Wow, after all these years, who would’ve thought that I hadn’t posted about Burdigala yet? There used to be a time when Burdi’s was really a refuge for us – the place where we’d go on days where the morning had just exploded and we had crunched something out by 1 PM and said “Lunch?” […]
upper-mid-price
- Italian
- ...
Beccaccia, Minami Aoyama
I still remember the first time I felt really abused at a restaurant in Tokyo. It was at Stefano’s in Kagurazaka, a few years ago. I loved the food – hearty, delicious Northern Italian from the Veneto region – but hated the bread charge, service charge, non-included tax, and the fact that we were refused […]
- Indian
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Mantra, Ueno
Newsflash: The Ameyoko Center Building in Ueno (long, thin triangular one behond the Doraemon statue) has a big ethnic market in the basement. Fresh ethnic spices like lemongrass and cilantro, ‘ethnic’-looking cuts of meet like pigs feet and fish heads, big bags of lentils, imported pre-mixed seasonings (e.g., rendang mix, just add beef). I’ve been […]
4eme, Nihonbashi
It’s not every day that you get to have lunch in a strange city (just Nihonbashi in this case, so actually closer to home for me, but not Roppongi). Might as well make the most of it! In this case we were accidentally released early from obligations, and found ourselves on the street barely after […]
Sushigin (すし銀), Roppongi (Azabu Juban)
Tokyo will surprise you every time – there’s always something hidden away, even without resorting to secluded areas or invitation-only restaurants. We went to Juban specifically looking for something new, and since the really delicious-smelling giraffe curry place is takeout only, we had to keep looking. Much faffing around with French and Italian places later, […]
- French
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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 […]
- Other treats
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Roy’s, Roppongi
Did someone say ‘hula’? Roy didn’t. I think the menu here was exciting a while ago (either the 80’s or 90’s; before my time in any event) but now suffers from being done by many people in many restaurants. ‘Ahi Tuna Tartare’ was already a cliche by 2000, I think. Roy’s DOES have a lot […]
- Other treats
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Suji’s, Roppongi
While looking for Suji’s web site, I saw another reviewer describe it as ‘unwelcoming’. I don’t know that I’d agree with that – it’s just like being in America. And how can anything American be unwelcoming? On a rainy day when you’ve woken up to find yourself employed by a different and significantly more Japanese […]
- French
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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 […]
La Brace, Roppongi (Azabu-Juban)
This place should have a nickname in my team, but it doesn’t. We have ‘The Oyaji Place’, ‘The Duck Place’, ‘The Weird Chinese Place’, ‘The Too Much Food Place’, etc. For a while Burdigala was ‘The Good Value Italian Place’, but that was mainly because of the bread (which changed, along with the increased price […]