We've all been to those restaurants where there is so much on the menu to choose from that it leads to the law of diminishing returns: We spend too much time trying to make a decision and once we do, we fret over whether we've made the right one. It's all a lot of work and worry. 

You won't have any of these concerns at New Castle. There's one item on the menu - curry rice, with your only choice being the station. The serving sizes of this delicious, meatless family recipe are named after stations of the Keihin Tohoku line; the last two "stops" are served with an egg on top. The diet size is Shinagawa station (JY480), next is Oi (JY530), Omori is (JY630), and Kamata station is JY740. If you look at a train map you'll see that these four stations are in this same order. 

Kahei Yanagida (the grandfather-in-law of Miyata), now in retirement, is the original owner and manager. A glass case outside houses articles about Yanagida and New Castle, while more line the walls inside. There is even a "Mr Yanagida" doll in the glass case. Here is a shop that has been offering one item - homemade curry - before Elvis Presley had his first hit. No mean feat. 

New Castle is full of character, yet unpretentious. With fashionable shops all around and the International Forum nearby it's a reassuring reminder that the little guy can hold his ground. The next time you find yourself in the area, pull out your train map, name your destination at New Castle, and enjoy the ride.