UPDATE: Curry Shop Sakura カレーショップ桜蔵 022-307-6320

Website:  http://www.warashibesha.com/index.html

If you haven't read about Curry Shop Sakura before, please read my previous post:  Curry Shop Sakura.

Another first-rate chicken curry lunch!  Tasted just as great (and spicy) as the last time.  But last time I forgot to mention that the chicken is a chicken leg, bone included.  But the meat is so soft that it easily slips off the bone.  Again, I went with the regular-sized spicy curry (600円); not so spicy that it's uncomfortable to eat, but enough to cause sweat beads to start appearing on your head.

My wife went with the regular-sized sweet flavor vegetable curry (500円).  I tasted it and, though very tasty in its own right, is quite different from the spicy flavor.

やさいカレー

We ordered two sets of the cake/drink set (500円/each), one with banana pound cake and the other with spicy chiffon cake and decided to split the cakes so that we could try both of them equally.  The banana pound cake arrived first and the serving size was quite generous!  To be honest, we should have just ordered this and split it.  And like before, it was scrumptious!

Then came the even bigger piece of spicy chiffon cake.  Between the two cakes, I couldn't finish my portion (much to the delight of my wife who obliged).  I couldn't identify the actual spice in the chiffon cake but I think it was either ginger or nutmeg, or perhaps a combination of the two.  It tasted okay, but it wasn't in the same league as the banana pound cake.

スパイシーシフォンケーキ

When paying, I used a 500 円 coupon that I had received on my last visit for filling up my stamp card.  And because it's the New Year season they had a special drawing.  We walked away with a bag of cleanser (which they make) and two decorative coasters, which were made from recycled milk cartons.

Again, I'd like to remind you that this a very special restaurant in that it employs mentally challenged individuals and allows them to support themselves and achieve a sense of self-worth and accomplishment.  

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Update: Saint Marc Bakery / Restaurant サンマルク 022-307-4309

Website:  http://www.saint-marc-hd.com/saintmarc

Also look at the following website for coupons/map/info: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/t247400/

If you haven't read about Saint Marc's before, please read my previous post at: Saint Marc.

My wife and I revisited Saint Marc's yet again for another appetizing outing.  "Yet again" because, in all honesty, this was the second time this week that we've eaten there.  It's that good!

Today we used the ランチの女王 with パスタ campaign postcard that we received from St. Marc's because we are on their mailing list (this same campaign meal can be found at the above "gnavi" coupon website!). 

This bargain 1290 円 meal included a green salad (consisting mainly of mizuna), a small bowl of pasta (meat sauce or duck with tomato sauce), a main entrée, rice or bread, drink, and dessert.

Green (mizuna) Salad

Here are the choices available for the entrée:  

grilled chicken with honey mustard sauce (what I ordered), minced katsu, chicken katsu, hamburger steak, white fish w/eggplant, white fish w/vegetables, beef stroganoff, beef stew, or scallop & salmon combo.

Grilled Chicken with Honey Mustard Sauce

The meat sauce pasta that I ate was good but not extraordinary, while the honey mustard chicken (with potatoes, string beans, and red bell pepper) was quite flavorful! 

Meat Sauce Pasta

Today, my wife ordered the white fish with vegetables and was quite satisfied with it, but she did say that she preferred the white fish with spinach that she had ordered just six days before.

White Fish with Vegetables

The bread rolls I devoured today were the following:

yomogi, sesame seed croissant, hotel pan (a regular dinner roll), garlic roll, spicy pepper stick (very good!), walnut roll, sesame seed roll, chocolate, chocolate croissant.

I passed on the following offerings:

milk roll, cheese croissant, cheese roll, and onion roll.

ゴマ Roll, Chocolate Roll, and Chocolate Croissant

For dessert, I opted for the mouthwatering chocolate mousse (which was 100 円 extra).  Once more, the coffee was grand and added a great finishing touch to tantalizing meal!

Chocolate Mousse

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UPDATE: Miyakoshiya Coffee 宮越屋珈琲 022-225-7111

UPDATE, OCT. 13, 2013:  UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CAFE IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS AS A CAFE.  I VISITED MITSUKOSHI DEPARTMENT STORE YESTERDAY AND I FOUND THAT IT NOW ONLY SELLS COFFEE BEANS.

