01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Wander down an alley in Nagasaki, Toshima Ward, and slide open the door marked by a noren curtain and modest signage to find the relaxed, friendly air of a casual neighbourhood bar. Drawing on its history as a teppanyaki eatery, Marui is a comfortable place to ease into the evening over glasses of wine or shochu sours alongside an eclectic rotation of small plates. Diners often start by ordering the day's fish carpaccio, a moist pâté de campagne, or an assorted daily appetiser platter, setting the table with a cold draft beer or chilled wine.
The mains center on two pillars: savory galettes crisped on the griddle and pastas built to highlight their featured seafood and produce. The classic Complète—filled with bacon, egg, and cheese—alongside the gorgonzola and honey galette, pairs a fragrant, browned buckwheat crust with satisfying fillings. The pasta selection highlights clear, distinct flavours, including a whelk and Lake Hamana green nori pasta suffused with the scent of the sea, an anchovy pasta studded with plump shrimp, and a rich sauce made with fresh raw sea urchin.
Midday options include lunch sets pairing a daily pasta or galette with a mini salad and soft drink, as well as fuller set courses spanning appetisers through to dessert. Whether dropping by for a casual drink alone at the counter or gathering with company around low sofa seating for a dessert galette at night, the dining room adapts naturally to the rhythm of the meal.
