Dono (ドーノ) - Kansai Restaurant Review

The spicy sausage pizza at Dono

A pizza, the right size, the right toppings, an excellent crust, reasonable price... in the middle of nowhere.

I have no clue how my sister-in-law found this place. I don't know how anyone finds this place for that matter. Up in the hills way past the last reaches of Kobe's immense Kita ward in the Konda area of Sasayama hides this little pizza restaurant. No public transportation to this one. You need a car. If you can get out here you'll also need a reservation--it's that good. Oh! and it's only open for lunch on the weekdays. Weekends they do dinner, but only till 8 PM.

Margarita pizza at Dono

What are you coming for? A great hand made pizza cooked in a special oven on the first floor of the owners house. The pizzas range from ¥1,000 to ¥1,300. The set menu adds salads, drinks, appetizers, and desserts to the meal. The simple, yet appetizing, set salad was great. For those who don't like pizza, pasta is also served. The idea here is to come with some friends and everyone orders a different pizza or pasta so you can taste it all.

The appetizer at Dono

I really enjoyed the basic margarita pizza, but the spicy sausage was amazing. The great earthy spice that was generously dusted on top of the cheese and sausage really made it a treat. I was also afraid that the sizes would be too small for me--a problem with many Japanese pizza places. Here it was not the case, each pie was about 10 inches and filling.

The dessert at Dono

Besides it's location, it's hours, and how busy the shop can become, the only downside was the pretty, but simple dessert. If you make it out there, and I think you should, stop by and check out the local pottery at Sue-no-sato 陶の里 just down the road.

Funny side note, my sister in law made the reservation by phone and when we arrived the waitress gave her ¥50 in an envelope to make up for the cost of the phone call to make the reservation. Very Japanese.

Hours:
Tuesday-Friday 11:00-15:00 (14:30 lo)
Saturday and Sunday 11:00-20:00 (19:30 lo)

Phone: 079-597-3716

Address: 兵庫県篠山市今田町釜屋６２９

Map:

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06.25 KazaninBench 1

06.25 KazaninBench 1, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

A bench at Kazanin Temple.

Part of my Benches theme.

Kazanin 花山院

The entrance to Kazanin

Kazanin is one of the 3 bangai, or extra temples on the Western Japan 33 temple route, and the last on my Mother-in-law's trip. So now that she's finished with her pilgrimage I guess it's time for Yuko and me start.

The main building

Kazanin is up a steep mountain road in Sanda, Hyogo. Very close to a onsen I've recommended before on Kansai Onsen Review. The name which would normally be read "hanayama" is pronounced "kazan" in this case. It's the same as the Japanese word for volcano.

One of the seven statues

The most interesting thing for me was the seven statues that are in the garden. Each statue stands for a different virtue, or something you are asking for. What you do is approach the statue and touch their hands and pray in front of them. The statues' hands have all become smooth and yellow over the years of people touching them.

This site, in Japanese, has more pictures and a map.

Sasebo Burger Plus Cafe "Ata-go" - Kansai Restaurant Review

The Spicy Burger at Sasebo Burger Plus Cafe "Ata-go"

A decent burger in a stylish shop, but a bit of a let down.

It's always nice to know where you can get a good, fresh hamburger. It might not be your favorite place, but it would be better than hitting up the fast food joints. Ata-go is this kind of place. Sadly, I've been unimpressed by the various Sasebo style burger shops that I've been to. Named after a town in Nagaski Pref. that has become Japan’s Mecca for hamburger shops, the Sasebo Burger puts an emphasis on the size and messiness of the burger. (Sight Sasebo has a list of all the shops and pictures of their burgers in Japanese.)

Ata-go in Namba, Osaka

Ata-go has big, messy Sasebo style burgers served in plastic bags for cleanliness. The bun is soft on the inside and has a great toasty crunch on the ends, and they even brand the top of the bun with the shops logo. But it’s what’s between the buns where the burger fails. I felt that the patty let the entire burger down. The meat flavor didn’t come through. I had the spicy burger and the sauce was spicy, but I can’t say much more about it. The french fries seemed uninspired when compared to other shops. Ata-go does offer many good drink options with a full cocktail menu and Mino beer--a local microbrew. The shop is small with seating for about 10 inside, but it has some outdoor seating under the Nankai tracks which is surprisingly cool and comfortable. It would be a good place to sit outside for a few after work drinks. Everything has a Native American theme and the music is a mix of country and Native American chants.

Overall, It’s a good hamburger, in a nice shop, and you’re getting a good burger for the price you pay, but I wouldn’t be going out of my way to have this one.

You’ll be spending around ¥1,500 for a burger, side and a drink. Put a bit more on there if you get a beer or cocktail. My spicy burger beer set with a side of fries was ¥1,600.

Homepage: http://www.ata-go.com/

Hours: 11:30-22:00 (Mondays 11:30-14:00)

Map:

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06.15 Uji River 2

06.15 Uji River 2, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

A bridge crossing the Uji River.

06.15 Uji River 1

06.15 Uji River 1, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

A rusted sign warns anglers in front of the fast flowing Uji River.

Shiso Pepsi

06.23 ShisoPepsi 1, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Every summer Pepsi of Japan blesses us with a new wacky, always craptastic flavor, onto the Japanese market. Two years ago it was Ice Cucumber, last year it was something blue. All of the colors of these, ehm, beverages are, to be nice, unique as their flavors. This year it's shiso. If you get take out sushi and there's a plastic leaf in the tray as decoration--that's shiso. Well that's the plastic version of it. If you have had Japanese no-oil dressing, that probably was shiso flavored. If you live in Japan you eat this often. It's one of my favorite things. Mixed up with umeboshi (pickled plum) as a topping for grilled chicken is great.

So how does it work as a soda. Really nice. They didn't make this too sweet and you can really taste the shiso.

Well that's my opinion. What does Yuko say?

"Kirai!"

Nope, she didn't like it.

Nakamura Tokichi - Kansai Restaurant Review

This green tea producer's cafe and restaurant is as visually stunning as the food is tasty. Nakamura Tokichi Honten - 中村籐吉本店 set in a old house the restaurant serves green tea seasoned meals, deserts, and, of course, drinks. The restaurant section of the house is in the back through the courtyard where a 200 year old black pine stands, supported and trained by bamboo poles to make a ship like appearance.

Yuko had cold soba noodles which were made with green tea. The meal included soup, small desert, pickles, and rice, topped with a green tea furikake. That was good, but the deserts really shine through. I had green tea ice cream zensai and a green tea latte. Both were fantastic.

My sister-in-law, who is always reading Japanese language foodie blogs, said she had seen good reviews of the restaurant many times before online. If in Uji, a great place to see a little miniature Kyoto with out the crowds of Kyoto, take an afternoon break at Nakamura Tokichi.

Address: 〒611-0021　京都府宇治市宇治壱番１０番地
Price: around ¥1,000
Map:

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