I WAS SORRY TO SEE THIS PLACE GO.

OH, WELL.

If you'd like, continue to read the post to see what you missed out on.

Website: http://r.tabelog.com/miyagi/A0401/A040101/4008025/dtlphotolst/

If you haven't read about Miyakoshiya before, please click my first Miyakoshiya post.

This past weekend I returned to Miyakoshiya for the Honey-Chocolate Pound Cake that I saw on the menu last time.  I imagined this to be a big hunk of chocolate pound cake with a taste of honey.  But, to my disappointment, this is what it turned out to be ...

hmmmf.

Two small, thin slices of slightly honey-flavored pound cake with chocolate chips.  The fresh whipped cream did add a nice flavor to it but it was not what I was hoping for.  It didn't taste bad, and most people would probably enjoy this.  And for only 263 円, it's not a bad deal.  It just didn't live up to my expectations.   

The saving grace was the French Blend Coffee and, again, it was strong and flavorful.    There was a posting for a brownie so perhaps I'll try that next time.

UPDATE #2: Billy's Sandwich

UPDATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015.

IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THAT BILLY'S IS NO LONGER.

I DROVE HERE LAST FRIDAY TO DINE ON YET ANOTHER FILLING AND FLAVORFUL SANDWICH ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE BUILDING WAS BEING DEMOLISHED.

I WISH THE OWNER, IIBUCHI-SAN, THE BEST, AND AM GRATEFUL FOR THE WONDERFUL LUNCHES SHE PROVIDED OVER HER FIFTEEN YEAR RUN.

Website:  http://www.billys.jp/


If you haven't read about Billy's before, please click my Billy's and Billy's Update posts.


A short update on Billy's.  Just got back from another delicious lunch at Billy's.  I went with my usual (Clubhouse w/avocado) and my wife with her usual (BLT half sandwich set).  But today's set came with 特製ポタージュスープ.

BLT Half Sandwich Set with 特製ポタージュ and Banana Mousse

This "Tokusei Pottage Soup" was a creamy mixture of vegetables including cauliflower, cabbage, celery, and others.  In my opinion, it didn't look so hot, but I tried a wee bit and it was DELICIOUS!


Today's set dessert was a choice between chocolate cake or banana mousse.  My wife chose the banana mousse and, unfortunately, ate it all before I could sneak a taste.  But she said it was yummy!


After coming to Billy's for many years, this was the first time we saw either of these items on the menu.  Perhaps Iibuchi-san (the owner) is trying out some new side items for the menu.  So far, it's working out good!


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UPDATE: Chao Vietnamese Restaurant チャオ 022-211-8055

**Please check my previous post on Chao HERE for more information.

Website:  http://tabelog.com/miyagi/A0401/A040101/4010922/

Address:  仙台市青葉区一番町4-2-12.   Located on Ichibancho between Hirose-dori and Jozen-ji dori about 50 meters from the Disney Store.

Map:  Scroll down to the bottom.

Open:  Lunch: 11:30 am to 3 pm.   Dinner:  6 pm to 10:30 pm.   Closed Mondays.

I revisited Chao on a recent cold winter day for lunch.  My wife and I walked into an empty restaurant and I was a bit concerned that business was not booming.

Spring Roll

I ordered the same thing I had the last time (chicken pho set with spring rolls), but because it was lunch time the price was a bit cheaper, only 980 円.  My wife ordered the same as I, quite frankly, because there wasn’t a lot of options available.

Chicken Pho with the fixins

I don’t know what it was about today’s visit that made it seem better than before, but that’s what it seemed like.  The harumaki really tasted great, and the flavorful pho warmed the cockles of my heart on this chilly day! 

Not only were my spirits lifted by the savory soup, but while eating, the restaurant slowly starting filling up with other shivering, starving citizens of Sendai.

The lunch set came with jasmine tea or coffee.  Again, I asked if they had Vietnamese coffee and sadly the answer was again “No.”  Spirits slightly squashed.

