EBISU: Ebisu Wine Sakaba... super friendly bilingual Turkish Manager. Kebab plate was osusume!

Peeked in and the friendly foreign staff (later found out he is the manager) immediately said have a seat.   Gave us the best seat in the house at the entrance.

Glass of beer was quite pricey at 600-700yen so you should pre-drink a few beers across the street at the Lawson Convenience Store.

In the middle in big bold Japanese is chicken Kebab Plate!

550yen for the ham, olive and dry bread plate.

Table charge of 300 yen per person includes peanuts.

The Kebab Plate! Lots of sliced onions... hit the spot.

Recommended by the Turkish Manager... had to get it!

Wine lists.

I've walked by this place several times and its always busy with more women than men. The manager actually approached us and said the 2 ladies at the counter would like to join us... that was nice but 2 of my female friends were running late and had to refuse.  If you drink lightly then this is a great spot oh and perfectly located across from Shake Shack.

Restaurant: Ebisu Wine Sakaba

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130302/13100951/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区恵比寿南1-8-1 ＳＴＭ恵比寿ビル

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Ebisu Minami 1-8-1
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/3QAjrJzBDR52
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ROPPONGI: Roppongi Hills Metro Hat B2F... beers on the cheap ;)

Where can you drink on the cheap in Roppongi?  There's Havana Cafe Happy Hour for their 200yen Heineken mini mug beers... 180yen Machan Izakaya but you have to eat too... But you really can't beat buying a few beers at the Convenience store :)

Thus Roppongi Hills Seijo Ishii comes into play with their fine selection of beers and beverages.

http://www.roppongihills.com/shops_restaurants/shops/en/food/105110235.html

You can enjoy a little Aloha...

Some wine in a can or tiny glass cup...

Now where to go with those budget drinks?  Just head down to Roppongi Hills Hat B2F.  It recently totally renovated so there are all kinds of great seats and even a circular counter seating area.

Lots of fun seating options!

We've use this spot nearly every Friday to meet up and have a few budget drinks before heading off to Rigoletto Bar for the one coin 500yen Beers.

Pre-Rennovation had some very uncomfortable chairs but now its sooo nice.  Anyways if you just want to chill over some beers or need a nice place to meet up definitely check out B2F!  You'll probably spot us their on any random Friday or Saturday @7pm. If you have difficulty finding it just look for Pintokona Kaiten Sushi its on the same B2F.

Location: Roppongi Hills Metro Hat B2F (Near Hibiya Line RHills Exit).

Address J: 東京都港区六本木6-4-1 六本木ヒルズ　メトロハット/ハリウッドプラザ B2F

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku Roppongi 6-4-1, Roppongi Hills Metro Hat/Hollywood Plaza B2F

MAP:

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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
MAP:

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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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IKEBUKURO: Cona Pizzeria 1F Standing Counter (REVISITED)

I think we've been monthly regulars at Ikebukuro Cona... my previous entry was table seating on the 2nd floor: http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/2012/10/ikebukuro-500yen-pizzeria-cona-has.html

Otoshi (comes out automatically)...

Kenta and Scotts favorite pizza... Gorgonzola with Maple Syrup topping. 500yen

Can't resist this: Hanjuku tamago (half boiled egg?) with proscuitto ham.

And of course! Mexican Pizza with Jalapeno's and Pepperoni! 500yen

The Pizza Chef.  I think everyone working here are a mix of university students and staff in their 20's.

Guy in the black is probably the Manager...

Overall its just 5-Stars all-around with so many 500yen pizza's to choose from.  The staff is cool, the pizza's are larger than any other Cona each perfectly made, interior is new/clean... Great place for a date or just to hang out with friends.  

Shop: Cona Pizzeria - South Ikebukuro Branch

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13147825/

Gnavi: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/gcgf000/

Hotpepper Coupons: http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ001017063/map/

Address J: 東京都豊島区南池袋3-14-12

Address E: Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Minami Ikebukuro 3-14-12
MAP:

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