It’s perhaps intentional that SFP Dining, the group that runs Bistro Isomaru, describes their various store formats as ‘blands‘. I’m not familiar with them – the Isomaru Suisan chain, a fried chicken wing place, and Kizuna Sushi seem to be the biggest ones. ‘Bland’ joking aside, it would be nice if there were more of […]
Spanish
Bikini Picar, Nihonbashi (ビキニ ピカール)
Mmmmm hmmmmm, Coredo Muromachi is definitely the new project. There’s more on the way. For now, content yourself with the pleasant view of cheese and tapas at the counter of Bikini Picar, the pleasantly open and airy Spanish contender on the main restaurant floor of the building. The black-and-red decor outside is pretty enticing, as […]
El Pulpo, Kagurazaka
I have a complex relationship with Spanish restaurants in Japan – or more properly with ‘Spain Bars’ as they’re called. Usually I find them fiddly and overpriced. The concept should be similar to an izakaya, with small plates and drinks at reasonable prices. I’ve learned to like the izakaya style – the ordering pattern, the […]
- Ginza
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Ginza de Wine, Ginza (銀座でワイン)
Bring Your Own wine is a great concept, and one of the main things I miss about my years in Australia (really!). In Oz, it was usually $0-5 to bring a bottle in, which is nothing compared to the 100% markup restaurants usually impose (a problem unless you’re drinking 2-buck-Chuck). In case you didn’t know, […]
Sant Pau, Nihonbashi
You know Sant Pau, right? If you don’t know that it’s a Spanish 3-star restaurant, and one of the few 3-stars worldwide headed by a female chef, then you probably know it as the fancy place nestled in behind Nihonbashi Coredo. As Volleyball and I confirmed today on our special “Holy Cow We Survived a […]
- Asakusa
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Waffle Cafe Y, Asakusa
Waffles and wine, wine and waffles. Sign of the times – by day we serve waffles, at night we convert to a Spanish restaurant. Y has the advantage of being one of only a few restaurants just off the Kappabashi restaurant-supply strip, in addition to the obvious advantages of being new (18 months), pleasant and […]
Puerta, Monzennakacho
Frequently, I rhapsodize about the joys of Monzennakacho. I don’t get a kickback from the town council, I assure you. Quite the opposite in fact…do you know how local taxes work in Japan?! For a place that has so many low-end Japanese establishments, Monnaka has a surprising number of European options too. One thing that […]
- French
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Mardi Gras, Ginza
Once in a while everyone comes to a point in their life where they visit a famous restaurant. Mardi Gras is a famous restaurant in Tokyo, being as the chef left another famous restaurant, Grape Gumbo, to set out on his own. I’ve seen it featured in various ‘celebrity chef’ features in Tokyo Calendar et […]
Barcelona, Pitman
As you may know, Pitman has never been much of a culinary destination. In fact I don’t think it’s ever been much of a destination at all, for anything. Nor would I say it’s the kind of place where people base themselves for convenient access to other towns (or Philadelphia). I’d characterize it more as […]
Mishima, Kichijoji
Not to be confused with the other Kichijoji Mishima (美しま), a kaiseki restaurant, this Mishima offers a variety of semi-Spanish food, stick-roasted items, cheap wine, laid-back service, and a general good-time atmosphere. The small inside area, practically hidden behind the bar, is sorta modern and a little clubby; the outdoor tables are glass-and-steel; there’s a […]