B no Kaidan

At B no Kaidan, part of the pleasure of a dashi chazuke lunch is deciding what to put on it. One diner who ordered the seared spicy cod roe version was pleased not only with the dashi but also with the generous amount of nori and the range of dishes served. Another recalled that dashi chazuke was the centrepiece of the daily lunch and found the portion just right. The menu lists combinations including seared spicy cod roe; Nanko plum with whitebait; Kujo green onions with fresh fish; and sea bream with mitsuba. The sea bream and mitsuba chazuke comes with two small side dishes and pickles, and can be enjoyed with condiments such as wasabi takana and nori. Choose a fish topping for a more substantial meal, or go for plum and whitebait instead—the options suit different moods.

For something sweet, matcha milk zenzai pairs the depth of matcha with milk, azuki beans and shiratama rice-flour dumplings; it is available hot or cold. The menu describes the Uji matcha chiffon cake as having a particularly light, fluffy texture, and says a plain version is also available. Kinako pudding is another option; one visitor enjoyed it with hojicha. If you fancy dessert after lunch, these sweets offer a choice of Japanese flavours, from matcha to roasted soybean flour.