Hong Kong Tea House Chinese @ Roppongi Hills

OMG I shouldn't have ordered the ebi harumaki (shrimp spring rolls) this soup is bigger than my head! Sorry for the photo, I ate some already.

Hot and Sour Soup with Kinoko Mushrooms ¥900 (lunch time)

I often find this type of soup too peppery and not spicy enough. Today it is just right and they even used real schezwan peppers, I can feel the tingle on my tongue. 

Prawn Spring Rolls ¥300

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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Diya - Roppongi Hills - Indian

Diya Indian - Roppongi Hills

June 2011

Modern contemporary Indian dining. Maybe not the best Indian restaurant in town but the food is delicious and the interior and views are stunning. Perfect for entertaining or a date.

東京都港区六本木6-10-1

六本木ヒルズ　ヒルサイド　B1F

Roppongi Hills Hill Side B1

6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku

Ph. 03 - 6438 - 1177

www.diya-dining.jp

Best Dish - Chicken Mirchi. An unusual spicy chicken curry with delicious black pepper corns used to spice the dish instead of chilli.

Cost - Sets from 3,500 yen to 5,500 yen per person. Add 1,500 yen for all you can drink.

English Friendly - Yes

Seats - 74 seats inside, 16 terrace seats.

Atmosphere - Sophisticated and modern setting with views of the Tokyo Tower.

Food - Modern Indian

Service - Impeccable

Wine list - Like most places in Japan, red or white.

Functions - Yes

Private Room -No, but a separate area is available for groups.

Non smoking areas - Yes

Vegetarian Options -Yes

Family Friendly - Only at lunch time. One high chair is available.

Chef - Vivek Kothari

Owner - Vivek Kothari

Jin Din Rou - Ebisu - Taiwanese

Jin Din Rou - Ebisu

March 2009

4-3-1 Ebisu
Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-5795-2255
Open Mon-Sat lunch 11.30 - 15.00
Open Sun lunch 11.30 - 15.30
Open Mon-Sat dinner 17.30 - 24.00
Open Sun dinner 17.30 - 23.00
http://jin-din-rou.net/

MAP

Best Dish - Shou Ron Po

Cost - lunch sets are from 1,400 yen including one soup or rice dish, 4 shou ron po, salad and dessert. Al a carte menu is from 550 for starters and from 750 for mains and courses start at 3,000 yen.

English Friendly - Yes

Seats - 36

Food - Fresh shou ron po and subtle flavours.

Service - Good

Wine list - a few only

Functions - no

Private Room - 2

Non smoking areas - yes

Vegetarian Options - yes

Family Friendly - yes

Shabu Gen - Nishi Azabu - Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki

Shabu Gen - Nishi Azabu

March 2009

B1F Hassei Building

3-24-23 Nishi Azabu

Minato-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-5474 - 0224

The shabu shabu comes with 3 dipping sauces, lemon, ponzu and sesame. All 3 are made on site and you can taste the exceptional quality. The waiter will recommend different combinations with each dish. They also have sukiyaki but I have never tried it.

Best Dish - The shabu shabu of course! Also try the octopus shabu shabu in the lemon dipping sauce or the pork with kimchi dipped in sesame. Both are fantastic.
Cost - I don't like fatty meat so I always eat the cheapest set at 3,300 per person. This comes with pork, beef, vegetables and either rice or noodles at the end. Extra dishes and sides are more. The more expensive sets have the same amount of food but higher quality (fattier) meat.
English Friendly - Yes. The menu is in English and the manager speaks English.
Seats - 28
Atmosphere - buzzing
Food - fantastic
Service - Excellent
Wine list - Red and white.
Functions - no
Private Room - no
Non smoking areas - no
Vegetarian Options - no
Family Friendly - yes

Ren Ren Ren - Marunouchi - Chinese

Ren Ren Ren - Marunouchi
December 2008

1F Tokia Tokyo Buiding
2-7-3 Marunouchi
Chiyoda-ku Tokyo Japan
Tel. 03-5252-7361
Open Mon-Sat 11:00 - 04:00 and Sun 11:00 - 23:00
Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g763385/ (sorry no English)

Best Dish - Peking Duck, whole duck is 7,500 yen.
Cost - Lunch from 1,000 yen. Excluding live catches, duck and drinks, dinner is around 3,500 per person.
English Friendly - Yes, no English menu but a few of the waiters are fluent.
Atmosphere - Salary Men
Food - OK for the area but I prefer Cafe Eight.
Service - Average
Wine list - None
Functions - Yes
Private Room - No
Non smoking areas - Yes
Vegetarian Options - Yes
Family Friendly - Yes

Priya - Hiroo - Indian

Priya - Indian

June 2007

5-2-25 Hiroo

Shibuya-Ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-5941-6996

http://priyajapan.tripod.com/

Best Dish - Baingan Masal, roasted potatoes and egg plant cooked in fresh tomato and onions

Cost - Set course from 2,500 yen to 8,000 yen per person
English Friendly - Yes
Food - The cooking is enticing

Atmosphere - Stylish restaurant
Service - well-mannered
Wine list - none
Private Functions - no
Non smoking areas - yes
Vegetarian Options - yes
Family Friendly -older kids only

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.