SHIBUYA: CUJORL Italian Lunch... comfy interior and excellent service.

A Lunch 1,000yen (Pasta), B Lunch 1,800 and C Lunch 2,400yen~...  great price points for lunch.

Layout of this restaurant was great... spacious counter seating and comfy table seats.  If you wander in alone the friendly staff will chat with you and make you feel at home.

We both went for the A-Lunch course that included bread, huge salad, pasta and an after lunch drink.

Don't let the pic fool ya but this salad was massive... couldn't finish it before the pasta arrived so was workin on it throughout lunch~... fresh fresh.

My friend ordered the Crab Tomato Pasta... very delicate and tasty.

I had the chicken and white radish in cream sauce... the radish was very soft and juicy.  Enjoyed this dish.

Close with Hot Tea...

and my Ice Tea...

Overall a great little spot in the back alleys of the quieter Shibuya district.  Definitely a very relaxing spot with a very attentive friendly staff.   My friend mentioned that today's menu was just regular so I assume some of the rotating lunch specials can be even better than what we had~... Looking forward to my next visit!

Shop: CUJORL or クヨール

Shop Website:  http://cujorl.jp/

Foodie Website:  http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130301/13059677/

Facebook Fan Page: http://ja-jp.facebook.com/pages/cujorl/175743459147441

Address J: 東京都渋谷区桜丘町22-8 縣ビル １Ｆ

Address E:  Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Sakuragaokacho 22-8
MAP:

View Larger Map

GINZA: Grill and Wine Bar Arossa... Hands down great 1,050yen Lunch in posh Ginza!

Its been a long time 8F... I've been to Arossa in Ginza just a hand full of times but each visit greets me with a totally new lunch special.

There is only 1 daily special for a very reasonable 1,050yen in the heart of Ginza.  Comes with water, good size salad, fresh bread, soup, main course, dessert and tea or coffee.  

The waiter will greet you at the entrance to inform you that their is only one special course during lunch... simply say "hai."  Then he'll seat ya.  Started with a great salad with hints of bacon bits and an original dressing... very very good.

A very nice dish of Minestrone soup follows the salad.

There are 4 counter seats if you go alone or just want to watch the chef at work.

Main dish arrives.  Hamburger steak topped with mustard red wine sauce and a side of mashed potatoes.  A great burger for sure...

Then followed with pineapple ice in a little chilled glass cup.

Course ends with your choice of Coffee (Hot/Ice) or Tea.

This shop is extremely generous in their number of dishes for the low lunch price of 1,050 yen.  

I arrived at 11:40am and by noon it was completely full... a solid 80-90% of the lunch goers were ladies... If you ever need convincing to enter a restaurant just find a spot that's full of women... Japanese OL's are always in the know of where is good at a reasonable value. 

The building faces ABC-Mart in Ginza.   I'll definitely be back again!

My Previous Arossa Entry:

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2010/02/ginza-arossa-grill-and-wine-bar-1050.html

Shop: Grill and Wine Bar Arossa

Location: Ginza

Shop Website: http://www.pjgroup.jp/arossa/english/index.html

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13038526/

Address J: 東京都中央区銀座2-4-6 銀座ベルビア館 8Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Ginza 2-4-6,  Ginza Velvia Bldg 8F.

MAP:

View Larger Map

IIDABASHI: Standing Bar Musso... 500yen Pork Bowl! 100yen Salad Buffet!

There are special TV programs in Tokyo highlighting great one coin 500yen lunches throughout the city.  One of the best hands down is Nakame'kun in Nakameguro so I had to give this place a try.

Three lunch choices: Pork bowl, Chicken tomato stew bowl and Mabo bowl... all with 2 kinds of free self-serve soups. Plus 100yen for salad buffet and 100yen for a drink. 

Its nearly all counter seating as the place seems more like a British pub than a restaurant.  Pre-pay at the register and they hand you your bowl order... 

Even at 500yen my pork bowl was rather disappointing... beef was rather tough and sauce didn't compliment it at all, too sweet.  Mayo topping didn't help much.

There were 2 types of free soup: Seaweed or Cabbage soup... both quite boring.  As for the salad bar the selections were limited and most items seem to come directly out of a can but for 100yen I guess you can't ask for much more than that.  

I sat in one of the few counter window seats overlooking the street with sliding windows bringing in a nice breeze.  Overall this place was definitely not worth even the 500yen when average lunches in the area were 750yen.  Oh well... looks like a great place for drinks in the evening as the space allows for some friendly mingling but as for lunch it was...honestly... just very bad.

Shop: Standing Bar Musso

Train Station: Iidabashi

Foodie Blog: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13006302/

Hotpepper: http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000229056/

Address J: 東京都千代田区飯田橋3-3-11 ばんらいビル１Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Iidabashi 3-3-11

MAP:

View Larger Map

SHIBUYA: Ore Beato Italian... surprising multi-appetizers for Lunch :)

Looking for a nice lunch spot near the Cerulean Hotel and came across Ore Beato with a respectable 3.58 ranking on Tabelog.  

