Where to Dine - Tokyo - page 168

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There's another location in Akasaka, in front of the Hotel New Otani, at 4-1 Kioicho
( & 03/5276-3422; station: Akasaka-mitsuke or Nagatacho), as well as in the Ginza, at
6-3-2 Ginza ( & 03/3569-0202; station: Ginza or Hibiya).
Ark Hills, 1st floor, 1-12-33 Akasaka. & 03/3582-2225. www.auxbacchanales. Main dishes ¥1,980-
¥3,700; set dinner ¥5,000; set lunches ¥950-¥1,900 (¥2,900 Sat-Sun). AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 10am-
11pm; Sun and holidays 11am-10pm. Closed 1 day a month (usually 2nd Sun). Station: Tameiko Sanno
(3 min.) or Roppongi Itchome (2 min.). At the back of the Ark Mori Building, off Roppongi Dori.
daidaiya VARIED JAPANESE/NOUVELLE JAPANESE Upon exiting
the elevator, you'll be forgiven for confusedly thinking you've landed in a nightclub rather
than a restaurant—daidaiya's dark, theatrical entrance is the first clue that this is not your
ordinary Japanese restaurant. The dining room, a juxtaposition of modern and tradi-
tional with a slate stone floor, shoji screens, warm woods, and black furniture, is rather
like the cuisine—a curious mix of traditional Japanese food and original nouvelle cre-
ations, all mouthwateringly good. Pop music or jazz plays in the background, and for
dinner, gauzy sheets of fabric are hung from the ceiling to create tiny, tête-à-tête dining
cubicles for couples. Tatami seating is also available, with views over Akasaka. An Eng-
lish-language seasonal menu lists such intriguing entrees as Japanese beef filet with foie
gras and whole chicken leg deep-fried and then topped with a sweet sauce and served
with risotto. Lunch sets, including obento, are equally satisfying. I love this place.
There's a branch located on the third floor of the Nowa Building, 3-37-12 Shinjuku
( & 03/5362-7173; station: Shinjuku).
Bellevie Akasaka Building, 9th floor, 3-1-6 Akasaka. & 03/3588-5087. www.chanto.com. Reservations
recommended for dinner. Main dishes ¥1,500-¥3,500; set dinners ¥6,300-¥8,400; set lunches ¥1,300-
¥3,500. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 11:30am-2pm and 5pm-midnight; Sun 11:30am-3pm and 5-10pm (last
order). Station: Akasaka-mitsuke (1 min., underneath the Bellevie Akasaka Building). Take the elevator
from inside the BelleVie Shopping Center.
The Sky VARIED JAPANESE/INTERNATIONAL Located on the 17th floor of the
New Otani's main building, with great views of the city, this revolving restaurant provides
panoramic views and all-you-can-eat buffets, with mostly Japanese fare as well as a mix of
Asian and Western dishes. Appetizers, salads, dim sum, desserts, and other choices are
spread at various tables, while tempura, teppanyaki, sushi, and other made-to-order dishes
are prepared by chefs according to your specifications (top-grade beef costs extra). My
only complaint is that while the windowside tables revolve (70 min. for a complete cycle),
the food stations remain stationary, making for some possible long strolls and confusion
trying to find your table again. Also, beverages cost extra. If revolving restaurants aren't
your thing, another buffet-style restaurant called Top of the Tower, on the 40th floor of
the New Otani's tower, also has spectacular views of the city and offers Continental buffet
lunches for ¥5,040 and dinners for ¥7,875, with the same open hours.
Hotel New Otani, 4-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku. & 03/3238-0028. www.newotani.co.jp/en. Dinner buffet
¥8,400; lunch buffet ¥5,250. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am-2pm and 5:30-9pm. Station: Akasaka-mitsuke
or Nagatacho (3 min.).
Wolfgang Puck Cafe AMERICAN/FUSION This casual, well-managed restaurant,
with a colorful, cheerful interior and an outdoor sidewalk terrace, offers pasta, pizza,
salads, and burgers for lunch (served to a late 5pm), and adds entrees such as pan-fried cat-
fish, sautéed swordfish, and roasted chicken with garlic potato purée and rosemary jus to its
dinner menu. You can depend on a tasty—though uneventful—meal at this chain. There's
a branch in the Roi Building, 5-5-1 Roppongi ( & 03/5775-5401; station: Roppongi).

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