Former NMB48 member Shimada Rena opened a new cafe last week, which drew a large number of former fans, who offer their reviews into the new cafe’s food and prices.

The cafe is named “saq ＊ cafe”, and it is located in central Osaka in very trendy Shinsaibashi area (just north of Dotonbori). The opening day itself had a very interesting system, reminiscent of overly crowded idol events:

1. Limited to 144 persons.
2. You need a numbered ticket to get in, which you have to line up for.
3. The cafe opened at 11am, but you could line up at 9am to get a numbered ticket.

This sounds familiar!

Next, the special menu was a 1,200 yen cake and drink set. Nothing special: you get your choice of cake and a drink. The odd thing is, that you must pay as you enter, instead of paying after you finish and leave.

The reviews about the place have been mixed. The price point at 1,200 yen felt a little steep for some of the 2ch’s residents who visited the cafe. There were also complaints about the quality and quantity of the set itself. Pictures below:

And a portion of the menu and somewhat high prices:

[table] Item, Price (yen)
Coffee,600
Ceylon Tea,600
Earl Grey,600
Flavored Tea,700
Soft Drink,400
Toast,300
Home made coconut cake,150 (per slice)
Cake plate (with coffee / tea),1200
Okayama Pear Shaved Ice,1300
Domestic A5 Kurogesawa Beef Curry,1300
[/table]

There are mixed opinions on the cafe and prices:

• 1,200 yen per person? Even as a hypothetical average price, that’s way too high, lol.
• Normal customer don’t come here; when the wota’s leave, it’s over.
• Running your own shop is really hard. You’re competing with Starbucks and Mister Donut. At 1,200 yen, people will start wondering what you’re eating!
• Putting a tiny piece of cake on the plate like that makes it look so fashionable.
• She’s relying to much on her former popularity. She was formerly part of that scandal, and she’s just a regular person now.
• I’d like to go after it calms down a little.
• Nothing but guy customers – it’s like a maid cafe.
• I hope they get rid of those numbered tickets.
• It’s a little expensive, but I want to try it.
• I wonder if I can order curry in large size?
• It’s kind of sad that it’s nothing but gross otaku in there. She probably wanted to make a very chic / fashionable cafe.

Courtesy of the cafe’s official blog, the cafe also seems to running it’s own “special event day”.  The cost is 6,500 yen, but it doesn’t say what the event is.  Only that it is an event where customers “will have a lot of fun!”.  The event happens in two hour segments, with two scheduled so far.

However, there are some good points, which make it a pretty decent cafe: free wifi (which is actually relatively rare in Japan, believe it or not), and an electrical outset for every single seat.  Photos courtesy of the official blog of the outlets:

Perhaps the cafe will attract it’s own clientele regardless of the owner’s former occupation.  Regardless, I hope it works out for her.