There's no better indicator that spring has really arrived than a nice open-air lunch. This was our first al fresco meal of the year. The setting: Matsubara-an in the quiet, leafy (well, they are most of the year) backstreets of Kamakura.
It really is a bit special: not just the restaurant itself, a converted old wooden minka (private residence) but also the menu. There aren't many places where you can have your soba in the open air. And none that I know of that serve side dishes of this quality.
This is the irodori ("colourful") starter plate: seven little tidbits, featuring plenty of Kamakura's renowned vegetables. This platter alone is worth the price of admission.
Next up, a tempura plate. Mixed vegetables — eggplant, carrot, sweet potato and nanohana greens — closely followed by our soba (here seiro, but kake is also an option).
This was the ¥2,800 "Yui" menu. There is also a more elaborate set meal ("Matsubara," ¥4,000) which includes roast duck, dessert and a few other tidbits.
Since the last time I wrote up Matsubara-an, they have installed an espresso bar in the garden, which has become a popular stop-off for the local dog-walkers.
Blankets are provided and there are also space heaters, but they won't be needed for too much longer.
