For the past two or three years, Minamimachi in Kurashiki City has been a spot to watch, with distinctive cafes opening one after another.
Among them, I visited Cafe&Bar FLAGO, which made headlines from the day it opened as “a stylish new cafe!”
FLAGO celebrated its first anniversary in August 2019.
It draws a crowd at lunchtime, especially young women, who come to enjoy homemade lunches packed with vegetables.
The lunches, made with a focus on domestic ingredients and locally sourced produce, have a gentle flavor, and everything—even the desserts—is homemade.
The atmosphere is stylish yet relaxed, and welcoming even to families with children. Perhaps that reflects the personality of the manager.
It’s stylish and cute, but there’s so much more to love.
Here’s a look at the lunch menu at Cafe&Bar FLAGO, where even those looking for a hearty meal will be satisfied.
The information presented here was accurate when this article was published in October 2019. Please note that it may differ from current information.
A stylish, relaxing cafe: “Cafe&Bar FLAGO”
Minamimachi in Kurashiki City is dotted with distinctive cafes.
Among them, “Cafe&Bar FLAGO” stands out with its particularly chic exterior.
FLAGO is such a stylish name, isn’t it?
Was it named after a flamingo?
Or perhaps hula dancing?
Or the Hula language?
Curious about its origins, I asked, and was told, “We really just came up with it on the spot”—so it doesn’t have any particular meaning!
There’s parking for three cars beside the cafe.
By the way, cafes with parking around JR Kurashiki Station and Minamimachi are quite rare.
The cute interior is decorated mainly in white.
Manager Kurosaki is behind the counter.
Kurosaki, who is from Izumo City in Shimane Prefecture, worked for several years at a restaurant near JR Kurashiki Station before opening FLAGO after being introduced to the building’s owner, an acquaintance of his.
The owner told him, “You can do whatever you like with the interior and menu,” and entrusted him with the entire concept for the cafe.
Kurosaki designed everything from the interior to the menu from scratch, creating a bright, relaxing space.
The sofa seating looks like a great place to unwind.
The greenery is arranged with a light touch, and the cafe’s relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to visit even with children, despite its stylish look.
“I’d like to do a little more work on the interior,” Kurosaki tells me.
Will the cafe gradually change from here on?
We’re looking forward to it.
Four lunch options to choose from. The bar menu looks delicious, too!
FLAGO offers four lunch options to choose from.
Add 200 yen for a drink set or 500 yen for a dessert set.
The one-plate meal, pasta, omurice, and dessert change daily, so ask the manager what’s available.
Starting in October 2019, the consumption tax will increase to 10% on all menu items, with prices unchanged.
The takeout menu features a lineup of drinks that will make you want to take a photo.
“Setouchi Blue Lemonade,” “FLAGO PINK,” and “Aurora Lemonade”—all the names are lovely.
The bar-time menu looks delicious, too.
They try to use domestic and Okayama Prefecture ingredients wherever possible, including “Momotaro tomatoes,” “Shimotsui octopus,” and “Okayama Prefecture peach pork.”
The “Ushimado mushroom ajillo,” “homemade roast beef,” and “Mao Zedong chicken” all sound tempting!
They showed me the spices for the Mao Zedong chicken, and I was bowled over by the appetizing aroma of shrimp and Japanese pepper.
It has to be delicious!
The pasta is made with fresh noodles from Fujimenzu Kobo in Okayama City.
I hear they have a deliciously chewy texture.
Smoking is prohibited during both lunch and bar hours, so it’s also a good place to eat with children.
Alcohol is available, of course.
There’s a wide selection, from draft beer and shochu to cloudy fruit sake.
Wine and soft drinks, too.
Personally, I’m glad they have sparkling wine cocktails!
Roast beef rice bowl with tender meat! The gently flavored side dishes are a treat, too
The manager recommends the roast beef rice bowl, priced at 1,100 yen (tax included).
For this price, you get a roast beef rice bowl served in a cute dish, along with five homemade side dishes.
It’s a generous portion, too.
It’s topped with plenty of roast beef made from domestic wagyu round!
The meat is surprisingly tender and goes well with the light-tasting rice from Mie Prefecture.
The secret to its tenderness, they say, is “cooking it slowly over low heat,” though that’s not so easy to do at home.
Paired with the onion and tomato sauce, this dish really brings out the meat’s rich flavor.
The soup, potato salad, lotus root kinpira, omelet, and salad are all handmade by the manager.
It’s nice to have side dishes packed with vegetables.
They all have a gentle, home-cooked flavor that makes you feel at ease.
The wooden plates are cute, too, and I couldn’t help taking several photos.
This lunch plate is satisfying for the eyes, the palate, and the appetite.
Creative daily desserts that look amazing in photos!
The dessert, an extra ¥550 (tax included) with the lunch set, arrived.
It looks absolutely amazing in photos!
And what do you think this dessert is?
I thought it was ice cream, but…
The answer is “rare cheesecake topped with nuts and maple syrup.”
Apparently, they finish it by shaving Parmesan over the top.
I’ve never come across such a cute and creative cheesecake before.
The savory saltiness of the Parmesan gives it an unexpectedly delicious flavor.
With a roast beef bowl and rare cheesecake for dessert, it was a thoroughly satisfying lunch.
Delicious and stylish: enjoy a relaxing time at Cafe&Bar FLAGO
I think “delicious and stylish” is actually quite a difficult combination to pull off.
When choosing a restaurant, don’t we sometimes find ourselves unconsciously choosing between “Is it delicious?” and “Is it stylish with a nice atmosphere?”
Sometimes I think it’s hard to find a place that manages to be both delicious and stylish.
What’s so great about Cafe&Bar FLAGO is that it satisfies you on both counts: delicious food and stylish surroundings!
And perhaps it’s thanks to the manager’s personality, but despite its stylish look, the place feels relaxed and welcoming, too.
Next time, maybe I’ll sink my teeth into the “Mao Zedong Chicken,” or order “Industry bread” and “ajillo.”
Cafe&Bar FLAGO offers endless things to look forward to, and I highly recommend it.
Cafe&Bar FLAGO data
| Name | Cafe&Bar FLAGO |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-2 Minamimachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-442-8474 |
| Parking | Available 3 spaces next to the restaurant |
| Hours | Lunch: 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Dinner: 6:00 p.m.–midnight |
| Closed | Irregular holidays |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 22 seats Counter seats: 4 Tables: 5 Sofas: 1 |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Website | FLAGO [Official] |
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