The setting — a turn-of-the-century, wood-floored bungalow, awash in earth tones — emulates the relaxed intimacy of Japan’s izakaya, where friends and business associates gather to eat Japanese snacks, drink beer and have fun. With its chest-high counters and scarcity of tables, the main room celebrates tachi-nomi: literally “drinking while standing,” a time-honored tradition among Japanese salarymen. Nobuo elevates the custom while staying true to its low brow roots, offering rustic Japanese classics with modern American inflections.