ＣＡＦＥ ｉｃｏｉ

The standout at lunchtime is CAFE icoi’s house lunchbox, with a choice of how many side dishes to have. For a fuller meal, option A comes with about 15 kinds; option B, with about 10, offers a more moderate portion; and option C, with about 5, is aimed at children, lighter appetites or anyone in a hurry. The menu says each lunchbox includes rice, miso soup and pickles, and that the rice can be changed to rice balls. The listed prices are 1,600 yen for A, 1,300 yen for B and 1,000 yen for C. One diner who ordered B found it more generous and varied than its “moderate” name suggested. Those wanting a lighter meal might choose C and leave room for something sweet afterwards.

A diner who chose the lunchbox with 15 side dishes described a meal of individual items packed into a traditional wooden container. Another visitor enjoyed a lunchbox featuring vegetables and a variety of ingredients alongside coffee poured by the owner. A is worth considering if you like sampling a range of sides, while the lunchbox-and-coffee combination makes for a more leisurely lunch. Someone who ordered C with rice balls also recalled the texture and variety of the fried chicken. That is one visitor’s experience on a particular day, but it gives a sense of the options available alongside the portion-size choice. A visitor also noted that the side dishes can change from day to day, so the mix may be different on another visit.

Beyond the lunchboxes, there is minced-meat curry with plenty of vegetables, as well as pasta with cod roe, tomato meat sauce or shrimp in tomato cream sauce. The listed pasta and curry dishes come with soup, salad and side dishes and cost 850 yen. They offer an alternative to a lunch built around a variety of smaller sides.

There are several ways to finish on a sweet note. The menu lists custard pudding made with eggs from an organic farm, an almond cake described as gluten-free, and baked cheesecake, among other choices. Pudding is listed at 350 yen and cakes at 450 yen. Tea comes in several flavours, including a refreshing rose blend with mint, Marron Mont Blanc and Berry Lemon. For lunch service, the listed hours are 11 to 14. The lunchbox is the main attraction, but pasta, curry, dessert and tea round out the choices.