I visited Sitsuki for the first time in my work. Sitsuki Station is the hometown of the author of the manga "Captain Tsubaki", so the station is filled with elements related to "Captain Tsubaki". It feels like it's located in a down-to-earth neighborhood. After finishing my business, I had a late meal. There's a restaurant called "Tsubaki-ya", which seems to have been in operation since the Meiji era, and that's how the place got its name. As a single restaurant, it's quite large, with a building of its own. Perhaps the person in charge of managing it lives upstairs, or maybe it serves as a banquet hall.
It was already around 3 o’clock, so there was only one customer at the restaurant. Perhaps due to its history, the atmosphere was very quiet and secluded. When I entered, I couldn’t see any staff members. So I said, “Please excuse me,” and spoke to a woman who seemed to be of advanced age but had a pleasant personality. I ordered Katsushige (1,250 yen).
It seems that the restaurant operates both during the day and at night. However, there were probably times when there was only one person serving customers. Perhaps the lights were already turned off. It took some time before the food was served. I patiently waited, reading a book while waiting.
かつ重は、その名の通り丼ではなく、重箱に入って提供される。「重箱の端の方は食べにくいでしょうから、蓮華をお使い下さい」と言われて気づいたが、添えられているのは幅が細いものだった。お盆と同じ漆の色なので、最初は気づきませんでした。ちょっとした配慮だと思います。
The seasoning of the katsum is neither too sweet nor too spicy; it has a gentle flavor. There is green tea leaves placed on top of the katsum. It was my first time tasting katsum, but the aroma is pleasant. It was an unexpected combination, but not bad at all. The side dishes include small bowls of hizuki. Additionally, there is miso soup and other seasonings. I really don’t like dishes that lack moisture, but this restaurant’s version was well-balanced.
Mhm, the atmosphere was calm and conducive to relaxation. If I weren’t at work, I would have wanted two cups of sake…
