Vietnamese Restaurant: Roppongi

BONGSEN Restaurant.

I have often rode past BONGSEN Restaurant on my rides around Tokyo and wanted to try their Vietnamese food.  The other night we walked from Harajuku to Roppongi and the walk had us in the mood for some pho.

The restaurant is presentable and the staff very friendly and attentive.  We started our meal with a can each of 333 while we were waiting for the food to arrive.  We ordered less than normal, not knowing just how hungry we were, but thinking we’d order more later.  The first two dishes were great: stir-fried morning glory with pork (a little salty), and then steamed rolls.  The steamed dumplings weren’t spring rolls or gyoza, but something in-between the two.  They were delicious and we planned to order more.  Next came the pho.  You can choose from two sizes and we luckily chose the smallest.  This is the worst pho I have ever tasted.  It had little to no flavour and was a huge disappointment.  I have no idea if it was sent out by accident or if this is really how they serve their pho, but we were so let down that we decided not to order anything else and to just leave.  Bad, bad pho.  I can recommend the other dishes, but I would NEVER order the dirty dishwater tasting soup they have the nerve to call pho.  Shame… it would have been good to have found an all-round Vietnamese restaurant.

PIZZERIA 1830

The first Pizzeria opened in Naples, Italy in 1830 and being a true Pizzeria, 1830 in Nogizaka has taken it’s name from that date.

We have often walked past 1830 and smelt the delcious smell of wood-oven pizza wafting out onto the street, finally on Friday night we went in and placed an order.  So glad we did.  Not knowing what to eat we settled on the Calamari Arrabbiata (which was served cold), a simple green salad and their Rosso Pizza Corner (smoked ham, asparagus, gorgonzola cheese and petite tomato).  Wonderful.  We could have had two, but we decided to leave room for a bottle of wine and a cheese plate at Dance (which is located not far up the road).

If you haven’t been to 1830, go.  And if you know of an even better Pizzeria, let me know – as I am officially hooked!!!

PHO THAI TOKYO

Pho Thai is a tried and true favourite of mine in Tokyo.  Originally called Pho Thai Down Under and located in Roppongi they moved to Tameike-sanno a year or two ago.  When they first moved we thought they had closed down, but luckily we re-found them & have been enjoying their food ever since.

Pho Thai’s menu is smaller than the original Pho Thai Down Under, but the quality hasn’t changed.  There food is fresh and delicious and the flavours authentic.  The restaurant is small and located in the basement, but the service is friendly and quick and they always remember their regulars.

The night we went we had; chicken satay, fish cakes, a chicken larp, garlic fried prawns, fried noodles (with Chinese five spice flavours) and fried fish in chili and garlic sauce.  I only had my cell phone with me, so the photos are from that – do excuse the quality.  The meal was great and we left well fed and with huge smiles on our faces.

  
 

Cafe Dance

Café Dance   7-8-4 Roppongi Minato-ku Tokyo  Ph: 03-3478-7177

We had long been looking at the wine list on Café Dance’s website and longing to go.  It’s funny how you can plan to go somewhere for so long and just never get there… luckily we made it to Café Dance last night.

Roppongi is a place I usually avoid at all costs.  It doesn’t feel like Tokyo and there are so many nicer places to spend time.  That being said, Café Dance was worth the trip. The wine list is excellent and varied.  They import a number of wines not available anywhere else and their prices are very reasonable.

Having already been the Australian Wine Tasting event prior, we were already pretty “socially lubricated” and so decided to stick with just wine by the glass.  The owner (who was so friendly and accommodating) allowed us to taste a couple of the glass wines before we made our selection, which was an added bonus.  I had a glass of Best’s Late Harvest Riesling which was subtle and not too sweet and then I followed this up with a delicious glass of Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot.  Joseph (Primo Estate) is only available at Café Dance. 

Food wise we mainly picked at Hors D'oeuvres: prawn and avocado salad, some cheese, prawn and basil wantons, pickles and then I had the veal in port vinegar sauce and my friend had the grilled scallops.  The food was simple and not overly priced, but clearly the wine is the main event.

Café Dance obviously has a lot of regular customers and we could see why.  The service is relaxed, attentive and friendly.  We’ll certainly be going back!

Underground Mr. Zoogunzoo

Australian Wine Bar & Seafood Restaurant

http://www.unitedf.com/zoogunzoo

AoyamaCity Bld. B1F  2-9-11 Shibuya-ku Tokyo 150-0002

Tel & Fax: 03-3400-1496

Open: 18:00 – Midnight.  Closed Sundays and Public Holidays

Underground Mr. Zoogunzoo has been a favourite restaurant/wine bar of mine since I stumbled onto it a few years ago, however I hadn't been there for quite some time.  Last night we ventured back and had an average meal, but some excellent wine.  From memory the food was better the last time we were there, so I don't want to say that it's not a good place to eat, but I will say this: Zoogunzoo is a place to go and drink Australian wine.  The food is secondary to the wine and the portions reflect this.  Arossa (also in Shibuya) has a better menu, but I love the atmosphere at Zoogunzoo.  The wine list has also decreased dramatically from when I was last there, but they had some good wines and the staff was very helpful and attentive.

Last night we both had a glass of white wine to start.  I had the Shaw & Smith 2001 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay (which was excellent) and my friend had a Turkeyflat Semillon.  My friend had the Tai Carpaccio and I had a duck confit in salad.  I followed my salad with penne gorgonzola and we shared a plate of olives and pickles.  The penne was wonderfully rich and there was enough on the plate for both of us to share.  We then ordered a bottle of Elderton Barossa 2002 Shiraz which was well priced and full-bodied.  For the mains I had the grilled lamb (which was small and not as good as I had hoped) and my friend had the Duck confit (a much better portion size, but unfortunately rather salty).  For dessert we had the Honey ice-cream with a shot of espresso and the chocolate terrine.  Both were excellent and the rich chocolate terrine went wonderfully with the Pfeiffer Rutherglen Tokay.

Not a cheap meal by any standards, but it was enjoyable.  I suggest going for the wine and just having a dish or two to compliment the wine, rather then going there famished like we did.

Underground Mr. Zoogunzoo has the feeling like a cave.  The walls have been rendered in a cracked mud like finish and the lighting works well to create a feeling of being underground.  The BGM was subtle and the staff was attentive and knowledgeable on their wines. 

Zoogunzoo lists itself as an Australia Wine Bar & Seafood Restaurant.  I suggest you think of it more as a wine bar.  It’s a wonderful haven to stop off at for a glass of wine and you’ll find them only too happy to have you.  Not pretentious or flashy, Zoogunzoo is a place I’ll be returning to – not to eat dinner, but to have a little food alongside a few glasses of delicious Australian wine.

The owner also has a restaurant in Ebisu specializing in New Zealand wine: Aotea Rangi http://www.unitedf.com/aotea_rangi

The House of Mao Noodles

The House of Mao
The House of Mao Noodles is a great little noodle shop located in Sendagi, Tokyo. Their Tantanmen (spicy sesame flavoured noodles) is one of the best versions on Tantanmen that I have ever had.

Today I had the ebi-soba, which is a light and clear broth served with lightly battered and seasoned prawns, thinly sliced negi and a couple of slices of lemon (nice touch). I also had a half-serve of fried rice, which is plain but delicious. My co-eater had the tantanmen and a half-serve of fried rice and his bowl was empty at the end.

The House of Mao Noodles is called 毛家麺店 in Japanese and can be found at 3-33-12 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku. It's on Shinobazu dori, right near an exit for the Chiyoda line's Sendagi station.

Highly recommended.

 Tantanmen

 Ebi-soba