Haruki Murakami - After Dark

After the short story experience I decided to give one of his novels a chance. Kind of mixed in my thoughts towards him as a writer. I like his characters, the stories are good, but they aren't enthralling. It's almost as if I like the concept of reading a Japanese writer but beyond that there is very little interest. Perhaps I will give him another chance with one of his more well known books. Again I wonder when the book says Denny's does it mean the American Denny's or is there some Japanese equivalent?