SHIBUYA: HIRO Wine Bar for 60min/1,000yen All-You-Can-Drink beer and wine!

My MBA classmate was in town on some business and needed to kill an hour before dinner... so check out Tabelog and found Hiro!  Entrance had some cushy seats that flowed into the back end with counter and round hi-table seating.

Draft beer for the 1,000yen 60min drinks was Heartland... not too bad.  Other items were red/white wine, soft drinks and wine cocktails. 

Just ordered one Pate but it was as small as a 500yen coin... wish there was more volume.

View from our counter seating facing outside was this... 

Ended with a few glasses of wine.

I'd suggest sitting at the bar counter to watch the Chef do his magic.

Overall it wasn't too bad in a town that usually charges 500yen per drink on top of a "Otoshi" fee... but as usual the dangers of all-you-can-drink (Nomihoudai) is you try a bit too hard.  Cozy spot, clean and fashionable spot... I'd highly suggest it if you are in the mood to drink more than 3 drinks.

Shop: HIRO Wine Bar

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130301/13104399/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区道玄坂2-6-7

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, dogenzaka 2-6-7, 2F
MAP:

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SHIMBASHI: Uokin Piccolo... a little treasue in the side streets amongst all the clutter that is Shimbashi

This is just a quick informative update as I wasn't at the restaurant long enough to enjoy many dishes.  After noticing a HUGE line at Its My Italian Pizzeria nearby I had to find a spot quickly for a quick dinner date... and while wandering the corridors of Shimbashi I happened upon Uokin Piccolo.

If you know Shimbashi then the word UOKIN will ring a definite bell.  They have some amazing Seafood and French shops in the area and all are incredibly reasonably priced.  Daily Specials menu here.  Oh, this spot had an incredibly high foodie score of 3.86pts.

Ordered the 580yen patte camagnyu and bird liver terinyu... yeah my spelling has got to be way off. 

Over 50 white and red wines to choose from.

Drinks... the wine and champagne come in regular glass drinks but the 580yen beers...

Arrive in tiny plastic cups... didn't quite expect this.  Guess its the low quantity high priced booze that allows for lower price points on the food.

Don't bother trying to wander inside unless you are very lucky as I was to get a seat for a limited 1.5hours.  Highly recommend a table for small groups or better yet if you are on a date the counter seats face the chefs at work... always a preference for me.  Some interior pics http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130103/13130774/

Shop: UOKIN Piccolo

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130103/13122635/dtlphotolst/3/

Uokin Group Website: http://uokingroup.jp/

Address J: 東京都港区新橋3-18-2

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Shimbashi 3-18-2

MAP:

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AKASAKA: Japanese Standing Bar Joe... friendly atmosphere and one coin drinks :)

I've always been a big fan of Joe's in Nishi Azabu but never realized there was a sister shop in Akasaka!  

Draft and Bottle Beers start at 500yen... a fan of any bar that stocks Okinawan ORION Beer :)

Staff was very friendly.

1st and 2nd floors are all standing.  Had a small birthday gathering for a friend.  Place can easily accommodate a nice sized crowd.

Stairs to the 2nd floor.

If you are in the Akasaka area give Joe's a try.  Great price points with appetizers starting at 300yen, great service and conveniently located across from Akasaka Biz Tower.   Just 1-2 minutes from the station too.

Shop: Standing Bar Joe

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130801/13017582/

Address J: 東京都港区赤坂3-14-5

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Akasaka 3-14-5
MAP:

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GINZA: Arossa... but I guess the winning streak had to end. Lunch was not a hit.

Arossa is simply one of the BEST 1,000yen lunch choices in posh Ginza with their ever changing daily lunch specials and perfect service... but this day we should have looked at the menu before venturing inside.  My reviews are always great http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/search?q=arossa but not this day.

Started off with their standard Mori-Mori salad...

Followed by their seafood and cabbage marinade seasoning... basically mushy salty mayo tuna with seasoned cabbage.  Unbelievably we both left this nearly untouched.

Chicken was juicy and sat on a nice bed of famous Arossa mashed potatoes... It didn't stand out as in my previous lunch adventures here but was simply ok.

Selected hot tea over the coffee.

And closed off with the familiar green tea granita ice.  Just as with Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks even Arossa has a bad day.  This is still tops on my list of favorite Tokyo lunches so please please give it a try.  Go early because some days they sell out of the lunch.

For address details goto my previous Entries:

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/search?q=arossa

GINZA: Arossa 1,050yen Lunch... just can't go wrong (REVISTED... AGAIN)

If there is just one Western lunch spot in Tokyo that gets your mouth watering just thinking about it this would definitely be Arossa :)

Said hello... they seated me and as you know there is just one lunch menu per day.

For starters Arosa Mori-Mori (lots n lots) Salad

White fish cream corokke... so tasty... detected a hint of curry seasoning.

Hamburger steak topped with cheese, onion and mushroom demigras sauce on a bed mashed potatoes.  This mashed potatoes had a very thick texture similar to Turkish Ice Cream(?)... it was thick and gooey. 

Close with Coffee or Tea.

Final dessert... today's treat was Grean Tea granite ice... tasty!

View of all the burgers ready to be cooked.

Another excellent 1,050yen lunch.  Arrive by noon as this place will fill up quickly.

For Details goto my previous post:

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

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2011/11/ginza-grill-and-wine-bar-arossa-hands.html

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2011/12/ginza-arossa-absolute-home-run.html

And of course you'll spot at least one exotic in posh Ginza... Lamborghini Gallardo

GINZA: Arossa... an absolute Home-Run everytime! Amazing lunch value.

6 items... 1,050yen... was another incredible lunch at Arossa.

 

Starts with freshly baked bread and the Arossa "Mori-Mori" Salad that will take you the entire meal to enjoy... had a hit of bacon seasoning and the portion too generous for posh Ginza.

Next came the delicate 鶏肉のバロティーヌ chicken...

Then the white fish arrived... sauteed in butter and topped with some kind of extremely tasty olive oil sauce on a bed of mashed potatoes... and I honestly wanted to line up again outside for another serving of lunch.

Just one Chef in the Kitchen... just 1 course on the menu...

Meal closes with a tiny icy tangerine dessert.

Choice of coffee or tea to complete another delicious meal at Arossa.

Seems they serve lunch wine 600yen, soft drinks 300yen, New Zealand beer 850yen, lunch beer 650yen  and dessert 350yen.

Excellent service, amazing lunch at an incredible price and customers were 90% ladies... I'll be back!

For Address Details pls check out my previous entries:

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

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2011/11/ginza-grill-and-wine-bar-arossa-hands.html