Refined dining in Nara Park

Less than an hour’s train ride from Kyoto, Nara’s huge wooded park’s complex of shrines and temples offers much to visitors. Unfortunately, its popularity means that the park can be crowded and chaotic. A quiet, relaxing lunch at Noh provides a welcome respite from the hordes of tourists and visiting school groups.

Noh is located on the ground floor of Nara-ken New Public Hall (as it’s listed on Nara’s tourist map) in a centrally located and quiet section of Nara Park, readily viewed through a glass wall on one side of the restaurant. It’s a mid-sized restaurant featuring both Japanese and Western food.

Menus, providing complete English translations, are posted at the entrance. Several set menus are offered, covering a wide range of prices, in addition to numerous à la carte options. During our October visit, my wife, Paula, and I selected the least expensive 3-course set menu for a weekday lunch. Our cost was ¥2,500 (near $21.50) each plus 5% tax; credit cards are accepted.

Our meal began with warm bowls of an excellent, French-inspired cream-of-broccoli soup. For entrées, Paula ordered an enjoyable seafood plate of whitefish and prawns while I opted for a very tasty roast beef. Both entrées were served with mixed vegetables. A basket of various breads and frequent refills of our ice water were also provided. The meal’s highlight was a delightfully refreshing green tea ice cream served for dessert.

Service was attentive and professional throughout our meal. The restaurant staff spoke sufficient English to prevent language differences from posing any difficulties.

We were the only obvious Westerners in the restaurant during our visit. Noh’s clientele that day appeared to be local businesspeople and families, all relatively formally attired. Fortunately, we were reasonably well dressed that day; Noh doesn’t look like a T-shirt and shorts kind of place.

We highly recommend Noh as a terrific alternative to the park’s street food or to wandering outside of the park in search of a restaurant.

STEPHEN O. ADDISON, Jr.

Charlotte, NC