Do you know there is a shop adorned with wisteria flowers along Kurashiki Chuo-dori, which stretches south from JR Kurashiki Station?
It is a café called Cafe Cascade (カフェ キャスケード), decorated with wisteria both inside and out.
Across from the café is the Kurashiki City Central Library, and behind it is the Bikan Historical Area, making it a conveniently located shop within walking distance of JR Kurashiki Station.
The exterior and interior, filled with wisteria flowers, are vibrant and impressive.
Are you curious about what kind of shop it is? Then let’s properly introduce Cascade.
A Shop Adorned with Wisteria Flowers
As you walk along Kurashiki Chuo-dori, you will find a shop that stands out compared to the surroundings, Cafe Cascade (hereafter, Cascade).
Cascade is a café operated by the Nishikiya Group, which is involved in the bridal business.
Cafe LINES, which was operated by Nishikiya, closed for relocation in July 2021 and reopened as a "sister store of LINES."
The walls of the shop are adorned with wisteria artificial flowers.
Why wisteria, you may ask? Let me explain!
Wisteria is the city flower of Kurashiki City.
Doesn't the combination of the traditional house-style building and wisteria make you feel the essence of Kurashiki?
Now, let's check out the interior. Let's go inside.
The interior is unified in colors of white and gray to make the wisteria flowers appear vibrant.
More than the exterior, the wisteria flowers hang down from the ceiling and walls like a waterfall.
The wisteria flowers come in deep purple, lavender, pink, and white, each color designated to different spots.
Especially for those who love "Instagrammable" spots, just entering the café will surely make your heart flutter.
It’s not just me who feels the urge to take photos everywhere.
Inside the café, there are counter seats, sofa seats, and a long table in the center.
It seems easy to use whether you are in a group or alone.
Cascade's Menu
Cascade's menu is broadly divided into two categories: food and sweets.
Food Menu
| Menu | Single Item | Drink Set | Sweets Menu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese Cuisine | 1,500 yen | 1,700 yen | ― |
| Western Cuisine | 1,500 yen | 1,700 yen | ― |
| Vegan Curry | 1,250 yen | 1,450 yen | 1,700 yen |
The plate lunch served from 10 AM to 2 PM includes two types: Japanese and Western cuisine. Both are limited to 10 servings.
Vegan curry is available during café hours.
Sweets Menu
▼ These are the sweets offered during café hours.
| Menu | Price (excluding tax) |
|---|---|
| Assorted Baked Sweets | 550 yen |
| Homemade Chocolate Cake | 600 yen |
| Cake Set (sweets with coffee or tea) | 1,000 yen |
▼ The sweets offered from 2 PM to 7 PM are as follows.
| Menu | Single Item | Drink Set |
|---|---|---|
| French Toast | 800 yen | 1,150 yen |
| Plain Waffle | 800 yen | 1,150 yen |
| Ricotta Cheese Pancake | 900 yen | 1,228 yen |
Since there are both meals and sweets, it can be used for lunch or as a café.
Recommended Menu
As I looked over the menu wondering what to eat, everything looked appealing... I was torn!
If you're unsure, it's best to ask for recommendations!
When I asked the staff for their recommendations, they told me three items.
“Vegan Curry, French Toast, Ricotta Cheese Pancake.”
After hearing that, I wanted to try them all, so I had the three items over two days!
Vegan Curry
Veganism is a form of strict vegetarianism that avoids animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, consuming only plant-based foods.
This means that the vegan curry does not contain meat.
Let me introduce the vegan curry from Cascade.
▼ The roux and dressing are served separately
You can choose from three types of dressing.
- Carrot Dressing
- Black Vinegar Onion Dressing
- Japanese-style Sesame Soy Dressing
I poured the dressing not only on the leafy salad but also on the vegetables scattered around the plate.
The carrot dressing is thick with plenty of carrots.
The vinegar is strong, making the body feel refreshed.
I drizzled the roux over the rice shaped like a flower.
It's fun to pour it yourself.
The flavor of the curry is rich with plenty of tomatoes and onions, giving it a sweet taste.
The roux is slowly simmered in a broth made with over ten types of vegetables, and while it has spices, it is not spicy. It is closer to being runny than thick, and has a refreshing mouthfeel.
I enjoyed the crunchy texture of the multigrain rice and quickly finished it.
The vegan curry can be paired with a drink set for an additional 200 yen, or with a drink and vegan sweets for an additional 450 yen.
It seems that the menu for vegan sweets is not fixed, and on the day I ordered, it was fruit punch.
Soda water and a variety of fruits.
It was a refreshing sparkling sweet.
French Toast
French toast sprinkled with strawberries, oranges, and pineapples.
It is served with vanilla ice cream.
The fluffy and creamy French toast is a bit on the sweeter side.
Upon closer inspection, I discovered a heart-shaped strawberry!
The details of the "cute" elements are intricate.
"French toast pairs well with binchotan charcoal roasted coffee," recommended by the staff, so I decided to have it with coffee.
The charcoal roasted coffee, roasted with binchotan, is characterized by its deep and rich aroma, and has a robust flavor.
It pairs perfectly with the sweet dessert.
Ricotta Cheese Pancake
Fluffy ricotta cheese pancakes.
Ricotta cheese is a light cheese with little odor.
You can't tell that there is cheese in the pancake just by the smell, but the richness comes from the ricotta cheese.
Ricotta cheese pancakes will deflate over time, so be careful.
It is recommended to eat them as soon as they are served. Keep the photography time short.
With a moderate sweetness and a soufflé-like fluffiness, they can be easily devoured.
A Healing Time Under the Wisteria Flowers
Cascade, adorned with wisteria flowers both inside and out, is photogenic from any seat.
The space is exceptional, providing a healing atmosphere just by being in the café.
It's great for spending time alone, sharing experiences with someone, or stopping by to recharge.
Cascade can be used for various purposes. I spoke with Makiko Omoto, who produced it.
Data for Cafe Cascade
| Name | Cafe Cascade |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-6-1 Chuo-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-454-8455 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Regular Holiday | Monday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation | Available Food menu reservations recommended |
| Seating | 25 seats ・Number of tables: 4 ・Counter seats: 3 |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Public toilet |
| Website | Cafe Cascade |
