Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
167
grilled tenderloin beef and foie gras wrapped in
yuba
(soymilk skin). A fun place for a
meal, but book early to reserve a seat.
Akasaka Tokyu Plaza, 1st floor, 2-14-3 Nagata-cho.
&
03/5157-3936.
Reservations required. Main
dishes ¥2,000-¥3,800; set dinners ¥7,777-¥20,000. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 5pm-2am; Sun and holidays
5-11pm. Station: Akasaka-mitsuke (1 min.). In the candy cane-striped building, below the Akasaka Excel
Tokyu Hotel.
Nobu Tokyo
NOUVELLE JAPANESE/FUSION Sister restaurant to New
York's Nobu (and now with 20 locations worldwide), this classy, modern establishment
is the place to see and be seen—and you can count on being seen, since the efficient,
black-clad staff yells
“Irashaimase!”
(“Welcome!”) the moment anyone is ushered into the
large dining room. The food, beautifully presented and served one dish at a time, is a
unique blend of Pacific Rim ingredients (not quite Japanese) with decidedly American/
Latin influences. Sushi and sashimi are served, as well as sushi rolls such as California
rolls (with avocado) and soft-shell-crab rolls. Other dishes include the roast fish of the
day with jalapeño dressing, sake roasted cod with sansho salsa, baby squid with ginger
salsa, wagyu steak with a choice of sauce, and sautéed scallops with wasabi pepper sauce.
If ordering is too much of a chore, you can leave your meal to the discretion of Chef
Matsuhisa by ordering the
omakase,
a complete chef 's-choice dinner starting at ¥12,000.
Nobu has an unlikely location in an obscure office building, but the Hotel Okura across
the street and the nearby U.S. embassy assure it a steady stream of moneyed customers.
Toronomon Towers Office, 4-1-28 Toronomon. www.nobutokyo.com.
03/5733-0070.
Reservations rec-
ommended. Sushi and sashimi (per piece) ¥600-¥1,200; set dinners ¥12,000-¥25,000; set lunches
¥2,300-¥12,000. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm; Mon-Sat 6-10pm; Sun and holidays 6-9:30pm
(last order). Closed for lunch holidays. Station: Kamiyacho (6 min.) or Tameike Sanno (8 min.). Behind
Hotel Okura.
6
MODERATE
C
Akasaka Jidaiya
VARIED JAPANESE Although the outside of this building
isn't eye-catching, bend down to enter through the small Edo-style front door and you're
instantly imported to old Japan. Decorated with antiques and with leg wells under tables
for more comfortable floor seating, this Japanese pub has an English-language menu
offering kaiseki, tempura, sukiyaki, and shabu-shabu set courses (with a two-person
minimum order), as well as main dishes that range from grilled beef and tempura
to nabe.
3-14-3 Akasaka.
03/3588-0489.
Reservations recommended. Main dishes ¥2,500-¥3,500; set meals
¥4,000-¥10,000. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am-2pm; Mon-Fri 5pm-4am; Sat-Sun and holidays 5-11pm.
Station: Akasaka (2 min.) or Akasaka-mitsuke (5 min.). On Misuji Dori.
Aux Bacchanales
FRENCH This brasserie made a name for itself as the best people-
watching sidewalk cafe in Harajuku, but then it abandoned teenybopper paradise for this
grown-up location, where it does a booming trade with area business types. It still has the
requisite sidewalk seating of sorts, on a back terrace of the Ark Hills complex, but the
parade is not nearly as interesting. Inside it's a faithful brasserie replica, with booths, a
tiled floor, and a long bar, making it equally popular for a drink after work. Lunch fea-
tures specials written on a blackboard, along with such mainstays as croque-monsieur,
quiche Lorraine, and hot dog Parisien (though it's hard to imagine there is such a thing),
while dinner offers more substantial fare such as grilled scallops in a garlic butter sauce
and stewed beef in red wine.
