Cafe Air

Unilocal 100 Challenge 2015 — ³¹⁄₁₀₀
This is a funky café located about 30 seconds walk from the north exit of Shibasaki station on the Keio line. It’s been around for over 20 years and features an interesting menu.
The highlights include home-​style cooking of pastas, gratins and «typical» lunch dishes, as well as several varieties of American style waffles. The desserts can be enjoyed as an add-​on to lunch or in a set with a hot or cold drink.
Short story:
+ Menu: ⁴⁄₅ stars (good variety of home-​cooked style dishes; quantities slightly on the small side, most likely with the intention you partake in one of the delicious desserts to finish off your meal — recommended!)
+ Location: ⁵⁄₅ (couldn’t get any closer to the station without being in the same building)
+ Atmosphere: 4.5÷5 (separate smoking and non-​smoking seats, although they’re only separated by drop down partitions; the décor is an eclectic mixture of retro spanning decades in terms of the furniture, lighting and decorations. Lots of potted plants make you feel like you’re in someone’s large but intimate dining room; classical and subdued new age music in the background)
+ Value: 4.5÷5 (depends on the time of day you visit. Menus changes three times throughout the day — lunch, mid-​afternoon and evening; pricing will reflect whichever items the café seeks to push during those hours
Long story:
Found this place by accident because another café in the area happened to be closed the first time I came by. Experienced the lunch set and though it was a pretty good deal being able to add a tasty dessert waffle for only ¥150 more. The food was tasty, carefully prepared and well presented.
Subsequent visits have been again at lunch, and a couple times during afternoon tea time. Quality has always been very good, and it’s a fair value considering the food, atmosphere and service.
This is a cool place to chill (and write Unilocal reviews) as the clientele tend to be either housewives or older people during the week. Wifi is available, depending on your phone carrier.
Seating is at tables for two or four (a couple of larger tables are also in the non-​smoking section for groups of up to eight). There is also intimate seating for singles along raised counters in certain places on the walls. These offer nice cozy corners for relaxing.
Many of the desserts can be ordered to go, but you’ll appreciate them more by eating in, especially the waffles. Hot off the grill is always best! They also serve and sell blends of gourmet coffees, including beans to go.
Overall, it’s a funky space that seems quite unlikely given its suburban location. The mood here is completely different from that of the Tegamisha cafes located nearby, but both are recommended and worth trying. Rating is 4.5 stars, but I’ll give 5 for uniqueness, friendly service and down home feeling.