Double Decker

Double Decker is one of the many places on Okinawa that you might miss if you don't know where it is. The Caffe and Bar or what I suppose we might simply refer to as a pub, is located in Mihama's American Village nestled behind the Sega Amusement Building. Just follow the paw prints on the ground and it will lead you to the unique looking entrance.

Double Decker Buss:

The restaurant gets it's name for the double decker buss which is parked right around the corner and retrofitted as part of the restaurant offering tables and booths. The restaurant itself is warm and welcoming. The walls are covered with memorabilia from various time frames and the ceiling is covered with playing cards. The bar itself I can only describe as "what a bar should look like".



Another thing I absolutely love about Double Decker is the staff. They are incredibly friendly and laid back. This is not one of those places where you're going to feel rushed or pressured to finish up and move on with your night. It's a place for relaxing, laughing and enjoying yourself. On a side note I also like how pressed and well dressed the bar tender is. Every time I have gone back it has been the same bar tender, at least as I remember it, and he is always looking his best which in my opinion adds to the ambiance.

Good Eats: 

Ok, enough about the look and feel, let's talk about the food! Double Decker has what I would call an extensive menu, at last for Japan. You're not only going to find bar food here but also a variety of other options for every taste and occasion. You can find options such as Salad, Rice Omelets, Rice Casserole, Rice Bowls, Pasta, Pizza, Sweets and a great deal of Appetizers on the menu. You can also find chicken wings, which were an addition made in recent years, that are absolutely delicious.



 

Portion sizes are that which you might experience at other pubs or bars. They are not too big to enjoy with a beer but not to small to split family style with a friend or two. In fact I would go so far as to say that enjoying this meal family style is the way to go, especially with friends.

Pricing: 

Pricing for Double Decker isn't too far off from what you might get at other sit down restaurants. In fact you could say that it is relatively affordable with your average entree coming in between ¥700 and ¥900 yen. As with anywhere else appetizers range in price depending on what it is you are ordering with some topping off around ¥1000. Overall this is one of those places where a party of 2 can order drinks, dinner and appetizers and walk out for under ¥5000.



 

Healthy Options: 

You don't have to cringe if you're watching what you eat either. Double Decker has about 4 or 5 salads, among other healthy options, which are not only on the healthy side but are absolutely delicious! Read more about that here.

Don't be mistaken, This is a bar: 

Double Decker is a great place to enjoy dinner and drinks with a loved one but it is not a place for kids. Don't be mistaken by the extensive menu or double decker buss, this is a bar. And no I don't mean like Pub 99 or Chilli's where there is a bar in the restaurant. This is a bar that serves food. There will be smoking and there will be drinking. Does this mean that you will be turned away if you go with children? No. But this is because here in Japan there is a different mentality with izakayas and pubs then there is in the US.

Give it a try: 

Next time you're looking for something interesting to do on a Friday night why not give Double Decker a try?

 

Healthy Options: Double Decker

Date night can be tough when you're watching what you eat. Luckily there are a lot of healthy options out there for those who are looking for them. Last time we took you to the Churaumi Aquarium where we talked about some options you can enjoy on your day out and about but what about when you want some quality time with the special someone?



 

You might miss Double Decker if you don't know where to look. It's a small door at the end of a trail of paw prints in Mihama's American Village. It's nestled behind the Sega Arcade so look closely or you might miss it.

Double Decker offers a pretty good menu from both the kitchen and the bar and pricing is reasonable. However, seeing as how this is a healthy options blog post I really want to highlight the salads. There are a lot of places out there which offer salads but there aren't many places out there where I would go specifically for the salads. Double Decker is one of those places I go for the salads.



 

There are about 4 or 5 salad options available at Double Decker. Above is the Toast and Camembert Cheese Salad but other options included a Caesar Salad. The salad is comprised of a variety of greens which have always been fresh tossed in what can only be described as a home made dressing. The dressing is not too strong but not too light and perfectly compliments the other elements of the salad. This particular salad also included slices of camembert cheese and toast.

Pricing is not bad as far as eating out goes. One salad was about ¥700 yen which yes is on the pricy side compared to what you could get at a Subway or make at home but then again you're out to dinner enjoying yourself. Not to mention it's delicious.

Double Decker is one of my favorite restaurants and with good reason. It's tucked away, quiet, affordable and delicious. It's also a pub which means it's a great place for a date night. (Sorry kids.) The ambiance is great also but more about that in the Double Decker post.

Kitakeisen: Sushi, Noodles and Pizza?

Conveniently located in central Okinawa on Route 23,  near Kadena Air Base , this restaurant is perfect for those who are new to Okinawa and want to give the cuisine a try.



 

First's let's get all of the basic "must know" bits out of the way. The restaurant opens at 5PM and has English speaking staff and English Menu. They also accept yen and major credit cards, although I am not sure if they accept american dollars because I never pay with that type of currency. Reservations can be made in advance via telephone although I am sorry I did not get the number. The staff is happy to take your reservation in English as well.

Ok moving right along. . . . .

When it comes to food the menu has a great deal of variety. You can get anything from sashimi (raw fish or meat sliced for consumption) to pizza. Dishes in between include many favorites to include yakisoba, tacos, tempura, sausages, salads, fried rice, french fries and so much more. There is also a sushi bar where you can get some of your favorite types of sushi.



A majority of what is on the menu is meant to be enjoyed as a family style meal with the group sharing although sets are available if you prefer to order your own mean. Personally I have never tried the sets so I cannot speak for portions or the value of the sets themselves.



Overall this is a decent place to go out and get a meal. The portions are reasonable in comparison to the price although the sizes have gotten slightly smaller over the years. The restaurant also welcomes children and families so you do not have to hesitate when thinking about heading out to dinner. I should mention, however, that if you do not make a reservation you may want to head out for an early dinner. Especially during busy times of the week like on the weekend and as it starts getting later in the evening the restaurant gets more and more crowded. At times it can be hard to get right in to eat and you will be required to wait. TIP: My husband and I generally do our best to have dinner early when going to this restaurant as it is almost always an immediate sit down rather than having to wait in line for a table and feeling rushed through our meal. 

If you have been in Japan a while or if you are looking for strictly authentic Japanese food for an experience this might not be the place to visit. The food is good, there is no doubt about that, however, the food has been changed to accommodate the more american palate that are patrons of the restaurant. As I have said before this place is perfect for those who are looking to try something new but not commit to the full authentic Japanese meal.