The Lobster Dance

Part 5: An English Pub in Takarazuka

The Takarazuka Kagekidan is all about the fantasy romance of Europe, and 花の道, the road from Hankyuu Takarazuka Station 阪急宝塚駅 to the Grand Theater and Bow Hall, is no different. On my way to go shopping at the 花の道ビル’s (Hana no michi building) Taka-an, I passed by a restaurant called Sarah’s Count, which advertises itself as an English pub. One simply does not pass by English pubs while commuting in the 田舎, so I was already intrigued, but what got me in the door was the promise of a decent sandwich and real beer on the sandwich board.

The lunch fare was pasta, fish and chips, salads, and, to my genuine shock, a real hamburger. I’ve eaten “hamburgers” in Japan–most are actually “hamburg steak,” a kind of hamburger patty with no bun served with rice or bread (close, but not quite), or, as in the case of McDonalds (ew) and the beach cafe near the city, a tiny patty on a bun but lacking vegetables.  In my opinion, the best part of the hamburger experience is the attention to the onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and whatever other vegetables go on the sandwich. The ideal hamburger or veggie burger has equal vegetable content to patty size, so, needless to say, I haven’t been terribly impressed with what’s available for my occasional indulgence in meats higher up on the food chain.

This is a real hamburger. Take note.

I was not disappointed with Sarah’s Count’s hamburger–in fact, it was the first real hamburger I’ve eaten since I moved to Japan. First, it was a decent size for the price–950 yen for a 1/4-1/3 lb burger. The meat was perfectly “done” and juicy, and the burger came with roasted onions, a slice of tomato, a slice of cheese–and a heap of greens!   The meal also came with home fries, ketchup, and mustard (another rarity on “hamburgers” here). To top it all off, the sesame buns on the hamburger were toasted. Toasted! This burger could have been served at Zingerman’s.

I ate that burger with my bare hands. The whole experience was very 満足。

The beer, however, was a disappointment. I am not willing to pay 900 yen for a pint of Guinness. Not even if it’s draft (or, in this case, draught). There are a lot of beers on which I am willing to drop my money (Imperial Stout, for instance), but plain old Guinness? Nope. I compromised with a violet fizz for 700 yen. Because I typically have to drive and/or exercise in the evenings, I rarely have the chance to have a drink with dinner, never mind lunch.  Ordering a cocktail with lunch was a deliciously exciting change of pace. Why a violet fizz? Takarazuka’s flower is the violet. The drink was delicious, light and fizzy–perhaps a metaphor for the theatre?

Violet Fizz

Sarah’s Count
〒665-0845
兵庫県宝塚市栄町1-6-1 花のみちセルカ1番館2F

665-0845 Hyogo-ken, Takarazuka-shi, Sakae-machi 1-6-1. Hana no michi Seruka #1, 2nd floor.

(Second floor of the Hana no Michi Building, halfway between the Hankyuu Takarazuka station and the theatre itself–about a five minute walk from either direction along Hana no Michi.)

Open 11 am to midnight; closed Wednesdays.

Website (Japanese)

Price range: 900 (just a meal)-2300 yen (meal with a drink and dessert)