bento.com news
New restaurant reviews, plus a calendar of food and restaurant-related events in Tokyo, including wine tastings, guest chefs, and restaurant openings. Also includes Brews News, a newsletter on microbrew beers in Japan.



Article - Exploring Naka-Meguro These days, Naka-Meguro is bursting at the seams with cute cafes, cool restaurants, and cozy bars. If you haven't been to this hipster hangout for a while, it's time for another visit. Here are eleven new discoveries, plus a few old standbys.


Article - Cat cafes in Tokyo It all began in 2004, when the first cat cafe opened its doors in Osaka. Since then, the petting zoo/coffee house hybrids have invaded Tokyo, and business is booming. Last year alone saw a dozen new shops, each with its own unique atmosphere. After removing your shoes and washing your hands, you can relax or play with the cats and kittens while you have your drink. Prices are reasonable, and the rules are simple: no flash photos, no grabbing tails or waking sleeping kitties. 2008 may have been the year of the rat, but 2009 is poised to be the year of the cat.


Review - Gordon Ramsay: Shiodome British celeb chef Gordon Ramsay's first restaurant in Japan serves the Conrad Tokyo luxury hotel in Shiodome. Prix-fixe menus of Ramsay's impressive modern French cuisine run Y15,500 at dinnertime (or Y21,350 with wines)....


Sake Brewery Fashion Watch Yearly sake festivals in Tokyo and Osaka are a great place to try out different premium brands from around the country, and while you're there you can also check out the latest fashions in the sake world. Here's a look at what stylish brewers are wearing these days.


Review - Suji's: Roppongi This bustling American eatery brings the buzz of weekend brunch in Manhattan to Tokyo. The interior, simply decorated with black-and-white photos of New York and slim cab-yellow lamps, makes use of the large windows at the front of the restaurant to create an open feel; in the warmer months, customers spill out onto the deck to dine al fresco. During brunch hours (from 9-4 on Saturdays and 10-4 on Sundays), the place is packed, and, between her frequent trips to Seoul, owner Suji Park can be seen flitting about the dining room, delivering orders and flashing a brilliant smile.


Review - Aquavit Bar: Gaienmae This very stylish Scandinavian-design lounge features immense Austin Powers-style chairs in which you can plot world domination while you sip on unusual aquavit-based cocktails. They also serve home-made aquavit (Scandinavian schnapps) in eye-opening flavors like coconut-espresso and mango-lime-chili. The small food menu includes Swedish nibbles like roast beets with goat cheese (Y1750); and duck confit with lamb ragout (Y2400).


Review - Dish: Yoyogi-Uehara In laid-back Yoyogi-Uehara, magazine-reading, designer sneaker-wearing hipsters gather at Dish, a cheerful cafe just a stone's throw from the station.


New - Le Pergolese: Nishi-Shinjuku MOF-award-winning chef Stephane Gaborieau presents a menu of modern French dishes popular at the Michelin-starred Parisian main branch of his restaurant - Basque-style anchovy-stuffed peppers with yogurt-chorizo...


New - Obika Mozzarella Bar: Roppongi Four types of mozzarella cheese imported from Italy every day make up the centerpiece of the menu here....


New - Terres de Truffes: Roppongi If you're crazy about truffles, this specialty restaurant has just what you're looking for....


01/14-01/18. Al Sorriso chef at the New Otani. The highly talented chef Luisa Valazza from the Michelin 3-star restaurant Al Sorriso, overlooking Lake d'Orta in the northern Piedmont region, will be bringing some of her favorite recipes to Tokyo for...


01/29, 7-9:30pm Washinton wine tasting at the Westin. This biennial event showcases over 150 wines from more than forty Washington State wineries, with many of the winemakers on hand to answer questions....


Review - Aotea Rangi: Ebisu Tucked into a quiet Ebisu back street, Aotea Rangi is one of the few places in town where you can experience the charms of genuine New Zealand cuisine. At first glance the small restaurant looks like an Italian trattoria with terrace seating, but once you're inside the atmosphere seem more like a casual cafe-bar. The lighting is soft and the mood is relaxed. Service is attentive, and the friendly staff are more than ready to help you negotiate the extensive New Zealand wine list....


Brews News #89 Reviews of Barge Inn (Narita), Gotemba Kogen Pils in the November/December issue of our Japan beer newsletter.


Feature - restaurant locator by distance Our exclusive restaurant locator by distance will help you find the nearest restaurant, cafe and bar listings within a specified distance of your home or office. There are also preset maps for dozens of Tokyo landmarks.