KISOJI

A return visit but nothing to add to the earlier post. Not the worst but far from the best.

ELIO

* Cuisine: Italian
* Where: Kojimachi
* Tel: 03 3239 6771
* Website: click pic
* Menu: I/E/J
* Cost: around 11,000 per head
* Ohishi:
* Rating: ----


Always delicious and always crowed locanada recommended by local Italians. This is another restaurant where diners are rather pushed up together and but the food never fails to please. Set menus can be a bit uninspiring but come with a smaller group, stay a la carte, enjoy a selection from the reasonably priced wine list and be prepared to shout above the clamour of your many fellow diners all night and a grand evening is guaranteed.

HIBIKI

* Cuisine: Japanese
* Where: Ginza
* Tel: 03 5524 7855
* Website: via gnavi
* Menu: E/J
* Cost: around 6,000 per head
* Ohishi:
* Rating: ---


Natural ingredients, lightly-cooked (and sometimes just raw sliced veggies) interesting menu in designer surroundings. Choices include horse sashimi and baked natto and some dishes are cooked (or rather boiled) tableside, all of which makes this a good choice for slightly-adventurous foreign visitors. Unlikely to prompt a postcard home but inoffensive and healthy. Reasonably priced too.

KEI CHIN ROU

again (see March 2007). Not as great as usual but we'll give them another chance based on previous value for money.

MANRIKA

* Cuisine: Chinese
* Where: Azabu-Juban
* Tel: 03 3452 5510
* Website: click pic
* Menu: E/J
* Cost: around 1,500 per head
* Ohishi: gyoza
* Rating: ---

Often crowded with a mix of Japanese and local gaijin but these days the surly staff and close-proximity seating is not worth putting up with to sample what seems to have become rather complacent cuisine. Both the steamed and fried gyoza is tasty but the main menu noodle items are less than stellar. No big deal anymore.

SADAYA

* Cuisine: Japanese
* Where: Ueno
* Tel: 03 3874 2406
* Website:
* Menu: J
* Cost:
* Ohishi: ginko, cheesecake
* Rating: ---

A Japanese steak house but not teppanyaki. The size of a moderate home dining room dominated by the countered kitchen area. Tasty but not outstanding fare as served for 40 years by the eponymous chef-proprietor. Some nice surprises such as young ginko nuts and a supremely creamy cheesecake but nothing so outstanding in the middle.

ROY'S

* Cuisine: Fusion
* Where: Roppongi Hills
* Tel: 03 5474 8181
* Website: click the pic
* Menu: E/J
* Cost: around 10,000 per head
* Ohishi: appetisers
* Rating: ----

Having visited the Aoyama location and missed out on the Hiroo one, it was nice to see that what Roy's has always done well is unchanged at the new Roppongi Hills location. It's always been the starters that were the star and as expected the choice here is the hardest part of ordering. Also retained from Aoyama is staff who seem to be clueless about the menu and options but somehow not annoying, the style-over-function interior and the reasonable wine list are also here. Not stellar and as likely to underwhelm as engage a guest but somehow it's as endearing as ever.