The tag `Little Tokyo' given to this Cuppage enclave is not just a marketing initiative. The area is packed with numerous little eateries, run - and patronised - by the Japanese: and the convivial atmosphere does indeed remind me of the bustling streets of Tokyo which are lined with restaurants and cafes with nondescript entrances. One such unpretentious entrance at Cuppage brings you into Tamaya, and those who find it will be duly rewarded with a charming dining experience in this izakaya. The menu is in Japanese, which can make ordering rather unnerving, but the service staff are very knowledgeable and glad to offer their assistance. I went for a deliciously soft eggplant gratin with miso paste – the strong miso complemented the subtle eggplant flavour perfectly - and a dish of spicy, simmered kurobuta pork wrapped in rice paper – not terribly authentic, but very good. The selection of yakitori items - including the ubiquitous chicken skin (yum) and chicken with leek - made good side dishes. For something more substantial, the cold buckwheat soba with tempura flakes is good, but avoid the spaghetti tossed with spicy mentaiko (cod roe). Desserts were not that great -, I went for another glass of chilled sake instead.

Wine: An extensive selection of both Old and New World wines available by the bottle, but we would go for their good selection of cold and warm sake.