特別な日に相応しい時間を過ごせます : Cave Kakureya Yokohama Nishiguchi Tsuruyamachi Ten

Located about a 7-minute walk from Yokohama Station's west exit, just past Yodobashi Camera, it can be a bit tricky to find if it's your first visit.

I had made a reservation, but despite arriving right on time, I had to wait for about 15 minutes because the previous customers hadn’t finished yet. It made me wonder why I bothered making a reservation. However, the staff was genuinely apologetic and provided courteous service.

I had reserved the Anniversary Course, which includes 7 dishes along with all-you-can-drink for JPY 3,800 with a coupon.

Here are the menu items and my impressions:

【Goi Cuon】
These fresh spring rolls were incredibly delicious. Large prawns are wrapped in thin rice paper, and you can enjoy them with either salsa or sesame sauce. I highly recommend them as an a la carte option.

【Salmon Caesar Salad】
While it didn’t have any particularly striking features, I found it odd that the cherry tomatoes still had their stems attached. Is this standard for them?

【Beef Crostini】
There seems to have been a mix-up from the staff, as this was served before the Caesar salad. The bread was quite thick and a bit difficult to eat, but the combination of tomato and beef had a fresh taste.

【Pizza Margherita】
Featuring a thin crust and lots of cheese, it’s said to be made by a former Italian chef, making it quite authentic. It's impressive to have such quality dish included in a course.

【Pasta (Cream Sauce with Mushrooms and Smoked Chicken)】
This was one of the options from the menu. I chose it because it was recommended, but the seasoning was quite strong. As the course progressed and I started to feel full, this heavy seasoning was rather challenging.

【Roasted Local Chicken with Two Sauces】
Similar to the pasta, this dish also had a strong seasoning. I was already determined to finish it, so I don't remember the taste very well.

【Dolce Platter with Anniversary Message】
This was the dessert to finish off the course. The sponge of the roll cake was incredibly soft and melted in your mouth. The parfait was also quite voluminous, and I think it's a fitting finale for the course.

It seemed like there were fewer staff that day, which caused delays. Even though I had made a reservation, I had to wait, and the dishes took time to arrive (the drinks came quickly). Other customers also seemed to be neglected. By the time all the course dishes were served, over two hours had passed since we sat down, yet the staff didn’t mention anything. I felt bad and quickly finished my meal to settle the bill. The staff continued to maintain polite service without addressing the timing.

Overall, while there were some inconsistencies in the dishes, I felt the quality was high.

However, there were a few areas of dissatisfaction:
- The private room was very small and separated by a curtain instead of a door, making me question its classification as private.
- There were many steps and uneven surfaces in the restaurant, which could be dangerous and a bit confusing to navigate.
- For some reason, the restroom was unisex. I had to wait awkwardly for it to be available.

In conclusion, despite the busy atmosphere, the staff remained courteous without showing any signs of stress, which left a good impression.

The food was delicious, so I would like to visit again on another occasion.