Hyperlocal Tokyo

A truly authentic Italian restaurant that will surely captivate you. ◼️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️ Roppongi Station, 2-minute walk🚶 Business Hours🔈 11:30 AM - 11:00 PM Recommendation📍 Pizza Foresta Bismarck Style ¥2,480 ▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️◼️ Today, I visited "Sakura", a restaurant where you can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine using fresh seafood sourced daily from Toyosu Market and a traditional Neapolitan wood-fired oven. The interior has a warm, inviting atmosphere with comfortable lighting, perfect for a relaxing meal. They offer a variety of seating options, from regular tables to long tables, L-shaped semi-private rooms, counter seats, and even private rooms, catering to various needs. I dined in a semi-private room this time, and it was incredibly comfortable as I couldn't hear any conversations from other tables. This restaurant has an attached wine shop (Wine Shop Sommelier), bakery (L'Atelier du Pain), and dessert shop (Patisserie Coco Ange). You can even bring in wine purchased from the wine shop. The corkage fee varies depending on the price of the wine, but it's often cheaper than ordering from the restaurant, so it's a good option if you're looking to save some money. However, the restaurant also has an extensive wine list, with detailed information about each wine they offer. The staff can also recommend wines that pair well with your dishes, so you don't have to bring your own. The bakery uses high-hydration dough that's fermented for a long time at low temperatures, offering a wide variety of breads. It's known as a very popular bakery, having even been listed in the Tabelog Hundred Best Restaurants in the past. You can bring in bread from the bakery during lunch and cafe hours, so you can enjoy both bread and your meal. The dessert shop also offers a diverse selection of meticulously crafted sweets, which are also available at the restaurant. Since they serve authentic Italian cuisine, I sampled a variety of dishes. First, I had the "Two-Kind Carpaccio". This platter features two types of fresh fish, a thick-fleshed, flavorful, and easy-to-eat Suma-gatsuo (a type of tuna) and a Shiira (a type of fish), both directly shipped from Kochi Prefecture. Suma-gatsuo is rarely found in restaurants due to its limited catch, so this was my first time trying it. The accompanying sauces enhance the natural flavors of the fresh fish. Next, I tried the "Chef's Choice 5-Kind Appetizer Platter". This time, it included "Vegetable Caponata" (tomato stew), "Prosciutto and Melon", "Salt Cod and Potato Mantecato", "Stracciatella Caprese", and "Eggplant with Balsamic Marinade". Mantecato, which I wasn't familiar with, is a paste made from salt cod and potatoes, a traditional dish in Venice and other regions. It's a great way to sample a variety of appetizers. I also ordered "Chicken Liver and Mushroom Pate" and "Baked Camembert" as additional dishes. They had a wide selection of both cold and warm appetizers, all of which paired well with wine. For pasta, I chose the "Porcini Mushroom Cream Sauce", a seasonal autumn dish. The pasta can be customized with gluten-free options or topped with grated cheese. I enjoyed it as is, and the rich aroma of the porcini mushrooms and the thick green noodles were perfectly coated in the creamy sauce, making it a truly satisfying dish. The chewy texture was fantastic. For pizza, they use a traditional Neapolitan wood-fired oven, "Gianni Acunto", to bake the pizzas at high temperatures of 400-500 degrees. I ordered the "Pizza Foresta Bismarck Style". This pizza is topped with nuts, mushrooms, eggs, and mozzarella cheese, offering a delightful combination of crunchy nuts and the creamy textures of eggs and cheese in every bite. The Bismarck style features an egg in the center of the pizza, which I tried for the first time. It had a milder flavor than regular pizza. It was quite large, but the generous toppings kept it interesting and prevented me from getting bored. For the main course, I indulged in a hearty meat dish. I had the "Australian Grass-Fed Beef Sirloin Bistecca", a luxurious dish with a generous amount of Polynesian sauce that complements the meat perfectly. It also comes with salt, but the sauce alone is enough to bring out the rich flavor of the beef. The meat was tender and juicy, and it paired beautifully with the red wine I ordered. It wasn't greasy, making it easy to eat. Although it looked quite large, I managed to finish it all. For dessert, I had the chocolate cake and pistachio pudding from the dessert shop. Both were crafted with care and attention to detail, offering a satisfying experience that went beyond just a simple dessert. They were truly delightful. The food, the atmosphere, and the overall experience were all fantastic. If you're looking for a great Italian restaurant, I highly recommend giving this place a try.

I was surprised by how fresh and delicious the mussels were. The steak was also very flavorful and a good size. The waiter warned me that the Arrabbiata was spicy, but I like spicy food so I ordered it anyway. However, it wasn't really that spicy. I ordered two extra servings of parmesan cheese, but it was too spicy and I couldn't finish it. If you don't like spicy food, I wouldn't recommend it. I saw a lot of people ordering pizza, so I'll have to try that next time. It's great that they're open for lunch without a break. It's a great place to go when you're in a pinch.

