Restaurant to Another World

Restaurant to Another World (異世界食堂, Isekai Shokudō) is a Japanese light novel series written by Junpei Inuzuka, with illustrations by Katsumi Enami. Shufunotomo released four volumes of the series. An anime television series adaptation by Silver Link aired from July 3 to September 18, 2017.

Plot

The Western Restaurant Nekoya (洋食のねã"ã‚„, Yōshoku no Nekoya) is a restaurant situated in a mundane corner of an undisclosed Tokyo shopping district which, despite its name, offers a lot of Japanese dishes in addition to Western ones. It opens during usual business hours and closed during holidays and weekends. But secretly it is open on Saturdays, as on this particular day it creates doorways to another world inhabited by elves, dragons, animal men and other fantastic creatures, who enter the restaurant and partake on its menu, with many of them becoming regular patrons.

Characters

Restaurant's Staff

Master (店主, Tenshu, lit. "Owner")

Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe (Japanese); Christopher R. Sabat (English)

The owner of the Western Restaurant Nekoya. A single man in his middle age, he is the grandchild of a couple who opened the restaurant, and inherited it when his grandfather died 10 years ago. An outstanding culinary master, he enjoys cooking for the eclectic group of patrons that visit every Saturday, as they deeply enjoy his cooking. Resulting from the mingling of so many diverse beings within one space, the restaurant has become a neutral region, since none of the guests - whatever their personal differences - want to miss out on the Owner's cooking.

Aletta (アレッタ, Aretta)

Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka (Japanese); Jill Harris (English)

A demon girl hailing from the Demon Kingdom on the other world's Eastern Continent who, due to her lack of the Demon God's "Blessing", is not any different from humans except for the horns on her head. Rejected by the human world and ending up a vagrant, she discovered the Nekoya's interdimensional entrance and began working every Saturday as a waitress. She later finds additional work as Sarah Gold's housekeeper.

"Kuro" (『é»'』, lit. "Black")

Voiced by: Saori ÅŒnishi (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)

One of the other world's six ancient dragons imbued with death, a power which inadvertently killed every mortal being that happened to cross her path. To avoid killing innocents, she banished herself to the world's shattered moon. By chance, she found the door of the Nekoya appearing in her vicinity, entered the restaurant and, naive to human customs owing to her long isolation, ended up consuming so much chicken curry that her old friend, the "Red Queen", prompted the owner to hire her as a waitress to pay off her food bill. To interact with the staff and patrons, "Kuro" adopts the form of a black-haired elf girl, but communicates via telepathy instead of speaking aloud.

Daiki Yamagata (山方大樹, Yamagata Daiki) / The Previous Owner (先代店主, Sendai Tenshu)

Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue

The now-deceased previous owner of the Nekoya and the current Owner's grandfather. He is shown in flashbacks when the Owner reflects upon the older customers who became his grandfather's regulars.

Yomi (ヨミ) / Koyomi Yamagata (山方暦, Yamagata Koyomi)

Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue

A female warrior from the other world, and a member of the legendary Four Heroes. During their battle with a malevolent demon god over seventy years ago, she fell through an interdimensional wormhole and wound up on Earth, where she married the Owner's grandfather and led the Nekoya with him. Only Altorius knew about this secret, until he decided to tell Alexander when they first visited the restaurant together. According to Altorius, she is still alive on earth despite her advanced age.

Guests

The regular patrons call each other nicknames based on their favorite Nekoya dishes.

Altorius (アルトリウス, Arutoriusu) / "Pork Loin-Cutlet" (ロースカツ, Rōsukatsu)

Voiced by: Motomu Kiyokawa (Japanese); Charlie Campbell (English)

An eldery sage and magician who is one of the famous Heroes of the Eastern Continent in the other world. He is responsible for translating the Nekoya main menue entries into his world's language. His former pupil, the half-elf sorceress Victoria (see below), is also a regular at the Nekoya.

Tatsugorou (タツゴロウ) / "Teriyaki" (テリヤキ)

Voiced by: Hōchū Ōtsuka (Japanese); John Swasey (English)

A legendary swordsmaster from the Western Continent's Land of Mountains. He is good friends with Altorius, despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that they often end up arguing about which of their respective favorite dishes is better than the other.

"Red Queen" (『赤の女王』, "Aka no Joō") / "Beef Stew" (ãƒ"ーフシチュー, BÄ«fu ShichÅ«)

Voiced by: Shizuka Itō (Japanese); Stephanie Young (English)

A female shapeshifting red dragon who is over 100,000 years old, and one of six ancient dragons in the other world. When visiting the restaurant, she adopts the form of a voluptuous, red-haired human woman, with large triangluar horns sprouting from her head; to avoid conflict, she arrives only after the other diners have all left. Because of both her natural avarice and her particular fondness for the owner's beef stew, she considers the Nekoya and its staff her personal "treasure".

