Cocoro Pottery Cafe

Part pottery and tea shop, part cafe, this tranquil little retreat from busy Smith Street is a haven of home-style Japanese cuisine. Entrees, such as home-made organic tofu (a pudding-like delicacy served on ice), soy and sake Tasmanian oysters grilled on the half-shell, or the street-food favourite, takoyaki (piping hot, creamy, battered balls of octopus), are the perfect accompaniment to drinks, whether organic green tea (a Cocoro speciality) or a sake taster set. Mains, such as the marinated, deep-fried chicken or the eggplant with beef and radish sauce, are generous enough to share. Everything is served on beautiful, imported pottery.