The sharing of sustenance and drawn-out conversations are customary of izakaya setups. That said, my dining partner asserted opposing desires when she alluded to the restaurant's ambience being unfavourable for photo-taking and resorted to ordering a single entrée without alcohol pairing. I silently argued that dim lighting was an intentional choice to create a comfortable gathering environment, while communal dining was to promote interactions within the party in a casual manner.
Meanwhile, a Beef Yaki Udon was requested across from me. The dish was remarkably basic for its associated seventeen-dollar price tag, which prompted some degree of surprise. Defending the selection, she informed that neither udon nor homecooked meals were a common occurence - again, another shocking revelation. (Udon is so economic! But I digress.)
Not all was frustrating, of course, though I did find the differences distinct enough to conjure moderate discomfort.
Many succeeded in obtaining the first display, but did not see success in generating the second.
We meandered towards a fixed exhibit afterwards, instigated by my proposal to justify the free admission.
Minimally furnished was the tranquil space, fitted only with hardwood floors, white walls, a few curved chairs, and a skylight. The sheer simplicity of the room(s) allowed the artwork to take centre stage, as they should.
Some were snippets of winter hiking excursions, others snapshots of my trip to the Atlantic, and another the ominous period between dusk and sundown, where hikers would be urged to rush back to the trail head.