Izakaya Dinner @ Nakamura, Nihonbashi, Tokyo

 

Izakayas tend to be something of a humble establishment. Simple but satisfying grub taken down with a swig of beer or highball. Common entrees would be yakitori, fried dishes, and perhaps some fresh seafood. However, once in a while, there will someone who would like to change the script and make it very special. And during a recent visit to Tokyo, Nakamura in Nihonbashi is one of those places. 

Fancy!

A recently opened eating spot, I stumbled upon this place as I was looking for a venue close to a friend's workspace around the Nihonbashi area. And seeing that despite its short tenure and it had a lot of good reviews online, I thought of giving it a go. While it advertises itself as an izakaya, it has an aura akin more to a modern chic gastropub. Compared to the classic and inviting wooden and brick interiors, this had a zen-like minimalism to the whole feel. 

A classic with a modern take

This emotive approach was also translated to the food. The otoshii of the day was a small serving of chicken namban that stood at 500 yen a person. A classic fried chicken dish, it was a good beginning entree to the entire meal. And speaking of classics, the traditional potato and egg salad came into the mix as our first proper dish. This was pretty special as the egg was similar to an ajitama from a ramen joint and it gave the mashed potato at the bottom more depth and flavour. Spiked with a hint of grainy mustard and you get an assault to the senses. A good start and it stood at 680 yen. 

Isn't this an izakaya staple? Looks too pretty to be the case.

The next in the line was amberjack with sesame, or kampachi in Japanese. Although it is more common to have mackerel as the fish of choice for such a dish, the amberjack did well here. It tasted a bit different that what I usually get, especially since sesame mackerel is a specialty of Fukuoka. Nonetheless, this was thoroughly enjoyable. The sesame sauce was nutty and floral at the same time while the fish was extremely fresh. Another dish that was well done, standing at a slightly steep 880 yen. 

Decadence!

And from something fresh to another thing with a totally different texture and flavour. Deep fried SPF ham cutlets. I am not too sure why SPF was in the name, as the ham definitely did not taste like sunscreen. Rather, it was very fatty, juicy, and decadent. Imagine smoked gammon that was deep fried and you probably get the picture. This went down very well with beer and came at a hefty 880 yen. Speaking of beer, I got myself a pretty refreshing glass to accompany the meal. The izakaya had something special on tap as well, being Suntory's Master's Dream. 

Golden

The beer did feel a bit on the higher end of the scale and it tasted many levels higher than your usual Asahi or Heineken. It has a gentler fizz while having an earthy undertone to everything. This was thoroughly enjoyable and was the perfect companion to the meal. A glass stood at a handsome 780 yen. 

Never expected such a combination to work this well!

More food came along as the night went on, and we got something very special, which was beancurd skin with sea urchin. This was one of the more unusual dishes of the night. However, it was delicate and such a joy to eat. Each layer of beancurd skin was complimented with a piece of sea urchin and the whole dish was laced with a vinegary sweet sauce. It was refreshing yet comforting at the same time. This one stood at a whopping 1200 yen. But seeing how special this was, it was completely justified. 

And the last one for the day...

And lastly, we had another time of beancurd skin dish, called a beancurd skin sashimi. It is a bit more basic compared to the previous one. However, it was a good palate cleanser and was a fine way to end the meal. This one was on a more modest 680 yen price tag. 

Front of the house. 

In addition to being a more chic and fancy dinner, the owner was very friendly as well. We had a good chat before we left the venue and ended our night relatively satisfied. Granted, this place is more unique than your usual hole-in-the-wall izakaya. Despite that, this modern take has been pretty enjoyable and if you like your Japanese dining experience to be a bit fancier, this is a place that is worth the visit. So, if you fancy a go, then the address is as follows:

〒103-0031 Tokyo, Chuo City, Nihonbashi Ningyocho, 1 Chome−5−16 海老原ビル 1F