Pearls

Pearls’ signature golden French toast starts with thick-cut bread soaked in an egg mixture for at least 24 hours, then slowly baked in an oven. The dish, made generously with Ranou, a premium egg from Oita Prefecture, is one of the café’s best-known offerings. Diners have remarked on its soft, custardy texture, reminiscent of a Japanese rolled omelette, and on the warm plate it arrives on. The menu lists it at ¥1,400. For a less-sweet finish, one diner’s suggestion is to add the maple syrup served on the side as you like. Some guests have opted for the half-size portion, which also seems well suited to sharing with coffee or having as a dessert after a meal. Try it plain first, then with a little syrup.

Another draw is the dog-shaped, coffee-flavoured Wannacotta and the cat-shaped, milk-flavoured Pannyacotta. Both are panna cotta, priced at ¥980 each on the menu. Their playful appearance is part of the appeal, but the flavour gets attention too: one diner enjoyed pairing the Wannacotta’s coffee notes with berry sauce, while the cat-shaped version is described as having a gentle milky flavour. The figures are so lifelike that you may hesitate over where to put your spoon. Choose the dog for coffee flavour or the cat for milk, or order one of each to compare.

The coffee menu includes Abeno Blend, made with beans reported to have won gold at the International Coffee Tasting competition in 2020. Toast can be served with butter, strawberry jam or honey, making it easy to put together a lighter breakfast. Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 15:00.