaya's homepage

One note of caution - the linked Website says credit cards are accepted, but we had painful first hand experience to the contrary...

Pre Catelan (French)

16-25 Hinoike-cho, Nishinomiya/0798-73-7336/11.30～23.30/Closed on Tue/10000-20000yen/7 pickles

A gourmet's parlor in Kurakuen.

Pre Catelan always tries hard, and usually succeeds. In part because on many nights you may find yourselves to be the only customers, and in part because of the quirky decor, one feels like a house guest when first seated in their small dining room. Any awkwardness of this sort is quickly forgiven as the delicious and well-timed courses emerge from the kitchen. The best dishes at Pre Catelan rival those of the better French restaurants in Kansai, and even the misses have a nobility about them. Wines and service are equal to the food. The fussy might quarrel with the price point, and it definitely is not cheap; but like kids drawn to the home of a quirky aunt, we secretely look forward to our next visit.

Food 7.5; Service 7.5; Ambience 6 Total 7 pickles

French/Japanese menu available

How to get there: If coming by car from Ashiya, take Iwazono tunnel. Turn left at the first big crossing after going through Iwazono tunnel. Pass the first traffic light and go 50 m. It's on your left (before a bridge over a small river).