What’s a guy to do when friends come to visit? Show off Japanese culture, that’s what. For various reasons, our tour started in Akiba, and due to the slowness of the morning, it was lunch time when we got there. Pinky Cafe had maids on the street soliciting business, and I figured it was as […]
upper-mid-price
Hanabishi, Monzennakacho (花菱)
I do so hate to double up on posts about a place even when I visit more than once, but in this case I think the inclusion of pictures justifies it. Here’s the original post from early this year. I actually liked Hanabishi better than the first time and would recommend it to you – […]
- curry
- ...
Loup de Mer, Kanda
You call it Loup de Mer, I call it sea bass. Maybe you call it suzuki, maybe you call it a Bar de Ligne, any way you call it, there’s precious little obvious connection with Japanese-style curry, which is what’s on offer here. It’s a branch of the Perignon empire (8 locations in Tokyo plus […]
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 […]
- Other treats
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Sanri, Sendagi (三里、千駄木)
Have you been to Sendagi? I have. Now I’ve been twice. I’m not sure if I’ll be back, but that’s only because it’s one of Tokyo’s cute, quiet, interesting little neighborhoods – and there are lots more to see. But it would be a pretty livable place – residing in the valley between Tokyo University […]
- French
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Ca Marche, Tamagawa
This is a puzzlement – I didn’t expect to find a decent French place right near the station in Tamagawa (not Niko-tama, the one farther south). But there it is – walk toward the river, cross the tracks, and there’s a very palatable, brick-fronted restaurant. If you live there, I’m sure you already know. The […]
Ichiryu, Akasaka (一龍)
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week, this Korean place seems to serve its limited menu mainly to Koreans working in the Akasaka area (of which there are many, especially at night. That’s why there were various tables of women with big hair and fur coats even late at night.). It’s tasty and soothing, a […]
- bar
- ...
l’Edge d’Or, Gaienmae
This will certainly merit a return visit – on the evening in question all we could manage was a plate of ham and a few grapefruit juices since the kitchen was already closed. Still, the ham (and chorizo) was excellent, as was the dark, stylish, green-heavy bistro interior. With birdcages and brass. I recommend that […]
Yamaichi, Awajicho (やまいち,淡路町)
I really can’t imagine a better tonkatsu than this. Should I stop there? This is unfortunately one of those reviews that’s in the vein of “This is the best place in the world, but you’ll never go there,” but it was really good. I wish I could go back every day, but when you consider […]
Brasserie Paul Bocuse, Tokyo (大丸１２階)
In the past I’ve said more than once that Les Brasseries Paul Bocuse are not a good thing. This is based on one particular visit I made to the Yurakucho branch; the food consisted of standards prepared in a barely competent way, and the prices were high. Today’s lunch was altogether more satisfactory, although in […]