Sarah Gold (サラ・ゴールド, Sara Gōrudo) / "Mince Meat Cutlet II" (メンチカツ2世, Menchikatsu Nisei)

Voiced by: Kiyono Yasuno (Japanese); Caitlin Glass (English)

Sarah, a resident of the Demon Kingdom, is a member of the influential Gold merchant family and descendant of the deceased legendary treasure hunter, William Gold. Infected by adventure lust (which is regarded as a curse within her family), she became a professional treasure hunter herself, and following William's descriptions to his personal door to the Nekoya in an abandoned mine, she gets to enjoy the Owner's Minced Meat Cutlet, which was William's favorite dish. In the course of her visits to the Nekoya, she also becomes personally close to Heinrich Seeleman.

Heinrich Seeleman (ハインリãƒ'・ゼーレマン, Hainrihi ZÄ"reman) / "Fried Shrimp" (エãƒ"フライ, Ebi Furai)

Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita (Japanese); J. Michael Tatum (English)

A nobleman from the Eastern Continent's great Duchy of Samanark who is obsessed with fried shrimp, whose taste he has not had enjoyed ever since he left his childhood sea town to become a knight. After having stumbled upon the Nekoya in the course of a vital mission, and after having learned about how to return to this place, he has become an avid consumer of its fried shrimp dish. On the occasions of his visits, he also becomes closely acquainted with the treasure hunter Sarah Gold.

Alphonse Flügel (アルフォンス・フリューゲル, Arufonsu FuryÅ«geru) / "Curry Rice" (カレーライス, KarÄ" Raisu)

Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki (Japanese); Jeremy Schwartz (English)

An admiral of the Samanark duchal navy who was shipwrecked by a Kraken attack and stranded on a lonely tropical island for twenty years. On the island, Flügel discovered a door to the Nekoya, which was then still run by the Owner's grandfather, and has been sustaining himself on the Master's curry rice. After being rescued, he manages to locate an alternative door to the restaurant and indulge himself on his favorite dish once more.

Thomas Alfade (トマス・アルフェイド, Tomasu Arufeido) / "Meat Sauce" (ミートソース, Mīto Sōsu)

Voiced by: Yusaku Yara (Japanese); Barry Yandell (English)

The former owner of a food supplying company in the other world, specializing in pasta dishes, which have become a popular cuisine in his kingdom. His inspiration actually stems from his monthly business interaction with the Nekoya restaurant, whose door opens right into his company's cellar. In turn for the restaurant's Day of Satur income and a free serving of spaghetti with meat sauce, Thomas supplies the Owner with exclusive ingredients from the other world in order to adjust his dishes to his Saturday customers' tastes.

Sirius Alfade (シリウス・アルフェイド, Shiriusu Arufeido) / "Naporitan" (ナポリタン)

Voiced by: Hiro Shimono (Japanese); Stephen Fu (English)

Thomas Alfade's grandson, who is entrusted with his grandfather's secret upon his first visit to Nekoya in order to succeed Thomas as the head of the Alfade Company. Like his grandfather, he has also become quite fond of the Nekoya Meat Sauce Pasta.

Adelheid (アーデルハイド, Ä€deruhaido) / "Chocolate Parfait" (チョコレートãƒ'フェ, ChokorÄ"to Pafe)

Voiced by: Reina Ueda (Japanese); Jeannie Tirado (English)

The young princess of the Great Empire on the other world's Eastern Continent named after her great-grandmother, who is often sent by her parents to her grandfather's country estate for her health, since she is suffering from an unspecified but uncurable disease known as the "peasant killer disease". Her late grandfather took her to the Nekoya during one of her visits as a young child, during which she came to enjoy the Owner's chocolate parfait, which her grandfather referred to as "clouds"; but she did not return to the restaurant until many years later, a visit which renewed her hazy childhood memories.

Wilhelm (ヴィルヘイム, Viruheimu) / "Croquette" (コロッケ, Korokke)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Naka (Japanese); Bruce Carrey (English)

The founder and first ruler of the Great Empire. He is also Adelheid's late grandfather, whom he on her last visit before his demise took to the Nekoya to alleviate her loneliness from being away from her family. He was nicknamed after his passion for the restaurant's croquettes.

