Dottanba, Kanda (どったんば)

Came across this place while looking for targets for those big sake dinners with colleagues…and have actually been turned away trying to go for lunch. It’s decent. I like the rustic exterior, the way they’ve fitted this to look like you’re going into a cave in the woods. Down the stairs it gets darker, and there’s a big board of old nihonshu, shochu, and other liquor labels. Dead soldiers, so to speak.

Nothing too fancy – Todd had this kanburi don. I snagged a piece of fish so I could report with some authority that it was OK. Seemed like more rice than anything else (the bowl’s bigger than it looks); I would have been a bit bummed if this was all the fish I got, but it’s also Y800 for the sets.

My set was this shadowy fried oyster plate; the oysters were small and plump and briny and…no, they were just fried oysters (and 5 of them, stacked, decent fry job). Let’s not glamorize or adjectivize excessively. The sauce almost seemed like they might have made it, being a bit richer and textured than your average Bulldog.

Most importantly, the evening sake menu was pretty much a snooze-fest. We shan’t be going back, but it’s OK for lunch.

Adjectivize is not a word. I don’t really think you were fooled, but, y’know, like that ‘n’ all. Sheeeeit.
03-3518-6557