This time, I visited an Italian restaurant near Roppongi Station. The interior and seating are spacious, allowing for a relaxing experience. ~What I ordered~ ◎Assortment of Carpaccio →A combination of escolar, yellowtail, and filefish. This carpaccio is made with fresh fish directly from the market in Kochi Prefecture. ◎Chef's Choice - 5-Course Appetizer Assortment →Zeppole, eggplant marinated in balsamic vinegar, squid and paprika marinade, Wagyu beef carpaccio, scallop and celery ceviche ◎Directly from Italy! "Burrata" and prosciutto (Shine Muscat grapes, white peach) ◎Rock oyster - Mie Prefecture ◎Yamagata beef "bistecca" ◎Summer truffle and prosciutto cold carbonara ◎Pizza - Polonero (tomato base) Clear stream chicken, young corn, sweet long pepper, balsamic vinegar ◎Cake (seasonal shortcake, Anvi) ◎Drinks (glass of wine, etc.) There is a sister restaurant in the same building, and the bread, desserts, and wines served here are apparently carefully selected from that restaurant! When I asked for wine recommendations, the restaurant's sommelier paired them with the food. The dessert cakes were all stylish and unique, setting this restaurant apart from other Italian restaurants. ✨ It's a great place to enjoy delicious food and wine, but it's also casual and easy to enter! I definitely want to go back again. I highly recommend it if you're in Roppongi.

I found an amazing Italian restaurant in Roppongi, just a 2-minute walk from Roppongi Station! ✨ The exterior is stunning, with a lush green garden that feels like you're in a foreign country. It's a unique place with a wine shop, bakery, and patisserie all in one! They even have about 10 sommeliers... This is a must-visit for wine lovers! Here's what I had: ⭐ Melanzane ¥2,480 ⭐ Chef's Selection of 5 Appetizers (for 2 people) ¥2,980 ⭐ Sazae (Turbo Snail) in a Pot ¥1,680 ⭐ Carpaccio Platter ¥2,400 ⭐ Iberico Pork Bacon Carbonara ¥1,980 + Gluten-free change ¥300 ⭐ Roppongi Gokujo Pudding ¥850 ⭐ Sharon ¥990 ⭐ Isabel ¥1,050 ⭐ Homemade Ginger Ale (Spicy) ¥650 ⭐ Red Grape Juice ¥750 ⭐ White Grape Juice ¥750 The restaurant's charm was evident even before I stepped inside. Once I entered, I was greeted by an open and inviting atmosphere. The wine shop, bakery, and patisserie create a lively buzz. • Melanzane This pizza with tomato, eggplant, Iberico bacon, mozzarella, and basil is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! The bacon and tomato flavors are absorbed by the eggplant, creating a melt-in-your-mouth experience. The pizza oven is located in the center of the restaurant and is a genuine "Gianni Acunto" wood-fired oven from Naples, the oldest in the city. ✨ The authentic Neapolitan pizza has a chewy crust with a delicious aroma of wheat and toast. It was one of the best pizzas I've ever had! This is a must-try dish. ✨ • 5-Course Appetizer Platter This platter includes zeppole, mantecato, caponata, eggplant with honey & balsamic vinegar, and meat, all of which are exquisite. The flavors are intense, perfect for pairing with drinks. The balance of acidity and richness is exceptional. • Sazae in a Pot This was the most impressive sazae I've ever had! It's a must-try. It's simply delicious! The sazae is baked with green chili butter, and the combination of the green chili's spiciness and the butter's richness is incredible. The sazae is also incredibly tender, making this a luxurious dish. • Carpaccio Platter This platter features Hokkaido scallops, and bonito and horse mackerel from Kochi Prefecture. Kochi Prefecture is known for its delicious seafood, and the ingredients are fresh, delivered daily from the source. ✨ The flavors are concentrated, making this dish incredibly delicious. • Iberico Pork Bacon Carbonara I was so happy to find a restaurant that offers gluten-free pasta! It's only ¥300 to change to gluten-free, and I was impressed by the pasta. I've tried many gluten-free pastas before, and some can be rubbery and hard, but this one was indistinguishable from regular pasta. The chef recommended the carbonara as the best pairing for the gluten-free pasta, and it was amazing. It was rich and creamy, with plenty of Iberico pork bacon, making it a truly satisfying dish. • Desserts The patisserie is attached to the restaurant, so they have a wide selection of desserts made by their own pastry chefs! They had 18 different desserts, the most I've ever seen at a restaurant. I only tried three, but they were all amazing. They even bring out all the desserts on a tray... a dream come true for dessert lovers! ♡ The pudding was incredibly smooth, almost like a drink! You can really taste the quality of the ingredients. The accompanying salt caramel sauce made it even better. It was truly impressive. Sharon is a mont blanc with rum. It's packed with chestnuts and has a strong rum flavor. It also includes vanilla cream, cassis, and other ingredients, making it a sophisticated dessert. This is a must-try for chestnut and rum lovers. It's probably the sweetest of the three. Isabel was also incredibly delicious. It was my personal favorite! It's a complex dessert with 70% cacao cake, fig and raspberry confiture, raspberry ganache, pistachio mousse, and more. Pistachio and chocolate lovers will definitely enjoy this. The tartness of the raspberry complements the richness of the pistachio and chocolate perfectly. If you're unsure what to choose, I highly recommend this one. • Homemade Ginger Ale The homemade ginger ale is delicious! It has a nice kick of spice, perfect for ginger lovers. • Grape Juice They offer both red and white grape juice, and they were both excellent! I especially loved the white grape juice. It's great to have so many non-alcoholic options for those who don't drink. The staff is incredibly kind and friendly. They're all wonderful people. Once you visit, you'll want to become a regular. ✨ I also tried the bread from the bakery, and it was amazing, as expected from a hundred-best restaurant. They also have a wine cellar with a fantastic selection of wines. You can't go wrong buying wine here! I highly recommend this Italian restaurant. Be sure to check it out for lunch or dinner in Roppongi. ＊