Deli a Casa

A deli, wine bar and cozy Italian restaurant are melded into one homey affair at Deli a Casa, the latest venture from the acclaimed Michelin-starred Il Centrino that's located on the same block in Kawaramachi area. That’s not to say Deli a Casa lives by the former's shadow. Just this year, it secured a place in the Bib Gourmand award lineup. The ground floor operates as a takeaway bar with offerings of hors d'oeuvres and quiches, while the upstairs transforms into a cafe-style space with a no-fuss interior: overhead light fixture, table setting with empty wine glasses (for what’s to come) and a scattering of modest decor. Order the natural wine correctly, and have it flowing as the antipasti misto arrives. Appetizers are served on a single plate: olives, venison ham, potato salad or ricotta puffs. The pasta and main dishes are true Italian hometown cooking, like the lasagna with Italian sausage and chestnuts, or the tomato-based rigatoni. And, if there's one thing everyone seems to agree on, it's that the roasted homemade sausage with tomato sauce is an absolute gem and that the shrimp and avocado piadina — Italian flatbread — from the deli downstairs is a must-grab before you leave.