in between days

Imagine it’s a rainy night and you’re walking through the streets of Tokyo and you spot a tiny restaurant off the busy street. That’s what In Between Days feels like. That, plus great music on vinyl.

Small plates, sake-based cocktails, and sake tastings are the reason to go. The sake list runs deep, and this kind of room should come with a little guidance. That is what made our last dinner frustrating. We pointed at the menu. Fifteen minutes later, the food arrived with an “enjoy.” There was no walk through the dishes, no ingredient talk, and no attempt to sell the sake. Staff usually provide knowledgeable help with both the sake and the menu. We got none of that. The first visit was better.

Nothing was disastrous. That almost made it worse. A chain can get away with order, wait, eat. A tiny Tokyo-style sake bar has to do more. We still like the food, the drinks, and the room. We will book ahead and go back. We want the guided sake-bar experience this place is built to give.