View of the restaurant from Route 58
Update: September 2011
While the unique character and shape of this restaurant may still be it's biggest draw, this restaurant has changed ownership, name and menu recently. It is now named Gajumaru and specializes in shabu-shabu. This Asian way of cooking could best be compared to fondue. The chicken or pork (Ryukyu-Agu) is brought to the table raw and cooked by the diners in a boiling pot along with vegetables and sesame. Gajumaru also has non-shabu-shabu menu items. The new hours are 1130-1530 for lunch (sets with salad and drink bar under 1,000Y) and dinner from 1830-0000 (course and ala carte menus, extensive bar). Yen and credit card are accepted. Reservations can be made at 098-859-6530. http://www.gajumaru-ok.com/
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I was surprised to find such an interesting-looking restaurant had yet to be reviewed on Okinawa Hai. After spending a lunch hour at Naha Harbor Diner, I know why. It's a tough nut to crack due to its incongruities.
Its lofty perch certainly has "adventure eating" appeal, luring diners in with a promise of something truly different. What a disappointment to step inside and find nothing but a higher-scale Okinawa cafe, completely lacking in creative decor. Imagine biting into a crisp red apple and tasting grapefruit. It's not that the inside is bad, it just doesn't match one's expectations. Shame on me for anticipating a miniature "Rainforest Cafe".
To give the Treehouse Restaurant its due, the inside is clean, open and airy with a great view of Naha Harbor. Perhaps this is one of those restaurants that doesn't show its best in the light of day, but transforms after dark into an enchanting hide-away. I imagine the view is romantic at night, with the lights of the city reflecting off the water. It may be the perfect date night destination. (Or it may be the same ol' restaurant. Someone check it out and report back, will ya?)
In the meantime, let's talk lunch.
Lunch sets are reasonably priced.
Steak options for those craving red meat.
From what I understand everything is fresh, from the fish that are caught daily to the organic vegetables provided by local farmers. Taste is completely subjective, though. The adults in our group split 50/50, two of us liked our food, two of us didn't. Special thanks to Pamela, Jannine, Heather (and kids) for being my culinary guinea pigs.
"Saute of Bitter Gourd" more commonly known as Goya Champuru. Though it came highly recommended by a friend who'd had it before, Pamela didn't care for it, and it made me gag. Like I said, taste is subjective.
This steak was delivered on a sizzlin' platter much like Fajitias in the states. Heather said it was delicious.
The swordfish steak was raw in the middle and received a thumbs down from Jannine. I had a nibble, and I swear it tasted like chicken!
The sauce accompanying my seafood mix plate made this a two-thumbs-up dish.
All entrees came with rice or bread:
Beverage Bar - refreshing iced tea before the meal, a cup of coffee to follow it up:
Salad bar:
And a dessert bar featuring light, delicious cake bites:
So, Is Naha Harbor Diner worth the 13k drive from Futenma's front gate? I don't know about you, but this little guy seems to think so!
Directions: South on 58 roughly 13K from Futenma's front gate (efficient me set the odometer; feather-brain me forgot to check it). The Diner is on the left hand side, with a large parking lot at the rear of the building.
Payment: Yen or Credit Card, no American dollars
Phone: 0120-859-653
I remember being somewhat disppointed in this cafe/restaurant too. A friend and I went for lunch, and whilst the view is good (as good as a view of a shipping dock can be), and the decor was new and pleasent, we found it nothing too special and havent deemed it worth the drive back when there are so many other wonderful cafes with better menus. If your on the way to the airport, its not a bad place to stop.
My family & I tried this restaurant last summer on our way back from the outlet mall. It has that allure like the barrel restaurant “come try me”. Makes for cool pics but was disappointed in the food also and it was expensive. I did try seaweed soup for the first time. It does look like a few things changed they did not have the salad bar or drinks available. We haven’t been back since. Okinawa has alot to offer..on to the next!
This was the first and last place I dined when I was there almost a year ago for my 3 week adventure and that is why it is special to me. Aviva and her precious little one took me there right after they picked me up from the airport and I thought this was the most whimsical place I’d ever been. For my first Okinawa meal I had a curry set and loved it, but I loved every single bite and person and smell and smile I experienced for the whole 3 weeks I was on Okinawa, so maybe I can’t be trusted. Plus, I am feeling really nostalgic.
Then, on my last night there on Okinawa, I walked myself down to Harbor Diner so I could come full circle and finish out my trip where it had begun. It was dark both outside and in the restaurant and I was the only soul in the place. I sat by the window and had a glass of wine and there was a big screen with videos shot underwater and beautiful music in English.
I ordered one of the best salads I’d ever had or ever expect to have and I sat and just let myself absorb the tastes and the place. I was ready to see my family again, but I wasn’t ready to leave Okinawa and my salad said “Okinawa” with every bite. It was full of the sea, wonderful sea grapes popping in my mouth with every bite, fresh raw fish, beautiful greens. This salad was perfectly dressed with the most exquisitely beautiful and balanced and delicate and subtle dressing I’ve ever tasted.
If I ever get to go back to Okinawa, I will go to seek out my salad at Harbor Diner. That salad again, now that would be divine!
Love and misses, really,
Robin
looks good!
Hubby and I tried this place just last night and I don’t think we would be coming back. There is nothing wrong with the service or the ambiance. It was the food – not horribly bad but just okay. We have eaten in a lot of places on the island and it tasted better than what we had. Hubby had lamb chops which were okay but expensive and the serving was so small. I had the seafood paella and I found myself looking for salt or soy sauce to “fix” the dish to my taste. Perhaps it really was meant to taste that way but it wasn’t for me. I’ve had better paella. We may give it another chance and order a different dish but there are lots more places to explore and eat at on the island.
PS:
The view at night was also okay. I personally could do without the view of the 58 traffic. As for the harbor….it is a port. The lights from the 58 were too bright and “overshone” (if there is such a word) any reflection from the water.
FYI!!!! The restaurant has changed. We went there today only to find out a new place had opened up in August. I’m not exactly what the cuisine would be called, but it seems like a mix of the korean bbq grilling/pot cooking. The tables now have a stove top and the they bring a bowl(the bowl has some sort of grill inside…) and for you to cook your meat/veg in. I saw them pour something into our neighbors pot but because of the grillplate inside, maybe it was water and its more of a steam cooking thing. We only ordered off the sides menu because we had went there for steak so I’m not very helpful. I do have their website though, http://www.gajumaru-ok.com/
Thanks for the update, Ashley!
The new restaurant serves shabu shabu now.