NAKAMEGURO: Salon De Huit with a view of Ferrari FF/Modena, Murcielago and Bentley

BALS is a great spot to stroll around in with their nice selection of wines, small gifts, food items, furniture etc but never did I try their cafe. 

http://www.balstokyo.com/jp/shopinfo/nakameguro.php

Nice selection of items but beyond costing a bit more than other cafe's its a very nice place just to chill for a few hours.

We were seated in the only sofa seating next to the huge window with views of the main road.

Friend ordered Tea with Honey... 

... I didn't realize they could be this generous with the honey.  A definite must!  Will be on my list for the next visit.

My 630yen unsweetened Cocoa... aaahhh... guess I'm paying for the cushy sofa.

Great little petite seasonal cake selections.  Hit the spot.

But if you are a guy who enjoys tea time with the ladies with the added benefit of being able to spot exotics right outside the comfy sofa seating this is the spot for you!  Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari FF, Ferrari Modena, Bentleys and a few more in the 1-2 hours were were there... and this was just the items I spotted between conversations. 

Ferrari FF dropping off a fluffy jacket lady...

If the comfortable sofa seating is available I'd definitely recommend this place for the views but if not you may be facing in a direction with less eye candy and more shutters...

Shop: Salon De Huit (BALS Nakameguro)

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1317/A131701/13102103/

Address J: 東京都目黒区中目黒1-10-21

Address E: Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Nakameguro 1-10-21
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NAKAMEGURO: Pizzeria Da ISA... this guys rolling in the dough! Open those wallets real wide folks!!

Highly ranked ISA had always been a spot I wanted to check out but due to the size it just didn't have that relaxing cozy welcoming atmosphere that FREY's or Savoy had.

So this day I invited a former Citibank colleague for some of this famous ISA pizza.

Ordered two Lowenbrau's drafts for about 500yen and not knowing how large the pizza's were we decided to just go for one... but unbenounced to us there is a mandatory one plate per customer rule here.  So went for something very light... boiled Octopus 850yen.  Sucker was tiny... all profit here.

Pizza's ranged from 1,650 yen to a whopping 2,500yen +... now really.  Our Rigotta with Ham pizza was 2,250yen... I just simply couldn't understand the pricing of these pizza's.  There was nothing really special about it.

There was a line during the entire lunch session, service was extremely rushed and the lack of staff left customers searching for someone to take orders and issue checks.  

We sat outside and pizza turned ice cold... but unusually it didn't get rock hard.  Great pizza dough used here. 

Great pizza priced way too high, rushed service without welcomes or smiles, insanely packed and well would I go out of my way to give this place another try?  Hell no... I'd much rather visit friendly owner chef Yamaguchi'sans cozy Pizzeria in Roppongi. 

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/2011/10/roppongi-freys-famous-pizzeria-and.html

If you are an expat with the added cost of living allowance benefit or on a business trip perhaps this might be a nice spot due to the variety of pizza's but if you are cost conscious definitely avoid this mess that is ISA on the "Weekends"... I believe the value comes into play during the Monday - Friday Lunch space with Pizza's going for 1,000yen vs the insanity of evening and weekend prices commanding upwards of 2,500yen.

Shop: Pizzeria e Tratorria da ISA
Shop Website: http://www.da-isa.jp/
Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1317/A131701/13103245/
Address J: 東京都目黒区青葉台1-28-9
Address E: Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Aobadai 1-28-9
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NAKAMEGURO: Oguna Bares en Japon (Great Roast Beef!)

Brand new building across from the Meguro Gov't Office that was once just an empty lot.  Taking a walk from Yutenji to Nakameguro and we noticed a lunch menu outside the building.

Two Lunch Sections for 750yen.  Roast Beef/Salad/Bread or Italian piadina (aka Italian Tortilla).... what Tortilla!? I was sold!  

Probably the best Roast Beef I've had in Tokyo.  Light Parmesan topping... you could cut the beef with a plastic fork.  Great stuff.... unfortunately this was Mari's dish and I only tried a little. 

Bread for the Roast Beef Lunch.

My Italian Tortilla Lunch!

I was expecting to see a little meat but it was 100% Vegan.  Kinda refreshing to take a break from meats.  A very refreshing dish.

You can get the Daily Lunch Cake for an additional 200yen....normally 650yen a slice!!  Ricotta Cheesecake on a tart... very good.

