ROPPONGI 1-CHOME: CHOICE bar and borderless restaurant space

Occasionally the University of Hawaii MBA grads (JEMBA/CHEMBA) and JAIMS Alumni get together for drinks and the spot is usually CHOICE.

http://www.salt-inc.co.jp/index.php?action=shop&shop=shopdetail&id=3

Didn't realize they had Happy Hour

Arrived at about 8pm and the dining area was dead on a Friday evening... wow.  Very unusual as Ark Hills houses alot of domestic and foreign firms. 

Back in 2000-2001 or so I actually worked at Lehman Brothers that was once in this building prior to it moving to Roppongi Hills.

Two alumni's with Cloudera (Big Data/Hadoop) and Microsoft.

Lots of international beers

The lady second from the right is Dr. Odo who runs JAIMS.  If you are interested in studying US Management in Hawaii here you go: http://www.jaims.org/

The only people in this entire restaurant seemed to be just the few of us Alumni's.  If you are in the mood for a quiet drink then this is probably a great spot but if you want to meet new people I'd probably head on over to Rigoletto in Roppongi Hills. 

Restaurant: CHOICE
Shop Website: http://www.salt-inc.co.jp/index.php?action=shop&shop=shopdetail&id=3
Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1307/A130701/13113440/
Address J: 東京都港区赤坂1-12-32 アーク森ビル 3F
Address E:  Tokyo, Minato-ku, Akasaka 1-12-32, Ark Mori Bldg 3F
MAP:

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チョイス, 六本木一丁目, アークヒルズ, ハッピーアワー, Japanese, foodie, bar, standing bar, tameike-sanno, ANA intercontinental hotel

IKEBUKURO: Shanti Indian Curry... relaxing interior and super friendly/polite staff.

Groupon is your friend... scored a few 890yen lunch tickets for 440yen and it was time to check out Shanti in Ikebukuro. http://www.groupon.jp/cid/71735?recom=NO

Dragon Fruits sherbet ice cream... nice! Never seen this before.

Went with the Mild Shrimp and Spinach Chicken curry with Nan~.

A few tiny shrimps in my curry.  This was a bit more soupy than I had hoped.  Nothing special but it hit the spot.

Spinach Chicken Curry had a nice spice to it. There was one lump of chicken inside.

Ginger-ale lunch set drink

The back of the restaurant: 3 seats for single patrons, a table for 4 and behind me was the main long hall with  seats along the wall.  Pics here: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1305/A130501/13121645/dtlphotolst/3/

GP = Groupon?  The manager/boss had great handwriting.  Was friendly from the beginning to the very end and took my Groupon ticket with a smile.

Musiq Soulchild and Esperanza Spalding on the BGM

Nearly all of the customers here were OL's (Office Ladies) so its a good sign.  Next time I'll have to try the basmati rice!  Thanks Groupon~. 

I'm a huge fan of Pentax after buying my very first Pentax K-m (K2000) DLSR years ago... since then I've added the K-x, K01 and K-30.  Went to check out the brand new K-50 but its just too smooth and a bit boring vs my K-30.  Oh, for this blog entry I used my Panasonic Lumix LX5. :)

Restaurant: Shanti East Ikebukuro Branch

Shanti Website: http://e-shanti.jp/index.html

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1305/A130501/13121645/

Address J: 東京都豊島区東池袋1-35-11 スタックスビル

Address E: Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Higashi Ikebukuro 1-35-11
MAP:

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シャンティ, 東池袋店, 池袋, インド料理, インドカレー, Nan, Indian, Japan, Japanese, Foodie, Blog, India,

TOYOTAMA MEJIRO-DORI: Saizeriya tricked me with their 500yen One-Coin Lunch :(

500yen lunch specials always stop me in my tracks and this sign at Saizeriya was no different!  This franchise can be described as the McD's of Italian food. http://www.saizeriya.co.jp/

Lunch special comes with consomme soup

Pizza's are 399yen not too bad.

Kids menu~.

Drink Bar 180yen I think...

And there it was my 500yen Lunch!  You can upgrade the rice to Oomori for free.

The hamburger steak had a coating of demigras sauce...  After a few bites its just felt like I was eating a cheap Bento but served in a restaurant.  Then my curiousity extended to where this instant food was actually manufactured... China?  I know the 500yen Yakiniku Anrakutei spot I used to frequent used imported Chinese sausages. 

Looking at the menu the burger lunch sets started at 399yen... thus there was no value in this lunch and I just wanted to stop eating...  I shoulda gone to Sekizawa

I just couldn't finish this lunch... It just tasted so bad.  The taste lingered in my mouth for hours... Oh the veggies on the hot plate tasted all wrong like it was boiled in funky water.  Sign... This is the 3rd time I've visited a Saizeriya and all three times everything I've ordered there was just so dreadful.  NO MORE!

And so I leave you with a few sports car spotting on Mejiro-Dori... Porsche 964 or 993 Series? 

Modified Bentley

Two brand new Porsche's and a modified Ferrari 458...

Franchise Restaurant: Saizeriya 

Franchise Website: http://www.saizeriya.co.jp/

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132102/13021698/

Address J: 東京都練馬区豊玉北4-4-2

Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Toyotama Kita 4-4-2
MAP:

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サイゼリヤ, 豊玉目白通り店, 桜台, Lunch, Japan, Foodie, Sakuradai, Nerima, Pizza, pasta, fast food,