A fully booked small French restaurant in Kagurazaka

In the residential area of Kagurazaka (神楽坂), there is a small French restaurant which it is difficult to make a reservation. That is "L'Atlas (ラトラス)", which has obtained one Michelin star before and whose chef and manager improved their skill at "Tour d' Argent Tokyo." To realize their ideal dishes and service, they opened L'Atlas. Indeed, they succeeded creating sophisticated classical modern dishes. 

L'Atlas

Main dining

Cake of three different styles of foie gras

Mousse of homarus and cauliflower with consomme jelly and caviar 

Roasted whit fish with bouillabaisse sauce

Bread

Sorbet 

Grilled canard

Grilled lamb

Glass mont blanc

Camomile tea and petits fours

At the lunch time, they offer only two fixed courses at JPY5,700 and 8,500. Both of which are same number of plates and the difference is quality of used ingredients (the above photos are of JPY5,700). The set meal consists of chef's recommendations (no options) and it makes cost-effective despite they use foie gras, caviar, homarus, etc. 

The set meal was well balanced with light modern two starters and two classical main dishes (fish and meat). Every plate was delicious. In particular, a cake of foie gras and mousse of homarus and cauliflower were impressive. You can't imagine that you can have such high-grade dishes at such a small restaurant. 

Another feature of L'Atlas is big-portion. Big-eater man could be satisfied. Even so, you can't be getting tired as each dish has different taste. Their service is casual (not so elegant) but no shortcomings. Their only minus point might be narrow space between tables. Next tables are so close that I easily heard conversation of other tables. Yet, unless you have a secret talk, it might be ok. My rating is 4.2 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

L'Atlas (ラトラス) http://www.latlas.jp/index.html   

Standard sushi chain from Tsukiji

I used to eat sushi when I was pregnant. Eating much big fish like tuna frequently is not suitable in terms of mercury, but adequate amount in proper interval is advisable cause it is proved EPA and DHA contained in fish are good for inside baby. For having sushi casually, chain restaurant is recommended. "TSUKIJI SUSHIKO (築地すし好)" is a sushi chain originally from Tsukiji, the world biggest fish market town. Their branches are around Tokyo. 

TSUKIJI SUSHIKO

Inside

Sushi!

Clam miso soup

Sushi!!

Interior of SUSHIKO is clean and bright. Menu is easy to understand with photos. Price setting is adequate and we don't have to worry. Sushi set is available from JPY1,000. Every chef and staff are well trained and service-oriented. Their sushi itself is good! Delicious enough. Definitely, not impressive one like prestige restaurant, but much more tasty and sophisticated than go-round-sushi restaurant. To taste sushi daily, this kind of chain restaurant is quite useful. My rating is 3.5 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

TSUKIJI SUSHIKO (築地すし好) http://www.tsukiji-sushiko.com/

Nice Okonomiyaki-chain from Osaka

Okonomiyaki, a Japanese pancake containing a lot of ingredients, is a popular B-grade gourmet which everyone likes. I haven't ever met someone (either Japanese or not) who don't like okonomiyaki. One of the popular chain restaurants is "BOTEJYU (ぼてぢゅう)", which started in Osaka in 1946 and nowadays has 82 branches in Japan and other countries. We can taste okonomiyaki in a stylish interior (B-grade gourmet restaurants are not always like this).

BOTEJYU

Inside

Beer (I don't drink!)

Orthodox okonomiyaki

"Akashiyaki"

"Modernyaki"

Their orthodox okonomiyaki is quite on average, but the most tasty one is "modernyaki" which contains fried noodle and beef snew with much sliced long green onion. I saw a popular gourmet TV show gave it 5 score in 5. It is convincing! BOTEJYU also offers other dishes making of flour. One of the recommending dishes is "akashiyaki", different type of takoyaki (soft octopus rolls) dipping into clear soup. I liked it very much. Akashiyaki is popular in west Japan, but we can't taste it everywhere in east Japan.

Each dish costs around JPY1000. As B-grade gourmet, it might be a little bit expensive, but considering the atmosphere, it might be acceptable. Actually, we usually cook okonomiyaki at home, and the evaluation might be a bit sever (it means whoever cooks, it is at least tasty!). My rating for BOTEJYU is 3.3 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

BOTEJYU (ぼてぢゅう) http://www.botejyu.co.jp/group/

Fresh cakes of a fruit shop since 1902

Here, it is said that mother who does breastfeeding should not take much milk products such as cheese, fresh cream, etc. cause these clog her milk lines. But I can't give up cakes using much fresh cream at all! I already controlled myself for 10 months for baby's health and weight control. So, I've allowed myself to taste cakes with care. The below fresh cakes which my sister bought to me are of Kazan (果山), a fruit shop in Tokyo since 1902.