Lionel (ライオネル, Raioneru) / "Pork Cutlet Rice Bowl" (カツ丼, Katsudon)

Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama (Japanese); Jeremy Inman (English)

One of the Owner's grandfather's oldest patrons, Lionel is a powerful lion man warrior from the Demon Kingdom and the former leader of a raider gang who was captured and seemed destined to end his days as a gladiator slave. He was spared this fate when the Nekoya door incidentally appeared right inside his holding cell. After having been strengthened by the food he was served there, he won his freedom in less than a year (a feat never before accomplished) and stayed on as a gladiator champion, ever since returning to partake in the Nekoya's pork cutlet rice bowl dish for the past twenty years.

Gaganpo (ガガンポ) / "Omelette Rice" (オムライス, Omuraisu)

Voiced by: Makoto Yasumura (Japanese); Tyson Rinehart (English)

A lizardman hailing from the marshlands of the most southeastern tip of the other world's Eastern Continent. Already an adult at the age of eight years, he is a veteran hunter and warrior among his tribe, the Blue Tails. His tribe was visited by the Nekoya door about thirty years ago; and as a result of its wondrous appearance and the delicious food found on the other side, the site where the door appears is now a sacred spot for the tribe, who sends its worthiest champion through the door every Saturday to bring back some of the restaurant's omelette rice for the tribe to enjoy. As champion, Gaganpo is entitled to eat his own share inside the shop, a luxury that motivates him to consistently be the champion of his tribe.

Fardania (ファルダニア, Farudania)

Voiced by: Yōko Hikasa (Japanese); Dawn M. Bennett (English)

A young female wood elf who is a half-orphan and doted on by her constantly worried father. While gathering ingredients for her late mother's anniversary dinner, she discovered the door to the Nekoya, and when the restaurant's usual menu did not appeal to her due to her vegan disposition, the Owner created a tofu dish especially for her. After enjoying its taste, she has become very eager to learn all she can about creating culinary delights.

Victoria Samanark (ヴィクトリア・サマナーク, Vikutoria Samanāku) / "Pudding a la Mode" (プリンアラモード, Purin a ra Mōdo)

Voiced by: Yukari Tamura (Japanese); Jad Saxton (English)

A member of the ancient duchal Samanark family of the Eastern Continent, Victoria manifested a latent half-elven genetic strain running in her family line which rendered her an outcast in human and elven society. Choosing the path of sorcery, she became the star pupil of the sage Altorius and first visited the Nekoya in his company, where she became responsible for writing up the dessert menu. In order to store her stash of take-out pudding, she has invented a magical equivalent for a powered icebox.

Arte (アルテ, Arute) / "Hamburg Steak" (ハンバーグ, Hanbāgu)

Voiced by: Ayaka Suwa (Japanese); Amber Lee Connors (English)

Arte is a young mermaid from the other world's southern seas, and a priestess of the "blue god" (é'の神, Ao no Kami) of the seas (hinted to be "Blue" (é', Ao), one of the other world's six ancient dragons). Thanks to her magic, she is able to change her fins into dragon feet, which enables her to visit the Nekoya.

Roukei (ロウケイ)

Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Japanese); Howard Wang (English)

A young fisherman who was caught by surprise by a storm at sea, but rescued from drowning by Arte. In repayment for his salvation, Arte asked him for some money to pay for her favorite dish at the Nekoya, Hamburg steak. After accompanying her to the restaurant, Roukei has become very fond of both Arte and the hamburg steak himself.

Guilhem (ギレム, Giremu) and Gard (ガルド, Gardo)

Voiced by: Tetsu Inada (Guilhem) and Tomoyuki Shimura (Gard) (Japanese); Bill Jenkins (Gard), Greg Dulcie (Guilhem) (English)

Guilhem is a dwarf brewer who once happened to stumble upon the Nekoya and developed a passion for its fried seafood and alcoholic beverages. After introducing his friend Gard, a glassmith, to these exotic delicacies, the two of them establish a waystation at the site where the Nekoya door appears, but retain exclusive access to the interdimensional door for themselves.

Shareef (シャリーフ, SharÄ«fu) / "Coffee Float" (コーãƒ'ーフロート, KōhÄ«furōto)

Voiced by: Atsushi Tamaru (Japanese); Ricco Fajardo (English)

The young prince of the Western Continent's magical Land of Sand and a trained sorcerer. He has a crush on Princess Adelheid, which is his prime reason for visiting the Nekoya, but lacks the courage to confess his feelings to her. Due to his fondness for the restaurant's chilled coffee, he and his sister introduced the drink to their nation, where it has become a highly popular treat.

Renner (ラナー, Ranā) / "Cream Soda Float" (クリームソーダ, Kurīmusōda)

Voiced by: Shino Shimoji (Japanese); Elizabeth Maxwell (English)

Shareef's younger half-sister by a sorceress who married their father and trained them both in the magic arts. She tries to support her brother in pursuing his affections for the Eastern Empire's princess, but is exasperated by his inability to even speak to her face to face. At the Nekoya, she particularly loves the soft serve floats.