This winter if you’re cockles are freezing, step on in to Chao’s for some appetizing cockle-warming!

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UPDATE: Happy Happy Melon Pan Truck

Website:  http://happy-happy.jp/about/index.html

Location:  In front of Daiei on Chuo-dori.

Open:  Tomorrow, Sunday,  December 11^th.  Hours are 10:30 am till about 7ish.  


Please read my earlier post for more info at:  

http://pickyinsendai.blogspot.com/2011/12/happy-happy-melon-pan-truck.html

Butter Melon Pan

Today I (almost) got my fill of the melt-in-your-mouth Happy Happy melon pan!  I went twice.  First, just to get a melon pan to tide me over till lunch time.  Then I went back later in the day for another half dozen to enjoy at home.

Each time I had to wait in line behind eight or so people.  Today they were offering two types of pan.  They had the traditional なつかしのバターメロンパン,which I love, and also a melon pan with black sesame seeds on it.  I didn’t want to try it (I’m picky that way), but if you give that one a try please let me know how it is.  Tomorrow, instead of the sesame seed version, they’ll be offering a cocoa melon pan.

黒ゴマメロンパン

Their sign stated that they won’t be back until March of next year so get’em while they’re hot!

Happy Happy Melon Pan Truck

Website:  http://happy-happy.jp/about/index.html

Location:  In front of Daiei Department Store on Chuo-dori.

Map:  Click on the "Location" link at the bottom.

Open:  This Friday thru Sunday,  December 9^th thru the 11^th!

(For a more recent post, please click HERE.)

Straight out-of-the-oven melon pan!!! Orgasmic!  Well, pretty close.  I have a certain 懐かしい feeling towards melon pan, as it is almost exactly the same as pan de huevo, a type of Mexican sweet bread that I grew up. 

Unfortunately, the Happy Happy Melon Pan Truck only comes once every two or three months.  I check the Happy-Happy website quite often and when I see that they’ll be in town, I’ll make excuses for having to go downtown just so that I can swing by and pickup a few hot melon pans.   However, they tend to lose a bit of scrumptiousness once you get them home.  Re-heating them in a microwave yields terrible results.   But I found that three minutes in a toaster oven usually does the trick.  Just be careful as any longer may burn the top part of the bread.

I’ve posted a picture of pan de huevo from a Mexican panderia in Southern California, because I don’t have any photos from Happy Happy.  I won’t be able to make it downtown until Saturday, but I’ll post a photo of the real melon pan afterwards.  If there’s any pan left.

The Mexican Melon Pan:  Pan de Huevo

Brunenheim German Restaurant ブルネンハイム 022-223-6776

チキンのワイン煮込み

UPDATE: OCTOBER 3, 2015
IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART TO ANNOUNCE THAT BRUNENHEIM IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED.

Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/t032100/

              http://r.gnavi.co.jp/t032100/lang/en/ in English!

Address:  宮城県仙台市青葉区国分町3-1-1 第一生命黒ビルB1.   Located on Jozen-ji Dori across from the new Sukiya gyudon restaurant.  Follow Ichibancho towards Jozen-ji Dori.  Cross the street going towards City Hall.  Look for a staircase that leads down to a basement, on the same side as the Kotodai-koen subway station entrance.  It’s right next to some housing company (Sekusi House or Daiwa House, I forgot).

Map:  Scroll down to the bottom.

Open USUALLY from 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm everyday, but since the owner is also the chef, sometimes the place is closed for no apparent reason.

Cover charge:   600 円/person.

Like I’ve mentioned before, it’s difficult to find authentic ethnic food in Japan.  Brunenheim’s dishes definitely slant towards the German palate, but I never ate food like this when I lived in West Berlin.  That being said, this food tastes GREAT!!! 

A shot of apple wine and a small appetizer of shrimp and tomato in a tasty dressing are brought to your table immediately upon being seated. 

Because I’m a picky eater I usually order the same side dishes every time I dine here.  I start off with the Brunenheim salad (ブルネン風サラダ ) which is a green salad with slices of red and yellow bell peppers sprinkled with a tangy Chinese salad dressing.