Ricotta rare cheesecake wasn't a part of the daily lunch special but looked great.

Very comfy ostrich skin chairs... or is it crocodile?

A little out of the way in Nakameguro but well worth the stroll... they were still in the pre-opening stages so the menu might have expanded since out visit on Sept. 20, 2010.

Ferrari 458 spotting after lunch... lots of great cars in Tokyo.

SHOP: OGUNA Bares en Japon

LOCATION: Nakameguro (Toyoko-Line or Hibiya Line)

Shop Website: http://www.oguna.jp/

Foodie Blog: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1317/A131701/13120523/ 

Address J:  東京都目黒区中目黒3-12-19, 2F  

Address E:  TOkyo, Meguro-ku, Meguro 3-12-19

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NAKAMEGURO: Lounge 440 "Teppan Yaki with Laurel in Hardy" at ShiShiMaru

Mari had her eye on Lounge 440 for quite some time so she was able to get an online coupon (from http://tokupo.jp/ I think) that got us A4 Ranked Beef, Veggies and a Drink of our choice.  Guys, this is the new fad... don't pay full price but prepay for a portion of your meal online!  Anyways....

Please meet or very own Japanese Laurel that moonlights as a Teppan Yaki Chef in Nakameguro.  His charm points are cooking beef on the very far end of the metal cooking surface so you get a nice spattering of oil on your hands all thru the meal... for free.  He's a bit goofy and its a pleasure to watch him fumble with the amazing selection of meat and seafood.

Now meet Hardy, he's on the far end of this picture but as plump as Santa Clause.  His charm points are the ever lasting goofy happy go lucky smile and his jolly ole belly hanging over the cooking surface.  

We started with the Salad with Zuwai Crab and Avocado 1,200yen ($14)... I think the main ingredient to rescue any salad is the dressing and Japan has some amazing selections.  This was ok but the portion was a bit small even by Japanese standards.

Next was the Sauteed Tsubugai and Potato Garlic Butter 1,200yen... the actual cost of this plate must have been 300yen... portions ridiculously small but the garlic sauce was tasty!

And so our A4 ranked (Not A5.. but one rank lower) Selected Wagyu Beef Filet arrived!  On our walk to the restaurant we could only imagine this requiring very few chews much like the wonderful selection of Kobe and Matsuzaka beef in Japan!  Meduim rare... ready to chew only a few times... chew chew chew chew chew I kept chewing... hmm this beef is 4,800 yen right ($55). 

We were so looking forward to ordering more food but Laurel and Hardy so lacked the skills to properly cook the ingredients... I think something is oddly wrong with this shop.  Perhaps management is harsh on its employees and just can't keep hold of great Chefs.  If you want a MEMORABLE meal then you MUST goto  Yamato Teppan-Yaki in Ginza.  

One bathroom is shared by both men and women... and as you can see it was falling apart.  I mean if you are charging these prices for your meal they could at least keep the facilities up to par.  Please don't waste your money here unless you are fans of Laurel and Hardy... they were entertaining.

I leave you with Laurel...

BYE!

SHOP: Lounge 440 (Shi Shi Maru). 

Location: NAKAMEGURO (Right next to Nakameguro River).
Shop Website: http://shishimaru-nakameguro.com/
Gnavi (with Coupon): http://r.gnavi.co.jp/e858700/
Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1317/A131701/13022374/
J-Address: 東京都目黒区青葉台1-22-3
E-Address: Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Aobadai 1-22-3
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NAKAMEGURO: Beef Kitchen 1,000yen Yakiniku Lunch

Yakiniku Lunch in Nakameguro. Checked out Tabelog and this spot was highly ranked.

There's the 1,000yen Yakiniku Lunch Set or the 1,800yen Super Yakiniku Set.

Went for two 1,000yen lunch sets.  The atmosphere was clean and comfy. Staff in their 20's and friendly.

Pork, Kalbi and Tender Ross Beef (they suggest to eat it raw, veeeery tender).

You can get second helpings of rice and seaweed soup for free.

Don't cook this for more than 10 seconds. Slightly raw is best!

Located in B1.  Can't miss the red "Beef Kitchen" Sign.

SHOP: Beef Kitchen

LOCATION: Nakameguro

Foodie Homepage: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1317/A131701/13054178/

Address J: 東京都目黒区上目黒2-44-8  ロッカーサ上目黒Ｂ１Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Kami Meguro 2-44-8

MAP: 

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