epulor — Restaurant in Tokyo

A sanctuary in the middle of an Nakameguro, an area that tends either toward more commercial or food-focused establishments.

The décor, tableware, and service all exude attention to detail, and love for quality.

Music volume is at a level where those wishing to talk still can. During my visit, where a selection of 50s to 70s rock and jazz records (Julie London, Ann Burton, Carole King, Allen Toussaint, Tom Waits, Pink Floyd, etc) were played, most clients were respectful and kept the talking volume down.

The Japanese whiskey and Champagne I ordered were both served carefully in appropriate, well-polished glasses. And the sommelier knew about the drinks to guide me through the selection.

Epulor starts serving booze from 18:00. In my case, it served as an excellent place to get an aperitivo before moving on to dinner on a Sunday. The café clientele had cleared out for 18:00, so it was easy to get prime seats at the bar in between the two Tannoy...

English & Japanese at the bottom 下部に英語と日本語

First of all, I want to clarify that I am both a coffee enthusiast and an audiophile. With that in mind, when visiting Tokyo I looked for places where I could enjoy one or both of these passions. Among them, I visited “Epulor,” as well as others such as “Meikyoku Kissa Lion,” the latter being highly recommended for those who appreciate high-fidelity audio.

On the day I went to “Epulor,” it was raining, and despite that, I walked several blocks in the rain (without an umbrella) with the expectation of having a great experience at this place. When I arrived, my first impression was positive: the place is beautiful, with good music, and at first, I was happy to be there.

However, that good impression quickly changed. When I approached the counter, the staff member told me where to sit in a very imposing way, sending me to one end next to the speaker. This was disappointing, as I wanted to sit in the center, directly in front of the Tannoy speakers—which I had never had the chance to listen to before—and there was space available in that area.

From that moment on, the experience became uncomfortable. The person in charge, a tall, thin, bald man, was distant and unfriendly: no smiles, an arrogant attitude, giving the impression that customers should be grateful just to be there. This unpleasant attitude overshadowed the enjoyment of the place.

I’ve seen on Instagram that at other times there are more staff attending, so in November, when I return to Japan, I will give this place another chance. I only hope not to encounter the same person again—if I do, I’ll simply leave immediately. My recommendation is that if anyone else faces the same treatment, they should do the same: it’s not worth staying in a place where poor service ruins the experience.

Best...

No. No, no, no. The single person manning the bar/station was terribly unfriendly. Didn’t seat us. Didn’t smile. Then told us to use a basket to place a box we were carrying which was on the bar counter, even though there was literally no one else on that side. When the box didn’t fit, we were forced to put in on the floor. Told us we had to get a drink for each person despite us ordering three items from the menu. Why?? Finally, the coup de gras: forced me to step out when I got a call. I wasn’t talking loudly at all. In fact, many people were making much more noise. So I literally had to step out in the cold to take a call. I mean, why would I return??? This is...