Shortcake

Strawberry bavarois 

In spite of their long history, Kazan is not so famous as Senbikiya. Since we have many such historical companies all around Japan, this humble shop may not be so prominent. But their simple cakes using fresh cream and seasonal fruits are not bad. Simpleness is the best. As the taste is light, I ate up in a second:) 

Their main shop is located in Ningyocho (人形町), and other branches are in Takashimaya department stores (高島屋) in Kanto area (関東地方). My rating is 3.5 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!  　 

Kazan (果山) http://www.fruit-kazan.com/index.html  

Reasonable oyster restaurant in Ueno

Just in front of the JR Ueno Station (上野駅) and next to the Ueno 3153 (see the previous visit), a restaurant complex named "Ueno no Mori Sakura Terrace (上野の森さくらテラス)" opened in the end of April 2014. Among many restaurants, we tried "Oyster Table (オイスターテーブル)" with baby. As the atmosphere is casual, baby is accepted.

Oyster Table in Ueno no Mori Sakura Terrace

Inside

Raw oysters

Salad

Caprese salad with avocado dip 

Deep-fried and grilled oysters

Oyster gratin

Spaghetti with osyter and dried mullet roe

Pineapple ice cream

It was a nice finding as an oyster lover! In spite of the reasonable price, the quality of oyster and the taste of dishes were good. You can enjoy different kind of oyster dishes casually (so far, oyster bars were generally stylish for date). Raw oyster was the best, but crispy deep-fried oyster and creamy gratin were also very tasty. Even ice cream including set meal was very nice.

Lunch is available from JPY980. The above set meal we ordered was JPY3,980 for two persons. One piece of additional raw oyster costs JPY300 at lunch time. Reasonable! (But a friend said dinner was not so value for money. Lunch might be better.) Staff was cheerful and kind. My rating is 3.5 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita! 

Oyster Table (オイスターテーブル) http://r.gnavi.co.jp/b3ax902r0000/

Season has changed...and baby has come!

It has been a long time since the last update in December. In this six months, season has changed from winter, spring to early summer. In the winter in 2014, Tokyo had the heaviest snowfall in 45 years. In spring, cherry bloomed in the end of March as usual, but gone right away by strong wind. Now, we are in rainy season and early summer with historically much rain. 

Ueno Park and Sky Tree with snow (February)

With cherry blossoms (April)

With green lotus leaves. So bright! (June)

In the same way of season, my situation has also dramatically changed... cause baby has come to me; I had a baby boy! I have been so busy looking after him day and night and had no much time to write and eat out so far. From now on, when I have time, I would like to continue updating this blog on eating, traveling, baby, etc. for a change.  

With my little prince in traditional kimono

Italian restaurant and cafe in the Ueno Park

First half of December in Tokyo is the end of Autumn and beginning of Winter. Still, we enjoy beautiful colored leaves here and there. Ueno Park (上野公園), where a lot of museums, music hall, zoo and Tokyo University of the Arts (東京藝術大学) are located is one of the good spots for seeing autumn leaves in Tokyo. In particular on weekday, we can enjoy calm and peaceful atmosphere of the Park thanks to relatively fewer visitors.  

Shinobazu Pond and Sky Tree

Tokyo University of the Arts

Beautiful gingko trees

The Park is dotted with restaurants and cafes and I haven't visited all yet even though I live just in front.  One day, I had a chance to try an Italian restaurant named "Le quatro stagioni (レ クアトロ スタジオーニ)" and a newly opened "PARK SIDE CAFE (パークサイドカフェ)" with a friend. At lunch time, the Italian restaurant offers set meal at JPY1,200 including salad, soup,pasta or pizza and drink.  The portion might not be big enough for men, but as a casual lunch for women, it was good.  Pizza baked by a big oven was a napoli-style and the chewy texture was delicious. My favorite combination, four types of cheese (especially、gorgonzola!) and honey was dainty!   　

Exterior of "Le quattro stagioni"

Inside

Salad and soup

Pizza margherita

Pizza quatro formaggio

PARK SIDE CAFE is located near the National Museum of Western Arts (国立西洋美術館) and Tokyo Bunka Kaikan (東京文化会館), a big hall for music, opera, ballet, etc. A big STARBUCKS is just in front of the cafe, but  I personally recommend this local cafe rather than the global chain for feeling culture and arts of the Ueno Park. 

PARK SIDE CAFE

Inside

Cake set and fresh herb tea

PARK SIDE CAFE is a woody and comfortable cafe. Through the big windows, the park view is very nice. The price of drinks is a bit higher than chain cafes, but if you order a cake set around JPY1,000, the total cost might be similar or much cheaper. Fresh herb tea was very impressive with full of herb's aroma. Pair tart and cheese cake were not bad at all. Seating in this good location was value for money. If you come to the Ueno Park, why don't you try?

Le quatro stagioni (レ クアトロ スタジオーニ） http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g490402/
PARK SIDE CAFE (パークサイドカフェ) http://www.create-restaurants.co.jp/shop/index.php?controller=FrontCrShop&action=shop_show&id=648&page=