Daily lunch specials outside... arrived at 1:10pm and it was a full house inside... but it was a beautiful October day and opted for the suggestion to sit on the terrace.  There are 2 tiny tables for 2 outside and each chair came with a small blanket.

Lunch comes with this initial dish and a choice of Tea or Coffee.  This was actually a very nice surprise... 6 little items each with a very individual flavor.  

Waiters bring an ice cold glass of water along with your choice of lunch drink.

I ordered the daily special pasta.  Different types of mushrooms in a creamy anchovy sauce. Anchovy was not overbearing and sauce was thick enough to cover the pasta noodles.  Very good.

My friends dish was the Chicken in tomato sauce with several veggies inside.  An excellent dish that went well with the...

....home made bread.  Very chewy... Flavor was similar to pita bread.  For Lunch you have the option of rice or bread.  Waiter said the bread was home made so had to give it a try.

Shop: Ore Beato

Nearest Station: JR Shibuya

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130301/13131475/

Gnavi Website with Coupon: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/gakt400/

Shop Website: http://orebeato.jimdo.com/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区道玄坂1-16-15

Address E:  Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Dogenzaka 1-16-15
MAP:

View Larger Map

OIZUMI GAKUEN: Restaurant Chez Vous... outskirts of Tokyo for lunch :)

People living in the outskirts of Tokyo 23-wards usually head into central areas like Ginza, Omotesando, Roppongi, Azabu, Aoyama etc. for dining, shopping, hanging out etc.  Well this day I headed out of central Tokyo near Mari wouldn't have to commute so far from her town.

She wanted to check out this Italian restaurant that just opened.  Lunch starts at 980 yen and includes a drink/mini salad.

Great little salad... we both went for the Iced Tea.  Mari's in the background... helping her with a few English words and resume.

This was my selection... home made sausage pasta with fresh tomatoes.  How could I pass up home made sausages... I mean where in Tokyo can you find this except at Bernd's Bar in Roppongi.  But after a few bites we decided that this could easily be made at home... nothing really special about this.

This was Mari's minced seafood in tomato cream sauce... this was SO GOOD!!!  Imagine meatballs but made out of seafood.  The flavor was a mix of crab and lobster. The volume was nothing like you get in central Tokyo.  Oishi!  This is selection "C Lunch" on the menu.

Interior was very spacious.  What I noticed the most was that this place had a staff of 6... Nobody really looked part-time.  All men, all dressed in white uniforms.

Ask for fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

Mari loves a hint of spice... ask for this if you need a little kick.  But overall this place was a great value... I wouldn't bother with A,B or the days special D... Just go for "C" Lunch, no regrets.

Shop: Chez Vous

Station: Oizumi Gakuen (Seibu Ikebukuro-Line).

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132103/13034163/

Address J: 東京都練馬区東大泉2-7-1

Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Higashi Oizumi 2-7-1

MAP:

View Larger Map

TAKADANOBABA: L'AMITIE French in a college town (Waseda University)

Mari enjoys French cuisine... and as you can see my blog is mostly filled with things other than French.  So... there was this spot she talked about in Takadanobaba... baba? French in college town baba?  hmm... I always thought great French food could only be found in Azabu, Aoyama or Ginza.  So off to L'Amitie we went. 

Had to make a reservation 3 weeks in advance for a Saturday 7pm slot.  L'Amitie offers an exceptional 2,700yen course menu only.  

My first dish "Pate de Champage" was massive... the volume! 

Mari went for the "Avocat Aux Crevettes" as her 1st dish.  Shrimp on a Avocado.

So our Main meal begins...

Mari's 2nd dish was simply amazing, "Persillade De Travers de Porc" or the tenderest softest pork spare ribs you ever had on a bed of mash potatos... the green baked crust around the pork was... well you'll just have to order this.  The best plate of the evening.

So so tender ribs.

My 2nd dish "Hachis Parmentier." It was a small baked dish with three layers... cheese, mashed potatoes and very tasty ground beef on the very bottom.  It wasn't as amazing as the roast beef but still very memorable.

Dessert Menu.

Tried the "Sorbet a la fruit de la Passion" or fruit sorbet.  Yum!

And a coffee to end the meal.   L'Amitie is ranked a spectacular 3.89 on Japan's #1 Foodie Site and it didn't disappointed.  For around 8,000yen we had an amazing meal that would easily be double that in posh Azabu, Aoyama, Roppongi, Ginza etc.  We think a French family runs the spot... have to clarify this one day.  Anyways if you want an amazing French meal then take the time to visit Takadanobaba... a very vibrant college town so it will be a fun stroll thru the neighborhood.

SHOP: L'AMITIE

Location: JR Takananobaba Station

Shop Website: http://www.zooom.jp/selection/detail.do?id=426

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1305/A130503/13004131/

Address J:  東京都新宿区高田馬場2-9-12

Address E:  Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Takadanobaba 2-9-12

MAP: 

View Larger Map