With a name like this, and a web site featuring lots of pictures of gassho-zukuri houses (think Shirakawa-go, the huge thatched-roof farmhouses) you’d expect some kind of Hida theme. You’d be wrong. But if you went expecting some kind of sake theme, you’d be right – 100 varieties. Only a few weeks into the year and […]
upper-mid-price
Lauderdale, Roppongi
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 […]
- 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 […]
- 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 […]
- 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 […]
- bistro
- ...
Bistro Chocolat, Takasaki
Granted, it’s a bit weird to want to go for an overnight trip to a town that you’re pretty sure is going to be boring. I just wanted to get away for a day, and resolved to find someplace that was close but felt far, then wrestle all the interest from it that I could. […]
- French
- ...
Bordeaux Cellar, Omotesando
Proving yet again that there’s a whole world of restaurants out there in Tokyo that you haven’t heard of, and may even have walked by without noticing, or with ignoring, but would be pleasantly pleased with if you gave them a chance. Bordeaux cellar is hidden in plane site at the bottom of a nondescript […]
Momijigawa, Nihonbashi (紅葉川)
For a solid year of workdays, I’ve visited a different restaurant every day (except two times when I had bentos, and a third time when I didn’t eat). And on those nights when I went out after work, I generally managed to get to new places also. Minus vacations and holidays, that means better than […]
- izakaya
- ...
Koyu, Nezu (呼友)
This being part two of my Nezu Night-time Tour with Woodie, we wandered only a block or two from Jinpachi before seeing this place. He recognized it as appearing in one of his vast library of Tokyo drinking spot-related books (seriously), and I thought it looked very promising, if a bit modern. It seems they’ve […]
Han Hyang, Shibuya
How come people don’t write posts for yakiniku? Maybe because it’s always the same thing – plates of meat, cooked on a fire. Still, I liked this place, and also thought there were some interesting things worth mentioning. First off, it’s confusing from outside. The sign is HUGE, and it:s a neon shamrock on the […]