cinq — Restaurant in Saitama

I’ve been eyeing on this cafe for quite sometime now since it’s always fully booked and they wont accept reservations days before.

Upon entering, the ambiance is very cozy . I just wonder why they don’t put any tables on the veranda / outside? It’s a shame. But overall, the music and staffs were okay. The ambiance is warm.

As to the cake which was what I was craving for a week now, we ordered the chocolate and the banana cake with cream cheese frosting. But I was quite disappointed. The banana cake was too dry. The frosting was too little. I wasn’t able to eat everything because I ran out of frosting. Afterall, it wasn’t a double layered frosting. I think it’s more of a pound cake than the typical soft and moist cake. The chocolate was okay. It’s quite on the bitter side and the texture like a chocolate bar. Not my favorite kind. The issue was that it was really dry, and maybe the sweetness could be more?

The other customers next to us waited for a long time for their parfait. I knew it because we sat at the same time. I’m glad I didn’t order the parfait. It was served when we were about to leave the cafe.

They don’t have set menu (cake + coffee/tea) so we paid each separately. We paid around & 1500¥ each person. Will I come back? I don’t know. It was not a good first impression.

No parking but there are paid parking in...

Cinq has always been one of my must-visit spots whenever I travel to Japan. That’s how much I’ve loved and appreciated the place over the years. However, my recent visit on April 9th at 5:30 PM left me deeply disappointed, all due to the attitude of one staff member as soon as we walked in.

It was an unusually warm day, and the air inside the café felt quite stuffy. The three of us were immediately directed to a four-person table tucked into a corner. Since we had come to spend time individually, we politely requested to sit separately at two two-person tables in the center of the café where the air was better circulated. However, the staff member in charge flatly refused simply because we were a group of three. While I understand that noise between tables might be a concern, we made it clear that we each wanted to enjoy our time quietly and independently. Still, the staff insisted we remain seated together at the corner table. We chose to stay silent and comply, not wanting to let this ruin our time.

Unfortunately, the experience continued to deteriorate. The iced coffee I received was neither well-chilled nor properly prepared it lacked sufficient ice and tasted flat. Despite there being no new customers at the time, it was hard to even get a staff member’s attention, as they were busy with closing preparations. When I finally managed to ask for more ice, the response I got was, “How many pieces?”rather than an apology or any acknowledgment that the drink hadn’t been served properly in the first place. The attitude was dismissive at best, and I got the sense that my request was viewed as a nuisance.

What’s more upsetting is that I overheard the staff joking with another employee about the ice request, as if it were something to mock. A moment later, a cup of ice was brought to our table and placed down brusquely, without a single word.

By then, I was genuinely upset but again, chose to remain quiet out of consideration for my companions.

What I found most ironic is that Cinq’s own menu politely asks customers to value their time and behave with courtesy. And indeed, the customers do: they sit quietly, enjoy their own space, and respect others. But the staff? They rush noisily through closing procedures, speak harshly when confirming last orders, and do so without so much as a “pardon me” before interrupting. The contrast was jarring.

I’ve always held Japanese hospitality to the highest standard. It’s something I’ve admired and respected across countless visits. But the hospitality I received at Cinq yesterday was, quite honestly, the worst I’ve experienced anywhere in the world.

I’m not even sure if there’s any point in asking the owner to re-train these staff members but I do hope this message finds its way to them. For that reason, I’ll also provide a Japanese version...

Their black coffee was bold, rich, and beautifully bitter perfectly complementing the desserts. The strawberry and pistachio tart was a delightful balance of fruity sweetness and nutty creaminess, with enjoyable crumbly tart base. The cheesecake was creamy and smooth, with just the right level of sweetness to keep it indulgent. The atmosphere of the cafe was warm and inviting, with rustic touches and soft lighting that made it perfect for a relaxed evening. The beautifully designed space, both inside and out, added a special charm to the...