Sunday, February 17, 2008

Restaurants - Cafe Azzuro




Location: Hamby street, just south of the canal at the top end of Araha Beach park, parking available
Hours: 1130-2200, closed Thursday
http://cafe07.ti-da.net/e1591335.html
A hip little cafe with stylish but uncomfortable chairs, jazz music, photography on the walls, and Illy coffee. The coffee is the real thing, smooth and delicious, and reasonably priced (290Y espresso, 390Y cappuchino, free with a lunch set). The lunch sets involve choice of several different panini sandwiches with salad, fries, and choice of beverage (88oY) or choice of a rice dish like locomoko or spicy chicken on rice (around 800Y) with choice of beverage. If you want beer with lunch, it's just 100Y extra. One can also get a bread-salad dish or pasta of the day. The meals are smallish but fresh and well prepared. Dessert does not come with the set, but the cafe boasts several different flavours of cheesecake (420-440Y) served with fresh whipped cream and chocolate drizzle - maple/walnut, rum/chocolate/banana (yummy), mixed fruit/white chocolate, green tea/adzuki bean/benino, etc.
The dinner menu offers a couple of tasty and unique-looking warm sanwiches. Wine (600Y/glass) and cocktails (500Y each) are not too expensive. There are four seats at the bar outside, and you are a block away from Araha beach for a moonlight stroll....very cozy.