Mirei

The owner and chef are a picture of brisk motion behind the counter. Offerings range from simple fare to more elaborate dishes, so everyone can choose something they fancy. Soups of ground vegetables and fruit mark each season. Potato salad is served Mirei-style: adding cucumber pickled in rice bran. Nama-fu (a steamed mixture of wheat gluten and rice flour) baked with blue cheese shows the house’s playful side. When a single dish is prepared, the owner asks if we’d like him to split it for us—a considerate touch.