Dogs, frogs and avocados — you can see plenty of all at Rosshies restaurant in Nobi near Yokosuka. Dogs are welcome on the restaurant’s beach-side porch. Frog statues leap out of any available interior space. Avocados make up a large chunk of the menu, with an entire page devoted to the large, buttery berry.
Eclectic is the name of Rosshies’ game, and though the foodie name for it is "fusion," Rosshies’ menu — from Vietnamese spring rolls to quesadillas — is really about fresh family favorites.
"I may cook regular Japanese food for my daughter, Mexican food for my boyfriend, and Thai food for me at same dinner," said owner and cook Kazuki Hayakawa. "It’s complicated, right? I always thought a restaurant with more choices would be perfect for us."
Hayakawa owns the restaurant with her boyfriend, Norio Shimada. Both work at Yokosuka Naval Base and opened up the ocean-front wooden restaurant last summer.
It was raining when I visited Rosshies, so I wasn’t able to get the beach experience, but inside was warm and welcoming.
Norio mixed me a banana cocktail while I sampled an array of dishes, including lumpia from the Philippines, Mexican nachos, Italian pasta and of course, fresh spring rolls made from Kazuki’s favorite — avocados. Kazuki believes in the curative powers of avocado and offers them sliced, tempura, with shrimp, minced with salmon, with cream cheese, baked, and done gratin-style with tofu.
The food is healthy and affordable, with most entrees in the $6 to $8 range. Rosshies also has an English menu and will accept dollars, Kazuki said.
The only downside is the hours: Rosshies is open only on the weekends and for private parties, so it’s imperative to check the Web site to make sure they are open.
Yokosuka civilian Tanya Maclay likens the vibe to a Southern California beach house.
"We’ve often gone in the summer and enjoyed listening to guitars while watching neighboring firework shows," Maclay said. "It’s an easy place to like and you find yourself going back again and again."
To see previous After Hours reviews, go to: legacy.stripes.com/afterhours.
Rosshies
Nobi, Japan
Hours: Open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.
Specialties: Healthy food all over the map and anything with avocados!
Prices: Food prices from 450 yen, about $4.50, to 850 yen, about $8.50. Drinks range from 200 yen to 500 yen, or $2 to $5.
English menu: Yes
Dress: Shorts, straw hat and flip-flops
Clientele: Japanese, American military, expats
Location: From Yokosuka Naval Base, hop the Keikyu Line to Kurihama Station, get the bus headed to "Nobi Beach." Get off at bus stop "Gairaimon Iriguchi" and walk back the way you came for about 30 seconds. If you’re driving, take Yoko Yoko to the Sahara exit, or Route 134 to the Kurihama Ferry Port and turn right on Route 212. Rosshies will be on the right.
Phone: 046-807-3828
Web site:http://www.rosshies.com/index.html.