I haven’t been to the new Hapa Izakaya that cleaned up the old Urban Well spot on Yew, but Alexandra Gill has and here are a couple tidbits from her write up:
It’s all very slick and attractive, but there’s something missing. The restaurant is a little less noisy, a little less steamy and – ah, that’s it. As opposed to the original Hapa, where nearly half the clientele is Asian, everyone here (save the waitresses and kitchen staff) is white.
By the end of the evening, when the beautiful people had trotted out and the waitresses began clearing the tables and stacking chairs, I felt like a tourist who had overstayed her welcome.
Hapa Izakaya will no doubt do well in this resort-style neighbourhood just up from Kits Beach. Me? I prefer the original. It just feels a little more edgy and a lot less contrived.
I’ve left out her comments about the food, so be sure to read her whole review. Sounds like Kibune will do just fine next door.
