CONTRIBUTED BY KIMBERLY MITCHELL
Raise your hand if you have ever had to wrestle with bored and antsy children during a nice dinner out. You are not alone. A new restaurant has opened up in Onna where the adults can enjoy a nice dinner and the kids can stay entertained in a separate playroom. The proprietors have a three year old son and had found that it was difficult to eat out at restaurants. To have a lengthy relaxing dinner was nearly impossible. So, they built in a dedicated space for the children to play so that they can be entertained while the adults linger and converse. The restaurant is quite cozy and it is as if you’ve been invited over to a friend’s house for dinner.
Cuisine & Sante means “Kitchen and Health” and the restaurant uses only fresh, mostly organic, locally grown-vegetables. They have harder-to-find fish and fruit specially flown in from mainland Japan. The chef and co-proprietor Aki Yuki has studied in France, Italy, and Japan and his dishes are a fusion of these cultures. He recognizes that sometimes Okinawan food is less well-known so he prepares it in a more familiar French & Italian manner. Because he relies on the fresh produce that happens to be in season, there is no set menu. When you call for reservations you can discuss specific preferences and then Aki Yuki will design a menu tailored to your party’s wishes.
Another unique thing about this place is that they offer exercises classes, esthetique services, and cooking classes to support their philosophy of total wellness.
Cuisine & Sante is located near Maeda Point in Onna Village. Heading up 58, take a left at the Renaissance Hotel, go through one traffic light and then look for a dive shop (Island Club) on your right. The restaurant is upstairs above the dive shop. Reservations are required: 098-987-7688.
Sounds fantastic! You mentioned discussing menu with them, they must speak English well?? And what are the prices like??
Thank you! I love the idea of this place we will have to try it out. Nothing better than having the girls entertained while we eat!
They speak english, but they said to make it easier, you could just call and ask for a 3 course menu for $30.
It is set up like an apartment so if you told them you want to eat downstairs then you are down a little hallway from them– about 10 steps away? But there isn’t a ton of traffic coming in and out of there so it is almost the equivalent of letting them play in their room while you’re eating dinner. There is another dining area upstairs and a balcony if you want to eat outside.
Just curious…can you see your children when they’re in the play area? How far away are they from the actual dining/seating area?
This is Brilliant!
Excellent for parents who want a nite out and keeping little ones entertained. Definitley worth checking out! The food looks beautiful!
This restaurant has moved to Yomitan.
Sean, Do you happen to know where? Address or map coordinates?
Yes, new location info please!
They now have a place called Sara Delicatessen which shares a building with a French bakery (Epicel) just off 6 towards Cape Zanpa. They are closed Monday and are open all day until 6pm and open for dinners Friday and Saturday night. The food is amazing!