Obika Mozzarella Bar - Roppongi Hills - Italian

Name - Obika Mozzarella Bar

July 2011

B1F, Roppongi Hills Hillside,
6-10-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-5786-6400

Website: www.obika.jp

Mon-Fri Lunch 11:00-15:00
Mon-Fri Dinner 15:00-17:00
Mon-Thu & Sun Dinner 17:00-23:00
Fri・Sat & The day before holidays Dinner 11:00-05:00

Best Dish - The mozzarella really is to die for or try the lasagne.

Cost - You can see full pricing on the menu here. We usually spend around 3,000 - 4,000 yen each without drinks at dinner.

English Friendly - Yes

Seats - 60 seats inside, 26 terrace seats

Atmosphere - Modern and welcoming

Food - Our salad was over dressed and inedible but everything else was delicious.

Service - Average for Japan (excellent for anywhere else)

Wine list - A good selection of Italian wines.

Functions - Yes

Private Room -Yes

Non smoking areas - Yes

Vegetarian Options -Yes

Family Friendly - Yes, a kids menu but no high chairs or boosters. They can use a few cushions which seems to work OK.

Owner - Wondertable

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Esperia - Nishi Azabu - Italian

Esperia - Nishi Azabu

February 2008

4-11-25 Nishi Azabu

Minato-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-5485-1771

Open Mon-Sat for lunch 11:30 - 15:00

Dinner 18:00 - 23:00

Open Sunday for lunch 12:00 - 15:00
Dinner 18:00 - 22:00

http://www.esperia.biz/

This place does not get 5 stars for the interior or for the service, both of which were well below 5 star standards. I gave this restaurant 5 stars for the gastronomic experience alone. The dishes were amongst the most creative I have come across on a long time. Who would have thought to stuff a baked apple with escargot? See the picture above.

The uni spaghetti was not the usual Japanese flavour which chefs here love to use. It was a rich Italian tomato sauce with the uni gently rolled in at the end. The pasta was cooked to perfection.

We ate the Chef's course which was made up of 3 appetizers, one pasta, one main, one risotto, one main, cheese or dessert (I would recommend the cheese) and coffee.

Best Dish - Baked apple stuffed with escargot.
Cost - The Chef's course was 7,000 yen per person or the 5 course is 5,000 yen per person. Appetizers start at 1,000 and main go up to 2,800 yen each. Lunch menus from1,300 yen.
English Friendly - Yes.
Seats - 22 seats + counter. There is also a room upstairs which seats 20 and can be booked for functions.
Atmosphere - Sophisticated.
Food - complex.
Service - Could be better.
Wine list - Around 40 all from Italy and 8 by the glass. Price starts from 4,000.
Private Functions - There is also a room upstairs which seats 20 and can be booked for functions.
Non smoking areas - All non smoking.
Vegetarian Options - No.
Family Friendly -No.

Elements - Toranomon - Fench Fusion

Elements - Toranomon
December 2007

Toranomon Towers Residence 1F

4-1-34 Toranomon

Minato-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-5733-0222

Open for lunch 11:30 - 15:00

Open for dinner 18:00 - 23:00

Closed Sunday and holidays

www.elements-restaurant.com

Best Dish - The roasted duck is the signature dish and the steak is also superb.
Cost - Mains go up to 12,000 each.
English Friendly - Yes.
Seats - 2 private rooms for up to 10 people each and 52 seats in the main room.
Atmosphere - The interior design could be in any top restaurant anywhere in the world. The wooden floors can make is noisy.
Food - wonderfully fresh
Service - excellent
Wine list - A large selection of mostly French.
Private Functions - Yes.
Non smoking areas - Yes.
Vegetarian Options - No.
Family Friendly -No.

Sabado Sabadet - Shirogane - Spanish

CLOSED - A new organic Spanish restaurant is here, we would love to hear how it is.

Sabado Sabadet - Shirogane

October 2007
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5-3-2 Shirogane-dai

Minato-Ku Tokyo

Tel. 03-3445-9353

Open 18:00 - 23:00

The first thing I noticed in this restaurant was that all the staff were Spanish including the chef. The food is traditional Spanish home cooking and the perfect example is the Spanish meatballs which I highly recommend. Also try drinking the sweet beer from the Spanish drinking vessel and try not to get it all over you like I did! The little figurines in the bathroom are good fun too.

Best Dish - Squid Ink Paella
Cost - Around 7,000 for 2
English Friendly - Yes
Atmosphere - Surprisingly quiet the night we went.
Food - Traditional Spanish home cooking.
Service - good
Wine list - A few good Spanish
Private Functions - no
Non smoking areas - no
Vegetarian Options - not much
Family Friendly - yes

Hama - Roppongi Ginza Meguro

Hama - Roppongi Ginza Meguro - Steak
October 2007

7-2-10 Roppongi

Minato-Ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-3403-1717

Open lunch Mon - Fri 11:30 - 14:00

Open Dinner Mon - Sat 17:00 - 23:00

7-6-12 7F Ginza
Chuo-Ku Tokyo

Tel. 03-3403-1717

Open lunch Mon - Fri 11:30 - 14:00
Open Dinner Mon - Sat 17:00 - 23:00

1-8-1 1F Meguro Gajoen

Shimomeguro Meguro-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-3492-1390

Open lunch Mon - Fri 11:30 - 14:00 and Sat 11:30 - 15:00

Open Dinner Mon - Sat 17:00 - 22:00

www.gnavi.co.jp/hama

Best Dish - Of course the steak is the best dish but also try the fois gras or abalone with seaweed sauce. Both are fantastic.
Cost - Money should not be an object, we paid 55,000 yen for 2 including one of the cheaper bottles of wine.
English Friendly - Yes
Atmosphere - On week days it is full of business men
Food - Up there with the best. I would put this place in the top 10 steak houses in Tokyo.
Service - Poor. I would give this place 5 stars except the service let it down. We were served the next course without the prior plates being cleared, our waiter forgot to take our drink order, the food came before the wine and other than the first glass of wine we poured the entire bottle ourselves. I expect more when I am paying these prices.
Wine list - Excellent for Japan
Private Functions - Yes
Non smoking areas - No
Vegetarian Options - No
Family Friendly -No

Jinroku - Okonomiyaki

Jinroku - Okonomiyaki - Shirogane
September 2007

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6-23-2 Shirogane

Minato-Ku Tokyo

(near Ebisu 3 Chome crossing)
Tel. 03-3441-1436

www.jinroku.jp

Open Tue-Sat 18:00 - 03:00

Sun & Holidays 18:00 - 12:00

Closed Monday

Best Dish - Jinroku special okonomiyaki

Cost - 3,000 to 4,000 yen per person
English Friendly - Yes, the website is also in English.
Atmosphere - lively and great for late night meal
Food - diverse
Service - excellent
Wine list - good range
Private Functions - yes
Non smoking areas - yes
Vegetarian Options - yes
Family Friendly - yes