Enjoy a Worry-Free Dining Experience at Awazu Izakaya

As an izakaya beloved by everyone in Awazu, we hope that your time at Awazu Izakaya is a truly relaxing and enjoyable one. Beyond delicious food and warm hospitality, we strongly desire to provide peace of mind, especially for those who may feel uneasy about dining out.

In recent years, the number of guests with food allergies has increased, and many experience worry or hesitation when dining out. It would be a shame if a pleasant meal were marred by anxiety over menu choices or even a physical reaction. To ensure that such guests can enjoy their meals to the fullest, we are sincerely committed to addressing allergy concerns.

In this column, we will detail how Awazu Izakaya supports guests with allergies, outlining our specific initiatives and what we kindly ask for your cooperation. We are dedicated to ensuring everyone can dine with peace of mind and a smile.

Awazu Izakaya: A Place Where Everyone Can Enjoy with a Smile

Whether it's a gathering with friends at an Ishiyama banquet izakaya, a date with a loved one at an Ishiyama date izakaya, or a celebratory gathering with colleagues for an Ishiyama after-party, everyone hopes to share the same food and joy in an izakaya used for various occasions. However, for those with food allergies, this wish can sometimes become a significant barrier.

• Does this dish contain allergens?
• If I consult the staff, will they truly understand?
• It's a bit sad if I'm the only one with a different menu at such a fun occasion…

Such anxieties and hesitations can diminish the joy of dining out. We strive to eliminate these concerns as much as possible for each customer's delicious smile. Especially for our restaurant, which values the taste of ingredients like fresh Katsuo no Warayaki (bonito seared over straw) and direct from the fishing port seafood, a deep understanding and proper management of ingredients are essential. We prioritize our customers' health and safety, welcoming everyone with comprehensive measures.

Awazu Izakaya's Specific Initiatives for Allergy Support

We approach allergy support with a multifaceted strategy to ensure our customers can confidently choose and thoroughly enjoy their meals. Here, we detail our specific measures.

Personalized Support: Listening to Each Customer's Voice

At our restaurant, we prioritize personalized support tailored to each customer's specific type and severity of allergy, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Please feel free to consult us when you visit or make a reservation. Our knowledgeable staff will carefully listen to your situation and suggest the most suitable menu options.

• Detailed Consultation: We will inquire in detail about which ingredients you are allergic to and whether even trace amounts cause a reaction.
• Alternative Suggestions: We will accommodate menu changes or substitutions with allergen-free ingredients whenever possible. Especially for main dishes like Katsuo no Warayaki, we will flexibly consider adjustments based on your situation.
• Recording Individual Needs: We strive to record consulted information whenever possible to ensure smooth service during your next visit.

Thorough Ingredient Management and the Assurance of Direct from the Fishing Port

Ingredients, which form the basis of our cuisine, are the most crucial element in allergy management. At our restaurant, we maintain thorough ingredient control consistently, from procurement to preparation.

• Freshness and Information from Direct from the Fishing Port: For fresh seafood direct from the fishing port, we know even the day's catch information, allowing us to provide more detailed information. Through close collaboration with our suppliers, we strive to secure safe and secure ingredients.
• Thorough Allergen Labeling: We understand the major allergen information for all ingredients and are prepared to answer customer inquiries quickly and accurately.
• Procurement from Specialized Suppliers: When using processed foods, we only source from reliable specialized suppliers with clear allergen labeling.

Measures to Prevent Cross-Contamination in the Kitchen

In allergy management, preventing cross-contamination in the kitchen is extremely important. Our restaurant implements the following measures:

• Separate Cooking Utensils: When preparing ingredients containing allergens and those without, we separate cooking utensils (knives, cutting boards, pots, etc.) as much as possible and ensure thorough cleaning.
• Separation of Cooking Areas: Although space is limited, we delineate cooking areas and exercise the utmost caution when preparing allergy-friendly meals.
• Staff Hygiene Management: Our cooking staff strictly adheres to hygiene management, including thorough handwashing and glove usage, constantly mindful of preventing allergen transfer to other ingredients.

Menu Development with Allergy Support in Mind

Developing menus that contain as few allergens as possible from the outset is also a crucial initiative for us. By increasing the number of dishes everyone can enjoy, we aim to expand our customers' choices.

• Menus Avoiding Specific Allergens: We are actively engaged in developing menus that do not use major allergens (eggs, dairy, wheat, etc.) or utilize alternative ingredients.
• Innovations for Easy Ingredient Modification: We devise menu compositions to make it easy to omit or substitute specific ingredients. For instance, even for Katsuo no Warayaki, a signature dish of Awazu Izakaya, the type of condiments or cooking method may be adjustable according to customer requests.

Allergy Training and Awareness Improvement for All Staff

For allergy support, it is essential that all employees, including both kitchen and service staff, share a common understanding. We strive to improve knowledge and awareness through regular training.

• Basic Allergy Knowledge: We share accurate knowledge about the types, symptoms, and severity of allergies.
• Customer Service Methods: We refine practical skills such as how to conduct interviews with customers, how to accurately transmit information to the kitchen, and what to do in case of an emergency.
• Thorough Information Sharing: All staff members share the latest information on allergy support, working together as a team to provide a safe dining environment.

Steps to Communicate Your Allergies and Enjoy a Safe Meal at Awazu Izakaya

For customers to use Awazu Izakaya with peace of mind, information provided by you is extremely important. By following these steps, you can receive smooth allergy support:

1. Inform Us When Booking or Arriving:
   • When making a reservation, please mention your allergies and specific details in the comments section of your phone or online booking so we can prepare in advance.
   • If you are walking in, please inform the staff directly when being guided to your seat.
2. Communicate Specifically and in Detail:
   • Instead of just saying I have an egg allergy, providing details like even trace amounts of egg cause a reaction or I need to avoid ingredients in processed foods will allow for more accurate assistance.
   • If you have multiple allergies, please mention all of them without omission.
3. Feel Free to Ask Questions About Anything Unclear:
   • If you have any concerns about the menu, please feel free to ask our staff. The responsible staff member will confirm on the spot and explain.
   • Please ask any questions you have, such as about seafood direct from the fishing port or the cooking method for Katsuo no Warayaki.
4. Reconfirm the Served Dish:
   • When your dish is served, it is safer to double-check that your provided allergy information has been reflected. If you have any doubts, please speak to a staff member immediately.

We believe that such information from our customers is the most crucial bridge to ensuring your safe dining experience. Please do not hesitate to share your requests with us.

A Dining Table Where Everyone Smiles at Awazu Izakaya

Awazu Izakaya is committed to delivering delicious, seasonal dishes to everyone, including fresh seafood direct from the fishing port and our specialty Katsuo no Warayaki. We aspire to be a preferred location for an Ishiyama banquet izakaya, an Ishiyama after-party, and an Ishiyama date izakaya.

We want both customers with and without food allergies to experience the same joy and delight without distinction. To achieve this, we view our allergy support initiatives not merely as an obligation but as an integral part of our deep hospitality towards our customers.

Please enjoy delicious food and conversation with your loved ones to your heart's content, free from allergy worries. We will continue our efforts to ensure everyone leaves with a That was delicious! smile. We sincerely look forward to welcoming you to Awazu Izakaya.