Café Benisica — Restaurant in Tokyo

This iconic cafe is located near Yurakucho station in a long side street of izakayas (one block from the Godzilla statue if you are looking for that unique Tokyo landmark). It is the self-proclaimed birthplace of pizza toast, a Japanese favorite made from a thick piece of toast covered in tomato sauce, some meat and veggies, and a thick layer of gooey melted cheese. If you are a foreigner craving cheese, this is the place to satisfy that urge. The cafe serves many specialty coffees, each meticulously made, and other drinks as well. There is a large food menu - mostly a variety of Japanese comfort foods - and a big dessert menu. There is English in the menu, and many of the wonderful staff speak English or are happy to do their best. The prices are quite reasonable, especially for the area. Thus far, everything I have eaten there was delicious. History lesson: This area of Tokyo used to be filled cinemas and small coffee shops, but now this cafe is the only remaining representative of that bygone age. This is a Showa-era style shop, a place where, in the Showa era, Japanese came to experience "Western-ness". In modern Japan, these types of cafes call up many nostalgic feelings for the good old days. Western items were very popular at that time, so these cafes used Western furniture, served a Japanese version of Western food, and were decorated with an eclectic mix of Western curiosities, sometimes taken wildly out of context. The experience of going there would have been the polar opposite from a traditional Japanese home or restaurant. Keep this in mind if you visit this cafe because it is hard for us as foreigners to understand the context of the old-fashioned Western items and menu of Japanified Western foods. Instead, think Japanese and know that Showa-era cafes inspire a deep and heartwarming nostalgia for a time now lost. So go get some delicious pizza toast and soak up some Japanese nostalgia. This is the best cafe in...

The food was OK. Only 4 sets menu in the morning. I've ordered the scrambled egg one. My point of giving this café 2 stars is one of their waitress. The waitress, short hair, dead eyes, not welcoming face, was so rude toward us. She forgot to give us knifes therefore I asked other waitress, which very helpful and kind, to give us. Instead of accept that she's forgotten,the rude waitress argued "I've already gave it to them". I mean... Hey!! look carefully!! you totally forgot! There's only 2 fork !!! The helpful waitress tried to show the facts but that rude one just stomped her feet away. Moreover, I honestly believe in service-mind of Japanese people since I've traveled here quite a lot, even understanding Japanese language by so. They always say "Thank you" ...like... Always and this is making people respects their service-mind. Guess what... the rude waitress didn't say anything, simply "Dropped" a chance with 2...

This place always has a long queue but I walked past around 7pm on Saturday and saw no line. Decided to go in out of curiosity. Most of the food was sold out so I ordered a banana cinnamon pie and coffee. Not sure what the hype is really. Food took 30min to come out. Pie was a heap of whip cream and bananas on top - it’s too big for one person. The atmosphere is excellent and staff are kind. Next time I will try their pizza toast which seems like they...