One of Tokyo’s old towns, Nezu is rich in feeling of people’s daily lives with charming wooden houses despite its location in central Tokyo. Japanese-style cafe “Sabou Hantei” is there. Hantei is known as a restaurant famous for kushiage or skewers of food dipped in breadcrumbs and deep-fried, but they have a cafe separately in the same building.
The beautiful three-storied wooden structure has about 100-year old history and came through a big earthquake and air raids. Due to the road-expansion project, a part of the building was cut out about 8 years ago and renovated with modern iron facade. The modern side is the entrance to the cafe.
As soon as we sat at one end of the table, the staff served a glass of cold barely tea. The cafe offers lunch and Japanese desserts.
What are Japanese desserts? In my opinion, they are similar to other Asian countries’ desserts. I suppose the difference is using rice dumplings, agar jelly and sweet bean paste 
instead of tapioca and sweetened coconut milk.
Well, I placed an order for goma-goma shiratama, rice dumplings with thick sweetened sesame sauce and ice cream. I can say freshly-made rice dumplings are their specialties.
As for lunch, they offer set meals centered on homey Japanese food at around 1200-1800yen, which also look good.
After walking around old-fashioned Nezu or Yanaka area, would you like Japanese desserts like Tokyoites?
Sabou Hantei (map)
2-12-15, Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Open Tue-Fri 11:30-15:00, Sat 11:30-18:00, closed on Sun & Mon
Lunch menu in English & Japanese
Desserts menu in Japanese
Friendly English-speaking staff will help you.