Tokyo needs more brunch places. This is manifestly true. Fujimama’s closed recently, and while Suji’s remains open, I think the food and cost performance is kinda cynical (as in, “We dare you to find another place that will serve you American-style brunch, and until you do we’re not making much effort.”). Hotels are not an […]
Month: January 2010
- Ginza
- ...
Vinoteca Wagon, Ginza
Ginza is hard. If you’re at all price-sensitive, you’re likely to be disappointed by the quality level of places. Italian is the same way for me. But The Wagon is largely a winner, and it has an associated restaurant in Azabu Juban that’s open just as late as the Ginza branch (well after midnight). My […]
Zubora, Nihonbashi (寿保羅)
Geez, with a second repetition already under our belts, this weekly language lunch thing could become a permanent fixture. It’s great lunching with a Retail guy too, because he knows all sorts of quirky places that I wouldn’t find. This one was on the fourth floor of a mostly unmarked building (and appeared even less-marked […]
- izakaya
- ...
Kappore, Kamata (加帆礼,蒲田)
When Blondie was starting to get big, the band had a press campaing under the heading “Blondie is a group!” This was meant to combat the no-doubt common perception that Debbie Harry was named Blondie, and that the guys in the band were just there to back her up. I mention this only because I […]
- Kanda
- ...
Yokohamaiekei Kandaya, Kanda (横浜家系 神田屋)
[Jan 2011: I’ve learned a lot about ramen in the 373 days since my first visit and my second, today. And now I can say with a touch more authority that this is damn good ramen. Get shoyu, add garlic, love it. This must have opened soon before I visited, because as I look now […]
Asashichi, Monzen Nakacho (浅七)
This one was a recommendation from The Woodsman, and I’ve been thinking of trying it for several weeks (since he mentioned it, really). After working late on…stuff…and not feeling like going home yet, I thought I’d stop in and see what was happening. Woods described it as something like ‘a quiet place to drink sake […]
- Other treats
- ...
Hisanoji, Takasaki (ひさのじ)
So I was still in Takasaki, and I went to Darumaji, and it was only two stops away on the train, and I needed some exercise, and I thought, “Eh, I’ll just walk back.” This was a stupid idea, but at least I got an hour of walking in. And stopped along the way in […]
Mori no Panya, Takasaki (森のパン屋)
Takasaki, it must be said, is not a city of delights. There was just about enough to keep it interesting for a day. But not quite. To stretch it out, I was forced to do some things like visiting a temple in the countryside (and a local bath-house, but that’s another story). Now, this isn’t a […]
- izakaya
- ...
Hina, Takasaki (雛)
Really, I walked around Takasaki exhaustively. If you go, I don’t think you need to do much research. Aside from these three, the other place to try is called Sawa, and is quite close to the station. But the third (and final, yes) place I visited on this night was at the far north end […]
Yasube, Takasaki (安兵衛)
Some of my favorite restaurants ever have been recommendations from local people (I’m thinking in particular of Hida Takayama’s Sakana, which was recommended by the owner of a pottery store). I wanted to hit as many places as possible in Takasaki, so I left the first establishment after 1 drink and 2 dishes. This oden […]