Brunenheim Salad

Next is the always-pleasing garlic toast with caraway seeds!  But my favorite are the German potatoes ( ジャーマンポテト ) which are baked and lined with bacon bits.  These are so sensational that I’ll sometimes order a second helping!

For the main course I’ve tried a few of the different chicken dishes, like the chicken with mustard sauce (チキングリルのマスタードソース).  But for some reason they put mayonnaise on it, which I really didn’t care for (because I’m a picky eater).    Recently I went with the chicken in wine sauce (チキンのワイン煮込み) and was very pleased with this selection.  The wine sauce had a tartness to it that I quite enjoyed, plus the portions were rather sizable.

Years ago, they did serve a delicious wienerschnitzel.  But since the limitations on imports of American beef were imposed, this dish is no longer available.  I’m hoping that with the current troubles concerning the safety of Japan’s domestic beef that veal will once again be allowed to be imported.

Also, they serve glüwein: hot spiced red wine.   This is just like West Berlin and my wife loves it!  I highly recommend it.

This restaurant is just a little pricier than others on this list.  A typical dinner for two is roughly 6000 円,and that’s not a course meal.   But I definitely think you’ll enjoy this restaurant!  Auf wiedersehen!

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Cappriciosa カプリチョーザ 022-304-2601

Website:  http://www.capricciosa.com/index.html

Margherita (their spelling) Pizza

Address:  Located on the 3^rd floor of The Mall Part 2 in Nagamachi-minami.  You can take the subway to the Nagamachi-minami Station which is under The Mall.

Map:  Click “Location” link below.

Cappriciosa has always been a good, safe bet.  Is it the best Italian food that I’ve had?  No, not by a long shot.  But it’s good enough.  Sometimes it’s really, really good, but even on their off nights it’s not that bad.

Caesar Salad

We like the ペアセット for 3324 円.  As the name suggests this is for two people to share, and for this price you get your choice of salad, pizza, spaghetti, beverage (which includes alcohol), and coffee or tea.  The servings are neither overly generous nor skimpy, but just enough to stuff your bellies.  There is also a ファミリーセット for 5124円 which states that it can feed three to four people.

Meat Sauce Spaghetti

Like many restaurants in The Mall, Cappriciosa offers something for free if you show them a MOVIX ticket stub from that day.  I think it's a free drink, but I'm not sure.  They also have a stamp card, but it seems to take a while to receive a reward.  That being said, on our last visit we received a free gelato as a loyalty present.  Since I’m picky I asked what kind of gelato would be served.  They said the night’s special was orange sherbet, which I’m not crazy about.  The waitress, seeing my look of dissatisfaction, surprised me by asking if there was another flavor I’d prefer.  I said I was fond of chocolate, and voila, that’s what I got!  That’s good customer service!

There’s also a Cappriciosa on Chuo-dori that’s just as good.  If you happen to give either location a try, let me know if they are still playing Spanish music (I guess they can't tell the difference between Italian and Spanish).

UPDATE: Billy's Sandwich

UPDATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015.

IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THAT BILLY'S IS NO LONGER.

I DROVE HERE LAST FRIDAY TO DINE ON YET ANOTHER FILLING AND FLAVORFUL SANDWICH ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE BUILDING WAS BEING DEMOLISHED.

I WISH THE OWNER, IIBUCHI-SAN, THE BEST, AND AM GRATEFUL FOR THE WONDERFUL LUNCHES SHE PROVIDED OVER HER FIFTEEN YEAR RUN.

Website:  http://www.billys.jp/

Clubhouse Sandwich with Avocado Topping

Address: 仙台市青葉区上杉1-7-23.  Near Kita-Yobancho Subway Station.  Across from Grand Central Sports Gym.

Map:  Scroll down to the bottom.

Hours:  11:00 – 5:00 everyday.  But … you should call to check.  Sometimes they are not open.

UPDATED: November 5, 2011

Carrot Soup

Went to Billy’s for another delicious lunch today and again Iibuchi-san’s creations didn’t fail to please.  I, of course, went with my standard clubhouse sandwich with avocado topping.  I don’t know why but today’s sandwich seemed a bit more filling than usual, which I had no objection to.  My wife ordered the half sandwich set and chose the BLT.  The soup of the day was carrot soup and my wife just raved about it!

