Hyperlocal Tokyo

I visited this restaurant after visiting Oami Shrine. I made a reservation for 12:30 PM on a Saturday, but there was a sign saying they were fully booked. I ordered the limited-edition gratin lunch. It wasn't a heavy, creamy gratin, but rather a dish with a variety of short pasta, making it visually and texturally appealing. It was packed with seasonal summer vegetables, and it was absolutely delicious! Due to the restaurant being full, the food took a bit longer to arrive. The gratin lunch came with three appetizers (or soup) for 1,600 yen, and it was a very satisfying meal!

I had been wanting to try this place for a while, so I made a reservation by phone for 1 p.m. after taking an afternoon break. It's a popular restaurant, so I had high expectations, but everything except the appetizers was just average. I don't think the price-performance ratio is good, but it's a popular place, so reservations are essential. They accept various payment methods. My first visit for lunch in May 2024. Special lunch course ¥2,300 x 2. Pizza with nduja option + ¥400 and bacon and mushroom cream risotto with a large portion + ¥400. Drinks were two American iced coffees. For dessert, we chose panna cotta and tiramisu. House white wine by the glass ¥800 x 2 = ¥1,600. Parmesan cheese ¥150. Non-alcoholic beer ¥650. Large portion of risotto ¥200. Total ¥7,600. The appetizers included pea soup, chicken and pistachio terrine, zucchini oil sautéed with vinegar and mint, pork loin ham, a slice of quiche-like egg omelet, and a few leafy vegetables on the side. The zucchini was oily but the vinegar was strong and refreshing, making it delicious. The quiche-like egg omelet and terrine were okay. The pizza, which we chose with the nduja option for an additional ¥400, was oily but lacked punch and richness. The spicy sausage mince was also scarce. However, the cut cherry tomatoes were cooked through and juicy. I didn't think so, but my companion said the pizza dough wasn't very good either. The cream risotto was made faithfully to the basics, with the rice being firm, but it also lacked richness and depth. You have to pay an extra ¥150 for parmesan cheese. I wished they had salt and coarsely ground black pepper. My companion said the panna cotta lacked sweetness, and the tiramisu I chose lacked bitterness. The amount of wine by the glass was small, and the carafe, which is described as being for four glasses, was exactly ¥800 x 4, or ¥3,200. Honestly, even though the portions were large, I didn't feel satisfied until I finished the dessert, so I probably won't go back. The table spices were only spicy oil, and the silver holder was cute with cats and dogs on it. The seating consists of four-person tables and two-person tables, with a maximum capacity of about 20 people. There is one men's and one women's restroom, but they are located on a raised platform in the back, so people with mobility issues should be careful.

**Menu Ordered:** Pizza Panini Lunch - ¥1200 *Pizza choices were Margherita, Shiras (Whitebait), and Quattro Formaggi, shared among 3 people. **Review:** This pizza was absolutely delicious and has now become my top pick in Tokyo! ✨ I'm so grateful to have discovered this place! I enjoyed lunch here with my mother and mother-in-law for a girls' day out. ❤️ This restaurant is a regular on the Pizza 100 Best list. I made a reservation for the weekday lunch opening time, but when I arrived, there were already several groups waiting outside. The restaurant quickly filled up with more customers coming in after us. The "Pizza Panini Lunch" comes with a choice of salad or soup and a pizza. ✨ I chose the soup, which was a rich and flavorful daikon radish soup. The perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness was incredible. I'd love to recreate it at home, but I know it won't be easy! ❤️ We shared the Margherita, Shiras, and Quattro Formaggi pizzas among the three of us. Every single one was so delicious that I won't know what to order next time! The thin crust is also my husband's favorite, so I'm definitely bringing him here next time!

I made a reservation for 1 p.m. on a weekday and went there. I had the lunch set for ¥1,200 (Margherita pizza), pear gelato for ¥480, and iced tea for ¥350. The chewy pizza dough was incredibly delicious, and I devoured the whole thing by myself. The panini looked delicious too, so I'll definitely try it next time. The gelato was also rich and pear-flavored, and I enjoyed it very much.

Located in the "Amazake Yokocho" alley in Ningyocho, "Pizza da Babbo" is a "Tabelog Hundred Famous Restaurants" establishment. I previously enjoyed dinner there, and their pizza and meat dishes were incredibly delicious. This time, I wanted to pair a light appetizer with a bottle of "Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial," a champagne specifically designed for ice, so I opted for takeout. I placed my order three days in advance and picked it up on Saturday at 8 PM. My husband and I enjoyed the following: * **Appetizer Platter (for two)** - ¥2,100 * Carrot Marinate * Zucchini Marinate Both had a pleasant acidity that paired perfectly with the champagne. * Squid and Potato Tomato Stew * Quiche Both were delicately flavored and went well with the habanero sauce I had at home. * Pate * Italian-style Char Siu While I'm not sure of the exact names, all of the dishes were delicious. * **Ham Platter (for two)** - ¥2,420 * Prosciutto, cooked ham, and two types of salami The prosciutto was the best. * **Today's Gratin** - ¥1,200 This was different from the typical gratin I know, which is loaded with white sauce. This one had a generous amount of ingredients and pasta, with a more restrained sauce. The ingredients included shrimp, asparagus, and fresh tomatoes. It was a unique gratin that I had never tried before, but it was absolutely delicious. Since the restaurant is known for its pizza, I had never paid much attention to the gratin before, but I will definitely order it again if I have room in my stomach. * **Panna Cotta** - ¥500 x 2 The vanilla aroma, slight bitterness, and chewy texture created a unique flavor that was like a panna cotta and a pudding all in one. From the pizza to the gratin, meat dishes, and desserts, everything is delicious, making it impossible to experience everything in one visit. I plan to dine in again soon. Thank you for reading until the end. If you'd like, please follow me on Instagram. Dining out account: @kizokuneko516 Home cooking account: @kizokuneko0516