A once exclusive hotel in the outskirts well-known to only people in the know, is now on the brink of bankruptcy with a debt of 300 million yen, under the management of incapable and unmotivated staff. The diligent, rookie general manager Sakuri Sana is too young, the new patissier Hourai Haru cannot read situations, the sous chef Eguchi Ryuji is obsessed with boat racing, the cleaner Yoshimura Naomi is an amenities thief, the bartender Edakawa Kozue is always drunk and the assistant general manager Tokisada Masao is suspected of embezzlement. Then an unlikely young man Ukai Naoya shows up as a mysterious guest, and the staff who only have an abundance of pride, regard him disagreeably. No one knows just yet that his arrival will overturn everything about this hotel...
Takeshi, an Italian restaurant chef, and Ruri could have been lovers, but Takeshi was too comfortable with their current relationship that he chose to stay best friends with her. Now, Ruri is engaged to another man and Takeshi is deep in regret. He runs through the night of Tokyo to tell her his true feelings before it's too late, but right as he stands in front of Ruri, an unfortunate accident takes his life away. However, a twist of fate brings them back together once again in an ironic situation. "Eternal First Love" unfolds as a bittersweet story of an everlasting "first love."
Dinner is where a new head chef comes and brings a wind of change which is ultimately very helpful for the restaurant. Whereas in Gakeppuchi Hotel, we have a new manager who invites himself in the hotel and brings about necessary changes. Both of them focus on one person helping change a particular place works.
Goes into the lives of not only the main characters but an assortment of people who go in, out, or around the neighborhood of the bar/hotel. It's also similar since both are businesses and have much to do with customer service. In the end both dramas send out a heart-felt message that the viewer can hopefully walk away with.