Tiana Silvario XVI (ティアナ・シルバリオ16世, Tiana Shirubario Jūrokusei)

Voiced by: Yoshino Aoyama (Japanese); Anastasia Muñoz (English)

She is a Fairy and the Queen of the Land of Flowers. After the Nekoya door appeared in her kingdom, she regularly takes a selected group of her subjects to the restaurant to partake in its fruit crêpes.

Christian (クリスティアン, Kurisutian)

Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi (Japanese); Patrick McAlister (English)

A wood elf and friend of Fardania's father Edmond, Christian is a knowledgeable traveler who, following his own encounter with the Nekoya, has taken an interest in human food preparation techniques and tries to adapt them to the Elven cuisine. He is especially proud of having replicated miso and tofu using Elven beans.

Arius (アーリウス, Āriusu) and Iris (イリス, Irisu)

Voiced by: Ayaka Asai (Arius) and Nao Tōyama (Iris) (Japanese); Mikaela Krantz (Arius) and Bryn Apprill (Iris) (English)

Two juvenile Sirens (male and female, respectively) from the Continental Sea between the other world's Eastern and Western Continent. While Arius is knowledgable but shy, Iris is the more vigorous and impulsive of the two. After finding the Nekoya door on the island where Alphonse Flügel was stranded for twenty years, they have settled on the island for their regular visits to the restaurant.

Others

Alexander (アレクサンデル, Arekusanderu)

Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese); Micah Solusod (English)

A womanizing half-elf mercenary and sword-master, and along with Altorius one of the legendary Four Heroes. He's described as being sharp tongued, despite good intentions by his his friends. After his exploits ended with the defeat of the demon god, he spent 70 years as a mercenary performing work on commission. One of these jobs involved capturing Lionel and his band of mercenaries (an action that later required him to stagger his time visiting Nekoya to avoid meeting him). He is also father of Wilhelm, the founder of the Eastern Continent's Empire. Their relationship apparently suffered due to Alexander being absent in his sons' life, being away at war while he grew up and missing the death of his lover. Upon visiting the restaurant and trying his sons' favourite dish, he visits his grave, meeting his great grand daughter (named for her great grand mother) though leaves before introducing himself.

Balrog (バルログ, Barurogu)

Voiced by: Masayuki Katō (Japanese); Cris George (English)

The "Red Queen"'s demonic valet, who resides with her in her mountaintop nest. Despite his appearance, he is incredibly polite and reserved.

Shia Gold (シア・ゴールド, Shia Gōrudo)

Voiced by: Sumire Morohoshi (Japanese); Felecia Angelle (English)

Sarah Gold's younger sister who has remained a proper young lady of the upper society, although she cares very much about her older sister and visits her from time to time. While she does not visit the Nekoya personally, she comes to enjoy the cookies the Master has received from an bakery shop acquaintance of his and which were originally served to her by Aletta.

Edmond (エドモンド, Edomondo)

Voiced by: Susumu Chiba (Japanese); Aaron Roberts (English)

Fardania's father, who lost his wife Matilda when Fardania was still young.

Media

Light novel

The web novel was initially serialized by Junpei Inuzuka on the user-generated content site Shōsetsuka ni Narō from January 4, 2013 onwards.

Following the web novel's publication, Shufunotomo acquired the series for print publication. The first light novel volume, with illustrations by Katsumi Enami, was published on February 28, 2015 under their Hero Bunko imprint. As of June 2017, four volumes have been published.

Volume list

Manga

An manga adaptation illustrated by Takaaki Kugatsu, which will launch in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine, has been announced. The manga will share the same first chapter about menchikatsu as the original web novel, but the second chapter will be different. Crunchyroll will publish the manga in English beginning on July 2, 2017.

Volume list

Anime

The author reported in a September 7, 2016 blog entry on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website that an anime adaptation project of the light novel series is in the works, later revealed to be an anime television series. The series aired from July 3, 2017 to September 18, 2017. On TV Tokyo, and simulcasted by Crunchyroll. Funimation has licensed the series in North America. Masato Jinbo directed the series and supervised scripts at Silver Link, with Takao Sano and Keiichi Sano adapted the original character designs for animation. The opening theme is "One in a Billion" by Wake Up, May'n, while the ending theme is "Chiisana Hitotsubu" (ちいさなひとつぶ, "A Small Grain") by Kiyono Yasuno.

Notes

References

External links

• Official web novel website at Shōsetsuka ni Narō (in Japanese)
• Official anime website (in Japanese)
• Restaurant to Another World (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia