Hyperlocal Tokyo

I visited for lunch on a weekday during the summer. The interior is modern with a high ceiling and feels spacious, but the seating arrangement felt quite cramped, typical of Asian design. Even though it was still during the pandemic, the movable tables were close together. Given the location, the clientele was diverse, including both domestic and international visitors, business people, and couples on dates. The food was quite underwhelming, even considering the location and the hotel brand. I chose the GRANDE course, the highest tier of the lunch course, but it felt like a snack with some drinks. The main meat dish, especially, was too small with only two slices. My companion's fish was a more normal size. The taste and seasoning were good, including the use of truffles, but even with a bottle of champagne, it wasn't enough. However, the food service was quite slow, so it might be good for chatting. The waiters varied in their manners. The person who seemed to be the head waiter was the only one who was polite during the farewell, but the others, including some who seemed like new hires, left me questioning their professionalism. The location and atmosphere are good, but unless it's for a specific occasion or business entertainment, I wouldn't personally visit again.

The Italian restaurant on the 28th floor of the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, has been selected as one of the "Hyakumeiten" (100 Famous Stores). ✨ During the state of emergency, they offer a special plan where you can enjoy a course meal in a corner suite. ‼️ Of course, you can enjoy alcohol in this private space. ⤴️ From appetizers to desserts, even souvenirs are included, making it a truly wonderful plan. ‼️ Recommended for gatherings and dates. 😊

I recently visited the Italian restaurant on the 14th floor of the Shangri-La Hotel near Tokyo Station. The interior is luxurious, with high ceilings, making it very comfortable. This time, I made a reservation for lunch and requested gluten-free bread. I usually overeat bread and find it hard to finish a full course, so I opted for the lightest course this time, which included one appetizer, soup of the day, main course, dessert, and a drink. The gluten-free bread was very chewy and delicious, the dishes were beautifully plated with a spring-like aesthetic, the textures were pleasant, and the flavors were excellent. The staff was also very kind and attentive, quickly retrieving a dropped napkin, which I appreciated.

We booked a four-course lunch this time. Everything was delicious. - The appetizer was marinated salmon, garlic bread with cream cheese, and chicken. - The pasta was lobster tagliolini with lemon, estragon, and bisque. The lobster was cooked perfectly and went well with the bisque sauce. - The main course was grilled Aki-kawa beef with wild vegetable duxelles, parsnip purée, wasabi, pine nuts, and matcha, for an additional 2,500 yen. The meat was tender and very juicy. - The dessert was berry tiramisu. There was a thin layer of chocolate and berry-flavored ladyfingers under the mascarpone mousse. The view from the window seat was lovely. The restaurant's interior was also luxurious. They have thorough COVID-19 precautions in place.

While this might be a prejudice, I was strongly struck by the large number of couples that seemed to be involved in what is known as "Papakatsu" - older men with younger women. I understand that it's none of my business, but I can't help but feel a little concerned about the establishment's decorum and class. Perhaps this is the situation at all high-end restaurants these days...