☆My Imaginary Trip to Italy☆ part 1

On December 26^th 2014 my mother, my brother and I went to an Italian restaurant called “Dada” located in Fuji, Shizuoka. At first I was planning on going to a different restaurant, however I have changed my mind prior to my visit back home. “Dada” has been my all-time favorite Italian restaurant and been there for more than I could count. “Dada” is one of the famously known Italian restaurants in Shizuoka, especially in eastern part of the prefecture. I have evaluated my visit to Dada into four different criteria with 5 to 6 questions to each criteria. Each question is evaluated with a score out of five and which sums up with a total score of 100. (Evaluation is on another paper)

The physical appearance of the restaurant can be stated as very modern and casual. I personally thought it was bit unique in a way since it was round shaped. The entrance way that leads to the door is decorated with pots filled with colorful flowers. These flowers were designed by the local professional florist. There was two entrances to enter the parking lot of the restaurant. The one in front can be entered from a big road that is from across the restaurant. However this road gets crowded during the rush hours and also during lunch hours which may have an effect on the customers who wish to enter the restaurant during the lunch hours. The restaurant itself is located in very calm place and there are other restaurants located nearby. One of the difficulties that some customers may encounter is problem of transportation. Since Fuji is very small rural city only way to get to the restaurant is either by car or taxi. The nearest train stop is Yoshiwara station, however it will probably take more than an hour by walk. Therefore taking a taxi to get to the restaurant is highly recommended if you are not eligible to go there by car.

There was a sign at the door that had today’s pasta and entrée written on it. There were about 15 chairs on the doorway for the customers to wait when the seats are full. The doorway was decorated with artworks done by local artists. As same with the physical appearance, the restaurant was designed very casually and modern. Since it was only a day after Christmas, the inside of the restaurant was still decorated with Christmas decorations. There were two Christmas trees and with Christmas wreaths. As how I mentioned earlier, the building is circular shaped. The restaurant offered both smoking and smoke free seats. However the whole restaurant is smoke free during the dinner hours. If the customer wishes to smoke, there is a small room in the middle of the restaurant where the customer can smoke. It offered both sofa and chair seats, also there is a bar counter for customers who came by their selves. We were offered a table that had both sofa and chair seats that holds four people. The servant instantly brought us water and the menu as we were seated and she nicely described the today’s pasta and entrée. Only condiment that was at the table was salt shaker. My mother wondered why there were rice bits inside the salt shaker. Also there was enough silver ware and napkins for four people. It also had a paper and pen for customer who wish to write any recommendations or a message to the restaurant. Almost all of the servants were female and they look all young. They were all nicely uniformed however I thought they looked bit unfriendly due to lack of smiling.

The restaurant offered three different types of lunch menu which are only served on the weekdays. There was also a normal menu that is mainly for lunch on weekends and during the dinner hours however it could be ordered on the days where the lunch menus are served as well. All three of us chose a set much called “dada lunch set” which comes with a choice of either salad or soup; choice of either pasta, pizza, main dish, rice dish or pizza; 1 drink and a lunch size dessert. There was total of 64 pastas, 10 main dishes, 8 rice dishes, and 6 pizzas to choose from. The cost varies between the choice of an entrée ranging from ¥1,100 to ¥2,980. I ordered Carbonara with Seasoned cod roe/ Mentaiko and hot tea, my mom ordered Leek with Seasoned cod roe/ Mentaiko and ice milk tea and my brother ordered Potato and Bacon topped with cheese and ice oolong tea. The restaurant offered a large size pasta with addition of 200 yen and the size of the desert can be changed to a bigger size with an addition of 150 yen. My mother and I ordered a regular size pasta but my brother ordered a larger size. We were asked whether we wanted our drinks instantly or with the dessert. My brother asked to bring his drink instantly while my mother and I asked to bring it with the dessert. The order was taken at 11:07. Salad and my brother’s oolong tea were served at 11:10. I noticed that servant was frequently looking at our table to see whether we were finished eating our salad. The servant noticed that we were done with our salad and came to our table to take away the salad bowl. My brother’s pasta was served at 11:18 when other two pasta were served at 11:20. Therefore all of the pasta were served within 15 minutes. I was bit disappointed with the fact that the servants did not noticed that I was out of water and I had to ask for another cup of water. I think it is important for the servants to notice what the customer wants before they ask. My mom and my brother finished eating their meal at 11:35 and the servant came to our table around 11:37 to clear the dishes. I finished eating my meal at 11:41 and the servant came instantly to clear the dishes and informing us that she will bring the drinks and desert. The drinks were brought at 11:43 and the dessert was brought at 11:46. The desert came on a plate with three different types of deserts. The servant nicely informed us what each desert was. The hot tea came on a tea pot
with a warm tea cup and 2 sticks of sugar.

Salad

(Red cabbage, radish, potherb mustard/みずな, sprout, turnip seasoned with homemade tomato vinegar dressing and topped with fried bacon) I thought there was bit too much dressing.

Potato and Bacon topped with cheese (Large size)

Cream sauce with corn, deep fried potato and bacon seasoned with parsley and cheese. 

¥1,430+200

Carbonara with Seasoned cod roe/ Mentaiko

Carbonara based pasta with bacon and mentaiko seasoned with green onions. I thought it could be better if they added more mentaiko because it was not spicy at all. 

¥1,750

Leek with Seasoned cod roe/ Mentaiko

Oil based pepperoncino with leek, mentaiko. It was topped with fried garlic

¥1600

Dessert:

(From left to right)

Santa Clause candy, white chocolate cheese cake topped with whipped cream, green apple jello with kiwi fruit and cookie espresso ice cream.

As a perspective of non-coffee drinker, I thought the espresso was too thick. 

               The regular menu offers dishes from wide range of varieties and it also offers seasonal menus. 15 salad/appetizers, 7 rice dishes, 68 pasta, 7 pizzas (small or regular size), 9 main dishes, 5 kids menu, 10 deserts, 3 courses, 42 non-alcohol drinks, 25 alcohol drinks and 20 wines. Most of the meat that they use for the main dishes are the local meat brands. The restaurant also offers seasonal menus, which are 1 main dish, 1 pasta and 8 deserts.

              The restroom was divided into men and women. In case of women there were three stools (2 Western style and 1 Japanese style). The restroom was very clean and there was enough toilet paper in each stools. At the cashier, they were selling their homemade pasta and homemade flower arrangements. 

I been to Dada more than I could count and I always go there when I take a trip back to Shizuoka. Their fascinating delicious amazing foods makes me fulfilled with happiness and joy every time. It also makes me fulfilled with a sacrifice that I ate too much. I highly recommend all of the Italian food lovers to take a trip to Shizuoka and have an Italian meal as one of your memories in your trip to Shizuoka. If you are planning on going there for lunch, I highly recommend to go to the restaurant at 11 when it opens. That is because it gets pretty crowded as it gets close to 12 and you might have to wait to be seated. As for meal, I highly recommend Potato bacon pasta and ice milk tea that is because this restaurant is known for these two. I hope you will have a chance to visit dada and have a fabulous time there :D

Restaurant Information:

静岡県富士市高嶺町 11-6

Tel: 0545-57-2275

11:00-24:00 (L.O 23:00)

http://www.1cho-me.jp/page_html/dada/