Longrain, Ebisu

Longrain is one of my favourite places to eat in Sydney (and Melbourne), so I was happy to see the current Antipodean restaurant boom extend to them opening a branch in Tokyo. I was also happy to see that it is in Yebisu Garden Place where, in another life, I worked for four years.The restaurant area on the 38th and 39th floor of YGP has had a total upgrade since I used to work there in the early noughties — and looks much the better for it.The restaurant itself is very noisy – I suspect due to the concrete floors and hard surfaces. It annoys the hell out of me that interior designers don’t …

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Bépocha, Harajuku ベポカ原宿

I know next to nothing about Peru. Other than the fact it’s a looong, thin country in South America facing the Pacific, there’s mountains, something about a Shining Path on the news when I was a kid…oh, and Paddington Bear…I know even less about the food, which is why I was keep to try Bépocha in Harajuku. On a recent Saturday night I finally made my way over there, and ended up glad I did. The food and service are very good. I think I could be back to learn more.I wonder if restaurants in Lima look like this…Seafood ceviche with toasted corn and assorted bits. Spicy. Very good. Tuna ceviche. Also very good. Mashed potato (green mashed potato) with crab…

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La Provence Gourmand Olivier, Gakugei Daigaku ラ プロヴァンス グルマンド オリヴィエ学芸大学

Gakugei Daigaku is probably not the place you’d expect to find a Provençal restaurant but then again, given the eclectic and wonderful nature of Tokyo dining (even in the suburbs), perhaps of course that’s where you’d find one. After years of passing through Gakugei Daigaku on the Toyoko line on the way to work, I’ve recently had the opportunity to explore the place a bit further. It’s really a pleasant area and there are a lot of what seem like newly opened bars and izakaya under the train line, which will be worth a try at some point.I digress. La Provence Gourmand Olivier is a bit of a mouthful to say, but it’s in no way pretentious. It …

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Restaurant J, Minami Azabu/ Hiroo レストラン&ビストロ J南麻布

I had been to Restaurant J for lunch a few years back and remember being pretty pleased with it. So I was happy when a friend invited me there for dinner so I could try it out again. The restaurant, with its contemporary fit out, is located on the second floor of a modern building not far from the National Azabu supermarket.The service is a little stiff, but the food is good and, overall, I think the price performance is pretty good. The restaurant is quite dimly lit, so not a bad setting for a date. Well worth a try!That’s some table setting they …

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