Pasta and a World Selection of Beer

Many months ago, Mrs. Ibaraki Eats and I were up near Mt. Tsukuba at an old gas station, helping scrape paint off the walls so a fresh coat could be applied. This place became an amazing café which I wrote about.
After a hard day’s work, we took a dip at Mt. Tsukuba’s onsen, Tsukuba Noyu. It is a small but nice onsen located near Tsukuba Shrine. After our relaxing soak, we started getting hungry and it was time to grab some dinner.
My wife had told me about a restaurant she wanted to try that was on the way back toward the city. So, as we made our way down the mountain, we spotted a log cabin-style building and pulled into the parking lot.
That is how we ended up at Pasta and World Beer Andryu.

Pasta and World Beer Andryu

Pasta and World Beer Andryu is located near the Wakamori area of Tsukuba. As I mentioned before, my wife and I were returning from Mt. Tsukuba and driving down Route 408 when Google Maps told us to turn left onto a small side street. There, we spotted a beautiful log cabin with a rocky parking lot beside it. The restaurant looked amazing, and we couldn’t wait to get inside.
After parking the car, we walked up the wooden steps and opened the first entrance door, followed by a second one. I believe that small entryway serves as a waiting area, or perhaps it is designed to keep bugs from getting inside. Either way, it gave the place a cozy mountain-lodge feel before we even stepped into the dining room.

Inside

When we walked inside, both my wife and I were in awe of how amazing the log cabin restaurant looked. Everything was made of wood, wooden tables and chairs, wooden floors, wooden shelves, and even a wooden counter by the kitchen. The restaurant was softly lit, which I assume was meant to create a romantic ambiance. It definitely gave off a date-night vibe.
We were greeted by a staff member and shown to our table. Before we got there, however, I had to stop and admire the beer shelf you see in the picture above. Andryu has a lot of different beers, and I mean a lot. They offer beers from the United States, Germany, Ireland, England, Denmark, Mexico, Thailand, China, Indonesia, and many other countries. They also carry Japanese beers, including locally brewed craft beer from Tsukuba Brewery. It was an impressive selection.
After finally pulling myself away from the beer shelf, we sat down at our table and began looking over the menu.

The Menu

When it comes to food, Andryu specializes in pasta and Italian dishes. You can order individual pasta and meat dishes, but the restaurant is best known for its course meals. These courses typically include a salad, an appetizer, a meat dish, pasta, and dessert, though some courses come with even more items.
That evening, our server told us that the Pair Course was the most popular option, so we decided to give it a try. The course included a Caesar salad, an appetizer, fish and chips (which seemed a bit unusual for an Italian restaurant), the meat dish of the day, your choice of pasta, and a choice of dessert, either an affogato or tiramisu.

Caesar Salad

The first thing that came to our table was the Caesar salad.
What can I say about this Caesar salad other than it was a decent Caesar salad? It didn't blow my mind or anything like that, but it was a nice way to start our pair course. The vegetables were fresh, and the Caesar dressing was flavorful. It wasn't anything extraordinary, but it was a solid start to the meal.

Appetizer

After our salad came the appetizer plate, which featured a variety of small but delicious bites. There was a baguette topped with prosciutto, which was excellent; a lentil and bean dip (I think), which was rich and flavorful; fish topped with onions and paprika that was packed with flavor; and finally, a creamy pâté or sauce that was absolutely delightful.
I wasn't entirely sure what everything on the plate was, but I can tell you one thing, they were all winners.

Fish and Chips

After the appetizer came the fish and chips. I know a few of my UK readers are probably yelling that the picture above is not fish and chips. I know, I know. Fish and chips aren't supposed to come with potato wedges. But for some reason, about 90% of the places in Japan that serve fish and chips serve them with wedges.
I have no idea why fish and chips were included in this course. It just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the menu. That's not to say it was bad, though. The fish was perfectly crispy on the outside, while the inside was warm and flavorful. It was an enjoyable dish, but compared to everything else we were served, it ended up being the weakest course.

Meat Dish of the Day

After the fish and chips, our meat dish came to our table. It looked absolutely wonderful. It was served with a selection of freshly cooked vegetables and a flavorful sauce drizzled around the plate that complemented the beef perfectly.
The moment I took my first bite, the beef was so tender it practically melted in my mouth. Paired with the fresh vegetables, every bite was rich, savory, and absolutely heavenly. My wife especially loved this dish. She couldn't believe how incredibly tender and delicious the beef was.
If you visit Andryu, we both highly recommend ordering one of their meat dishes.

Fresh Clam Pasta

Second to last was our pasta dish, which featured fresh clams. This butter and garlic clam pasta was excellent. The clams were a generous size and wonderfully fresh, while every strand of pasta was coated in rich, flavorful sauce. I loved slurping up the pasta and savoring the delicious combination of buttery garlic and fresh seafood flavors. It was a wonderful way to wrap up our savory courses, but we still had dessert to look forward to.

Tiramisu and Affogato

Finally, our course ended with dessert. As I mentioned earlier, the two dessert options were tiramisu and affogato. Since there were two of us, we ordered one of each. I chose the affogato, while Mrs. Ibaraki Eats went with the tiramisu.
If you don't already know, my wife loves tiramisu. If it's on the menu, there's a very good chance she'll order it. Andryu's tiramisu was exceptional. It was rich, creamy, and full of flavor, and my wife absolutely loved it. It definitely passed her tiramisu test.
As for me, I love affogatos. They combine two of my favorite things: espresso and ice cream. I wasn't expecting much from Andryu's version, but it honestly ranks among the top five affogatos I've had in Ibaraki. It was incredible. The smooth vanilla ice cream paired perfectly with the bold, slightly bitter espresso, creating a wonderful contrast of flavors. It was truly an outstanding affogato.
By the time we finished our course, we were completely satisfied with our meal. Not every dish was a standout, but many of them were excellent. I also enjoyed a German beer during the meal, and it paired especially well with the fresh clam pasta. After thanking the staff for the wonderful service, my wife and I made the drive back to Tsuchiura.

Our experience at Andryu was both interesting and delicious. The restaurant offers a unique dining experience with carefully prepared dishes, quality ingredients, and excellent desserts. I hope we can visit Andryu again for another special occasion and enjoy more of their beer and tasty cuisine.

So, if you're out with friends or a special someone and want to treat yourselves to a memorable meal paired with delicious beer, why not give Pasta and World Beer Andryu a try? Who knows? You just might see us there, sipping on a Mexican beer while Mrs. Ibaraki Eats enjoys another one of their outstanding tiramisus.
Enjoy!

For more information on Pasta and World Beer Andryu, check out their website:
https://andryu.owst.jp/

For the older blog posts, check out the WIX Ibaraki Eats.

https://regaladom24.wixsite.com/website