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Enjoy a delicious, healthy and satisfying lunch with a lively conversation with the friendly owner
"caro amico"

[Interview/text/photography]
Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC student staff)
Ryusei Sakuma 4th year student, School of Law

Even though it only opened in April 2023, the Italian restaurant "caro amico" is already gaining popularity. It is located on the Okuma-dori shopping street, about a 3-minute walk from the main gate of Waseda Campus. In addition to the seasonal ingredients that can be tasted at any given time, the chef's favorite menu, which uses seafood, is also popular. It is crowded with locals and people who work in the area day and night.

"Caro Amico" means "dear friend" in Italian. The owner's wish is for local people to feel free to visit our store. Owner Taku Saito and chef Muneo Ezawa previously worked at a cafe in Waseda. From time to time, fans from those days also visit Caro Amico.

The restaurant also has deep ties to Waseda University. For example, there are Waseda University students working as staff at the shop, and a collaboration called "Zuppa di Pesce," which is seafood soup stewed with tomatoes, using fish provided by the fishing student clubs "Waseda Tsurino-kai(早大釣の会)'' (official student clubs).

Left: Exterior of the store. At lunchtime, there are many customers who are Waseda University students or those who work nearby, and on weekends it seems to be crowded with families.
Right: Inside the store. There are about 12 seats on the first floor.You can enjoy your meal in a homely atmosphere where you can easily talk to the owner. There are 18 seats on the second floor, which can be reserved for private use.

There are two types of main dishes for lunch, and you can choose from weekly pasta and risotto. The set includes focaccia, salad, and drink for 1,100 yen! You can order a large portion for an additional 100 yen, a refill of focaccia for an additional 100 yen, and a lunch dolce (dessert) for an additional 300 yen. The main dishes of the day were "Swordfish Ragu and Potato Risotto'' and "Chicken Breast and Mushroom Peperoncino/Spaghettini''. First, I ordered "Swordfish Ragu and Potato Risotto" and chose iced cocoa for my drink. I also ordered the extravagant Dolce.

Weekly lunch set, "Swordfish ragu and potato risotto" 1,100 yen. For this drink, I ordered iced cocoa, but I heard that hand-drip charcoal roasted coffee is also popular.

Swordfish and potatoes are a rare combination. I took a sip while wondering what it would taste like. The first thing I notice is the pleasant aroma of butter, and then the umami of seafood gradually becomes stronger and harmonizes in my mouth. The swordfish and potatoes are soft stewed in white wine, and go perfectly with the rice. The elegant taste that brings out the deliciousness of the ingredients is irresistible. My appetite increases and the plate is empty in no time. Swordfish is high in protein, low in fat, rich in nutrients, and is said to be good for dieting, so it's great to be able to eat it without feeling guilty. Additionally, the accompanying salad is hearty and packed with crunchy fresh vegetables.

The cocoa drinks are carefully made over a period of two hours every day. The process of boiling cocoa powder, sugar, and water and then turning off the heat is repeated 7 to 8 times, and then the process is completed by slowly cooking on low heat for about 40 minutes. The resulting cocoa has a rich yet mellow taste. I can enjoy a luxurious drink that doesn't seem like it's a set drink. The Dolce panna cotta that I ordered additionally was also handmade by the chef. Smooth panna cotta with just the right amount of sweetness and fresh blueberry sauce intertwine to create a very bono dish! I should have been full from the risotto, but before I knew it I had eaten it all. It was a very satisfying lunch.

Left: Lunch Dolce's "Panna Cotta Blueberry Sauce" 300 yen
Right: Cocoa being simmered. Other popular drinks, such as cranberry juice, herbal lemonade, and chai, which the owner takes time to prepare each day are also popular. Many people visit the store just for the drinks.

Another lunch menu item, "Chicken Breast and Mushroom Peperoncino/Spaghettini,'' is a dish that pairs juicy seasonal mushrooms with tender chicken breast cooked at a low temperature. The flavor of the mushrooms melts into the olive oil, and the more I mix it with the pasta, the richer the flavor becomes. At first, I thought the seasoning was a bit spicy, but as I continued eating, I became addicted to the spiciness. The deliciousness leaves I wanting to come back again! It was a masterpiece that made me think so. Mushrooms are used this time, as is typical for fall and winter, but you can also enjoy a menu with a seasonal feel, such as incorporating other seasonal ingredients such as turnips, sweet potatoes, and lotus roots.

"Chicken Breast and Mushroom Peperoncino/Spaghettini" is a low-calorie combination that is satisfying to eat!

Caro Amico has a lot of menu items that I can't introduce yet. At dinner time from 5:30 pm, you can enjoy a menu that uses seafood flown in from Kyushu, such as carpaccio and sardine and fennel pasta. In addition, most of the menu, from focaccia to desserts to drinks, is handmade, and the owner wants to help people live a healthy life through cooking. "Caro amico" is a restaurant where you can enjoy a variety of delicious and healthy dishes made with seasonal ingredients and seafood. Why not visit this shop that is loved by people who love Waseda?

store information
[Store name] caro amico
[Address] 1-8-18 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
[TEL] 03-6273-9906
[Business hours] Lunch: 11:00-15:00, Dinner: 17:30-23:00 (Last order: food 21:00, drinks 22:00.On Wednesdays, lunch only)
[Regular holiday] Sunday
[Website]https://caroamico.owst.jp/
[Instragram]@caroamico.waseda

*All prices in the article include tax.