Do you know the long-established shopping street “Kurashiki Department Store”, which has a Showa retro atmosphere and is located about a 7-minute walk from the south exit of JR Kurashiki Station?
In April 2017, a stylish bar with full glass walls, “small ville”, opened inside this “Kurashiki Department Store”.
The owner expresses a desire for people to “come regularly”, and the bar offers a wide variety of drinks, from wine to cocktails and non-alcoholic options.
It is a bar where anyone can enjoy themselves, whether alone or with friends and family.
Introducing the delicious charm of “small ville”, a bar that boasts seasonal vegetables packed with sweetness and wine!
What kind of place is small ville?
The owner, who has 10 years of experience providing food in a café, has self-taught cooking and is particular about the ingredients of wine and vegetables.
The wine is sourced from a standing wine shop called EASY WINE, which operates nearby.
“small ville” is a place with the concept of “wanting people to come casually even in everyday clothes”.
The dishes made with vegetables and ingredients mainly sourced from Ushimado in Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, are all carefully crafted by the owner.
The seating, including counter seats, totals 20.
The interior has large windows, creating a spacious and open atmosphere.
It is recommended to make a reservation as it can get crowded on weekends.
How about enjoying drinks and meals in a slightly special atmosphere under warm lighting?
small ville's menu
Have you ever heard of words like “condiment” or “tarte flambée” or “puttanesca”?
The author is not familiar with terms from French cuisine, so when I first visited and looked at the menu, I wondered, “What kind of dishes are these?”
Feel free to ask the owner about any menu names you don’t understand.
Menu items marked with a flower symbol are recommended by the owner.
The drink menu is extensive, featuring everything from beer to shochu, fruit wines, sours, and non-alcoholic drinks!
“small ville” particularly focuses on wine, so if you enjoy drinking, be sure to order some.
A dish using seasonal ingredients at small ville
Let me introduce some visually stunning dishes that will make you want to drink more with just one bite.
First, as an appetizer, we have “Low-temperature roasted salmon with ginger condiment”.
“Condiment” means “seasoning or homemade sauce” in French.
The sauce, which perfectly matches capers, ginger, French seasonings, and Japanese seasonings, is a refreshing taste that can be enjoyed in the summer when appetite tends to decline.
Next up is the most popular dish at the restaurant, “Seasonal vegetable bagna cauda” in size M.
Tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, zucchini, chicory, lotus root, and pumpkin are all vibrantly colored vegetables!
The vegetables are delicious on their own, but please try dipping them in the hot bagna cauda sauce.
The combination of the sweetness and umami of the vegetables with the sauce is outstanding!
The owner's recommendation is “Salted pork and zucchini tomato stew with baguette”.
The salted pork is tender and juicy, falling apart easily, and the moderate acidity of the tomatoes and summer vegetables like zucchini enhance the flavor.
Try putting it on a crispy baguette.
For those who are not fond of alcohol or who have come by car, I recommend “Pear sparkling”.
It is non-alcoholic, but served in a wine glass, allowing you to enjoy the feeling of drinking wine.
Finally, we have “Tarte flambée with three types of cheese and honey”.
It seems there are not many places in Kurashiki where you can eat “tarte flambée”.
“Tarte flambée” is a dish similar to “thin-crust pizza” made in Alsace, France, and southern Germany.
It is made with a very thin dough, either rectangular or round, covered with cheese or sour cream, and topped with thinly sliced onions before baking.
Unlike “pizza”, “tarte flambée” does not have tomato sauce, and the toppings are quite simple.
The saltiness of the cheese in “tarte flambée” and the moderate sweetness of honey make it easy to enjoy with drinks.
The crispy and crunchy “tarte flambée” is best enjoyed with wine or beer.
I spoke with Takatsuki Shuji from Kurashiki about how he started his business at “Kurashiki Department Store” and his commitment to cooking.
Data of small ville (スモール ヴィレ)
| Name | small ville (スモール ヴィレ) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-4-2 Tsurugata, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-423-4567 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 5:00 PM - 1:00 AM (Last order at 12:00 AM) |
| Regular Holiday | Sunday If Sunday is a holiday, open |
| Payment Method |
|
| Reservation | Available |
| Seats | 20 seats: Counter: 7 seats, Table: 13 seats |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Website | small ville (スモールヴィレ) |
