Kim turned a whopping 3-O on March 4th. I planned a surprise birthday party for her this past weekend with the help of one of her friends. We started off at a small (hole-in-the-wall) restaurant in Sakae, Nagoya. From there we met everyone at a place called Amataro for food, drinks, and karaoke (all of Kim's favorites in one place).There are 2 Amataro locations in Nagoya. One is 2 blocks from our house and the other is a 10-15 minute walk to downtown. We chose the one in downtown because there is a private karaoke room you can rent out. Being that we were all foreign, it was probably a goo
d idea we did. For $50 bucks a person, we were able to enjoy all you can drink booze, all you can eat shabu shabu, and hear Kim serenade us for 90 minutes. Not a bad deal since we ate and drank a tremendous amount. Following that, we decided to hit the town. One of the highlights of the night was finding this kebab stand selling beer and kebabs - it was delicious (at 2:00 AM)!
d idea we did. For $50 bucks a person, we were able to enjoy all you can drink booze, all you can eat shabu shabu, and hear Kim serenade us for 90 minutes. Not a bad deal since we ate and drank a tremendous amount. Following that, we decided to hit the town. One of the highlights of the night was finding this kebab stand selling beer and kebabs - it was delicious (at 2:00 AM)!Note: Bars and restaurants in Japan offer nomihodai and tabehodai. Both are a great deal if you are thirsty and/or hungry. You can usually find places that offer a combination of both for a reasonable fee.
On Kim's actual birthday, we ate at a restaurant down the street called Garuva. It is unique because each table is a tent lit only by candle light. At first, when you enter the restaurant, it almost seems like they are closed. The large heavy iron door leads you to a waiting area where you are welcomed by a sof
t spoken host which sets the tone and manner of the evening. You are then lead to your table (or tent) by way of flashlight. In the tent, you will find pillows and bean cushions for you to sit and lounge on. Most people kept their conversations to a low whisper. The atmosphere is meditating with the smell of incense and soothing Enya-esque music playing in the background. The food is not bad with an eclectic mix of Indian, Vietnamese, Italian, and more. We chose 5 different food items from the Vietnamese Salad to a Prosciutto Pizza, a bottle of wine, and 2 desserts which came to about $100 US total- not a bad deal considering the atmosphere and a great time with Kim.
t spoken host which sets the tone and manner of the evening. You are then lead to your table (or tent) by way of flashlight. In the tent, you will find pillows and bean cushions for you to sit and lounge on. Most people kept their conversations to a low whisper. The atmosphere is meditating with the smell of incense and soothing Enya-esque music playing in the background. The food is not bad with an eclectic mix of Indian, Vietnamese, Italian, and more. We chose 5 different food items from the Vietnamese Salad to a Prosciutto Pizza, a bottle of wine, and 2 desserts which came to about $100 US total- not a bad deal considering the atmosphere and a great time with Kim.
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