Here’s a current list of the sandwiches they offer which run from 480 円 to 525円:

BLT

Club House

Spanish Omelet

Cole Slaw

Meatloaf

Potato Salad

Tuna & Anchovy

Tuna & Egg

Avocado Dip

Pork Katsu

Shrimp & Avocado

Smoked Salmon

Original post here: Billy's

Half BLT Set

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Namaskar ナマスカ 022-222-7701

Website:  http://r.tabelog.com/miyagi/A0401/A040101/4000025/

Address:   宮城県仙台市青葉区一番町2-2-11 ＴＫビル　Ｂ１Ｆ.

There are actually two locations.  The other one is on the 4^th floor of the BIVI Building behind Sendai Station.  This review is for the Minami-machi dori location.

Map:  Scroll down to the bottom.

Lunch: 11:30 – 2:30 Dinner: 5:30 – 9:30

I feel real bad about this one because I have fond memories of good food and good times with good friends here, and the staff has always (and still remains) nothing short of welcoming.  But I have to admit that I was greatly disappointed on my last visit to Namaskar, which only confirmed my feelings from the last couple of times I’ve visited within the last year or two.

Let me start out with the good:  Saturday lunch tabehoudai for 1500円!  For that price, you really can’t go wrong.  This includes your choice of the following:

green salad (lots of the cheap iceberg lettuce, dressing is good),

kelp salad (I don’t eat seafood),

vegetable pakoda (kind of bland),

saffron rice (bland),

choice of curries:  chicken (tasty but definitely not spicy), vegetable (pretty good, except for the beans), mutton (don’t know), and seafood (again, I don’t eat seafood),

tandoori chicken (dry, tasted more like spiced chicken rather than spicy chicken),

naan (big sized but nothing special),

choice of beverages: orange juice (good!), oolong tea, jasmine tea, coffee (good!), and chai.

dessert was banana palwat (kind of like a thick banana gelatin with a hint of cinnamon that was tasty.

So let me reiterate that for the price there is plenty to choose from so I think this is a positive.

However, I’m comparing the Namaskar of now to the Namaskar of old.  Way back when in the olden days (about three or four years ago) Namaskar had spectacular Indian food!  I’m no connoisseur of Indian delicacies but I know what I like, and at that time I loved Namaskar.  

I remember in the olden days the chicken curry and tandoori chicken being so spicy that I’d be sweating up a storm after only a few minutes of savoring these succulent spices.  The naan was so flavorful that its flavors rested on its own laurels and didn’t need dipping into a curry to be enjoyed. 

But the restaurant was sold to new owners some time ago and things have changed.  After eating the tandoori chicken or curries my body temperature didn’t change at all.  The naan wasn’t bad but could no longer stand on its own.

Since the restaurant was crowded with seemingly satisfied customers, it could just be me and my pickiness that are wrong in these evaluations, but for my own taste I stand by them.  If you are in the mood for something different I do suggest you try this restaurant and I truly hope you enjoy your meal here.  Like I said, I do like this place, I’m just disappointed in their food.

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Ichigo no Ki Patisserie 苺の樹 022-244-4740

Website:  http://www.sendaishi-town.com/mypage/sd055280/

Address:  宮城県仙台市太白区富沢3-3-52.  Across the street from Tomizawa Jr. High School.

Map:  Scroll down to the bottom.

Open:  8:30 am – 8:00 pm.

This bakery makes the best apple pie I’ve had in Sendai.  They call it アルメットアップルパイ and it’s magnificent!  The crust is delicious and flaky and the apples sweet!  They also sell whole apple pies with the smaller version going for around 1200円, and the larger one for 1600 円.  Actually, I may be way off on the prices of the whole pies because I've only bought them once or twice, but keep in mind that these are Japanese-sized pies and not from Costco.  

The packaged brownies with walnuts are also very good, while my wife loves all of their desserts.    

This store will sometimes set up a stall inside Sendai Station when there is some type of desserts fair, so be on the look out for them.

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