Written on: 12/21/2024
Name: 新時代 渋谷センター街店 (New Era Shibuya Center Street Store)
Ratings and Comments
Exterior – 3/5
Nothing special, though the signage is kind of cool.
Interior – 3.5/5
This restaurant deserves a slightly higher rating than a flat 3. The layout is easy to navigate, and the tables are spaced well enough that you aren’t rubbing elbows with other diners—a common issue in Japan.
Menu/Price – 3/5
Fortunately, they offer an English menu, although it can still be a bit tricky to read. In terms of pricing, everything is either on par with or slightly cheaper than what you’d find at other izakayas in Japan. This is a definite plus, especially considering the location is right in the heart of Shibuya.
Drinks – 3.5/5
Nothing special, but I had a few Asahi drafts, and they were nice and cold, which was great!
Food – 3/5*
I wouldn’t necessarily return for the food. I tried the chicken skewers, which were good, but that’s about it. If I come back, I’ll sample a couple more dishes to provide a more well-rounded review, but based on what I saw at other tables, nothing else particularly caught my eye.
Staff – 3/5
The servers were nice but stretched thin between running the bar and attending to tables. Each table has a service call button—a common feature in Japanese restaurants—so if you need assistance, just press it, and a server will come over.
Restroom – 3.5/5
Cleaner than most Izakayas I’ve been to.
Conclusion – 3/5*
This is a great Izakaya if you’re mostly drinking and having small snacks, especially since their drink prices are very cheap, and the location is in the heart of Shibuya. However, I plan to return and try more dishes before making a final judgment. I’ll update my review accordingly for fairness.
*Will update in the future after trying more dishes.
