Iwata Coffee Shop — Restaurant in Kamakura

We came in and wanted to try one pancake plate. A warning on the menu said it would take 20-30 minutes. That was cool, we just wanted a snack before we started the afternoon. A family got seated next to us 10 minutes after we arrived and a couple across from us about 5 minutes after we arrived. Both of those groups received their pancakes (four plates total) plus additonal food 10 minutes (no exaggeration) before we go ours. Mistakes happen I get it. No staff came to us to address what was happening so we were confused and a little bit annoyed but just chatted and enjoyed the afternoon anyway.

What made this experience noteworthy was that when they came with the plate after 40 minutes, they held the plate, gave us a menu and proceeded to tell us that we had to order something else if we just get one pancake plate to share.... They must have known what they were doing because they quickly showed us the cheapest things we could get. The whole time they wouldn't even put the plate down in front of us. They could have told us anytime during the 40 minutes so we wouldn't wait there getting hungrier waiting for our one plate. We were served by three different staff as well who took our order, refilled our drinks and came with the food.

Terrible and alienating experience. After all that, the pancakes basically taste like warm, unsweetened pound cake with a crusty top. Fine, but not worth the wasted time we could have spent trying something more...

I arrived by myself at just past noon on a Wednesday afternoon and was able to get seated right away at a table with a view of the garden. The exterior makes the place look like a relic from the Showa era but inside was surprisingly roomy and up-to-date.

I ordered a club sandwich with shrimp. It came on toasted bread with cabbage salad and potato salad. It wasn’t anything special but that was fine because I really came to try the famous pancakes and they certainly did not disappoint me.

The order came with two pancakes, perhaps an inch-and-a-half in thickness. The top was a nice brown color and slightly crusty while the inside had the texture of a pound cake. It came with a generous amount of butter and maple syrup to add as you like. The pancakes were delicious but due to the size, I could only eat one. The waitress brought me rolls of plastic wrap and aluminum foil to wrap up the other pancake to take home with me. I warmed it up in the microwave the next morning and it was again, delicious!

The service was top-notch and very attentive. I had my water glass refilled several times and always at the right moment.

The only thing I would change at this restaurant are the low tables and chairs. Perhaps they are from generations ago when the Japanese people were not as tall. I’m 180+cm and my back was starting to strain after about 15 minutes of bent over eating and not being able to stretch my...

Suggested by one blog, I think this place is overrated (at least for me).

I ordered the hotcake which was suggested by the blog I read, but got disappointed because it’s more like a chiffon cake. I thought it would be moist in the middle. The top is crispy, which is fine.

They don’t allow customers to use the outlets/sockets in the store so take note to bring your own charging equipment.

It was crowded, especially during the afternoon. Located in the shopping district, it can really get crowded at some point. However they...