【開いてて良かった】 : SPOON

It's a relief to find a restaurant open even during the New Year holidays. On New Year's Day, I'm having a solo meal.
As I walked along Old Karuizawa Ginza, I saw the menu displayed along the roadside and felt assured that they were open, so I headed to the restaurant.

The restaurant is located on the second floor facing the street, but the entrance is a bit hard to find as it’s up the stairs set slightly back from the road.

When I arrived at the restaurant after going up the stairs, I noticed a 'CLOSED' sign. Peering inside, I saw there were no customers…

"Wait, are they not open?" I thought. However, when I pushed the door, it opened. "Welcome!" said the owner with a friendly voice. I exclaimed, "But it says CLOSED?!" and she replied, "Oh, I did it again!" (laughs).

I took a seat by the window, where sunlight streamed in, looking out at the people walking below while glancing over the menu.

There were options for pasta, pizza, and steak, but based on the reviews I had checked beforehand, I decided to try their highly recommended 'Omurice.'

There were a few variations of omurice to choose from, and I pondered for a moment…

1) 'Omudemi (JPY 1595, tax Included)' with demi-glace sauce.
2) 'Omutama (JPY 1595, tax Included)' with tomato sauce.
3) 'Omudemi Cheese (JPY 1815, tax Included)' with added mozzarella cheese.
4) 'Omutama Cheese (JPY 1815, tax Included)' with added mozzarella cheese.

In the end, I chose the most basic option, 1) 'Omudemi.'

The omurice comes with a side salad.
The salad was quite simple with just 'lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and a bit of parsley,' but it was a substantial portion.
It was dressed with a fresh, tangy dressing, and I found myself devouring it quickly before the main dish arrived.

Just as I finished the salad, my 'Omurice' was served.

The portion size is relatively small. For me, it was just right, but younger folks might want to order the large size. (I didn’t confirm if the large size was available.)

Chopped parsley garnished the omurice, adding some color.

The basic preparation of the omurice is simple; the rice is seasoned with ketchup and includes minced meat, but I couldn’t spot any onions. The rice was perfectly cooked—not too soft, just right. The demi-glace sauce added a nice tangy flavor, and the egg wasn’t of the fluffed variety; instead, it was creamy and slightly runny inside, which was ideal.

It was quite delicious.

Finally, I also ordered a coffee as an option (normally priced at JPY 550, but available at JPY 330 when bundled with the meal). The coffee seemed to be from the established Italian brand 'Lavazza,' recognized by the logo on the cup. It struck a good balance of acidity and richness.

A complimentary biscuit, 'Lotus Biscoff,' which is Belgian, was served alongside and complemented the bitterness of the coffee well.

The atmosphere was peaceful, so I was able to enjoy a leisurely lunch—quite a contrast to many tourist spots in Karuizawa which tend to be busier.

I had kept my expectations low because many restaurants in Old Karuizawa Ginza cater primarily to tourists, but this place was genuinely enjoyable and satisfying.

Here’s to a lucky start to 2025. Looking forward to this year!