Aux Amis Tokyo, Marunouchi

Continuing with our series on overpriced Marunouchi top-floor restaurants, here’s Aux Amis. Unquestionably terrific views combine with an unquestioned 10% service charge to produce a slight feeling of discomfort at payment time. Nuts. Why does this happen every time I go to the Marubiru upper floors? In this case, Aux Amis came about because Lauburu […]

Les Enfants Terrible, Azabu Juban

Update: August 11: Recently heard and then saw that this place is gone. Sorry I’ve been so tardy to update. _____________________________________ Update: November 08: Salad Nicoise, small and disappointing compared to Lyonnaise (I really think they accidentally gave me full-size the first time). Pan-fried fish, something tai-ish, excellent, served in skillet with vegetables (definitely their […]

Huit, Nakameguro

Cafe Life (in capitals) appeals to me, but I’ve never been able to relax for hours in cafes. It’s always something – the chairs are too hard, or too soft, or there’s not enough to read…and I can’t just sit and stare. The police told me that if I get picked up for that again, […]

L’Oasina, Minami Aoyama

Typically, the phrase “Homeopathy and Natural Food Kitchen down the street from the cemetery” is not one to make me come running. It fails on so many levels… On a random night when you weren’t expecting to go out to dinner, weren’t expecting rain, and can’t see the homeopathy or cemetery from the front of […]

Le Pre Verre, Omotesando

Wow, it was just last week that I found my new favorite restaurant, and whaddya know – I’ve found my new favorite restaurant! Amazingly enough, it’s a bistro-style French restaurant…who would’ve expected that from ME?! It’s always pleasant when you’re strolling around a neighborhood, taking in the sights, and your companion points to a restaurant […]

Salut, Ebisu

Update March 13, 2010: This place rules. It’s exactly as described below, prices are still the same, room is still cheery, food is better than I remembered – mains in particular, where my fennel-stuffed, bacon-rolled rabbit loin was artistic and delicious. Chestnut + cream+ ice cream + candied walnuts + crunchy chocolate topping (like shredded […]

Reims Yanagidate, Aoyama

It’s cool when you ask for a glass of champagne to start things off and the waiter says ‘white or rose, sir?’ I suppose you might expect that when the restaurant is named after the capital of Champagne (and still a word that my crappy French accent can’t negotiate). But it still set a nice […]