[Summary from Mangadex] By all appearances, Western Restaurant Nekoya is a normal restaurant serving normal people-but unbeknownst to the regulars, it also attracts an alternative clientele. Every Saturday, all manner of fantastical beings come to dine, and what is familiar fare to humans can be downright exotic for visitors from beyond. To these customers, Nekoya is known by a different name: Restaurant to Another World.
[Full Review under Read More]
Basic Premise: A monster-girl with nowhere to go is taken in by the owner of a magical western-Japanese style restaurant, whose restaurant welcomes all kinds of fantasy characters through its "magic doors". An anthology-style manga which uses food as its connections between many different kinds of individuals.
My Review: I've read quite a lot of these "magical restaurant door opens up to a fantasy world" mangas, and this remains one of my favorites. While the characters aren't especially unique and the dishes aren't anything special, they're described and illustrated with a care and affection that draws the reader in. The descriptions of the meals and the food served were particularly interesting to me--they don't over-rely on the trope of "wow what is this mysterious new food?". Instead, they offer simple dishes like those that might be present in a real-life western Japanese restaurants, adding a touch of nostalgia and familiarity that makes it feel like a real beloved eatery.
The rotating cast of characters ascribe to fairly common tropes for the genre, but I recall especially enjoying the bittersweet story of a half-elf adventurer who outlived his companions. It was handled with a grace that felt very mature, and managed to toe the line between heartwarming and heartbreaking with equal measure. The "focal character," the monster-girl in question, is gentle and sweet but not especially memorable. Still, she represents a fairly decent lens through which the mystical talents of the restaurant and its chef-owner shine.
Overall: Still one of the best of its genre. Read if you love food and want a simple, enjoyable story.
