Have you heard of Kurashiki Department Store, a long-established shopping arcade with a retro Showa-era atmosphere, located about a 7-minute walk from the south exit of JR Kurashiki Station?
In April 2017, the stylish, glass-fronted bar “small ville” opened inside Kurashiki Department Store.
The owner says they hope people will “drop by regularly,” and the bar offers a wide variety of drinks, from wine and cocktails to non-alcoholic options.
It’s a bar anyone can enjoy, whether visiting alone or with friends and family.
Here’s a look at the delicious appeal of small ville, a bar known for its wine and seasonal vegetables packed with sweetness!
The information presented here was accurate when this article was published in August 2019. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What kind of place is small ville?
The owner, who has 10 years of experience cooking at a cafe, learned to cook independently and takes care to select the wine and vegetables used in the dishes.
The wine is sourced from EASY WINE, a nearby wine shop where you can enjoy standing drinks.
small ville is based on the concept of “welcoming people to come as they are, even in everyday clothes.”
The owner’s carefully prepared dishes use vegetables and other ingredients grown in nearby prefectures, mainly produce from Ushimado in Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture.
There are 20 seats in total, including counter seating.
The large windows give the interior a bright, open feel.
It can get busy on weekends, so reservations are recommended.
Why not enjoy drinks and a meal beneath the warm lighting, soaking up the slightly special atmosphere?
small ville’s menu
Have you heard terms like “condiment,” “tarte flambée,” and “puttanesca”?
I’m 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 items you don’t understand.
Items marked with a flower are the owner’s recommendations.
The drink menu is extensive, with everything from beer and shochu to fruit liqueurs, sours, and non-alcoholic drinks!
Wine is what small ville focuses on most, so if you drink alcohol, be sure to order some.
A dish made with seasonal ingredients at small ville
Here are some visually appealing dishes that will make you want another drink after just one bite.
First, as an appetizer, “Low-Temperature-Roasted Salmon with Ginger Condiment.”
“Condiment” is a French word meaning “garnish or homemade seasoning.”
The sauce, an exquisite match of capers and ginger with French and Japanese seasonings, is refreshing and easy to enjoy during the summer, when appetites tend to fade.
Next came the restaurant’s most popular dish, the “Seasonal Vegetable Bagna Cauda,” in M size.
The tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, zucchini, chicory, lotus root, pumpkin, and other vegetables are all beautifully colorful!
The vegetables are delicious on their own, but try dipping them in the piping-hot bagna cauda sauce.
The sauce pairs perfectly with them, bringing out the vegetables’ sweetness and savory flavor even more!
The owner’s top recommendation is “Tomato Stew with Salt-Cured Pork and Zucchini, with Baguette.”
The salt-cured pork is tender, juicy, and falls apart easily, while the mildly tart tomatoes and summer zucchini bring out its savory flavor even more.
Try it on a crispy baguette.
The “Sparkling Pear Drink” is also recommended for those who don’t like alcohol or have driven here.
Although it’s non-alcoholic, it’s served in a wine glass, so you can enjoy the feeling of drinking wine.
Finally, the “Tarte Flambée with Three Cheeses and Honey” arrived.
Apparently, there aren’t 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 an extremely thin rectangular or round bread dough, topped with cheese or sour cream and thinly sliced onions, then baked.
Unlike pizza, tarte flambée is not spread with tomato sauce, and its toppings are very simple.
The saltiness of the cheese and the gentle sweetness of the honey in the tarte flambée make you want another drink.
With its crisp, crunchy crust, tarte flambée is best enjoyed with wine or beer.
We spoke with Shuji Takatsuki, who is from Kurashiki, about why he opened his restaurant in Kurashiki Department Store and his approach to cooking.
small ville details
| Name | small ville |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-4-2 Tsurugata, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-423-4567 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | 5:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m. (last order at midnight) |
| Closed | Sunday Open if Sunday falls on a public holiday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 20 seats: 7 counter seats, 13 table seats |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Website | smalle ville |
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