While wandering around Ebisu I stopped for lunch at an Italian restaurant tucked away in a hidden spot. The location is so obscure that even with a map it was really hard to find.
The front entrance
Who would have thought there’d be a restaurant in a spot where you’re bound to get lost even when you know where it is…
Knife and fork
It isn’t going for high-end; it’s a modest, homely Italian restaurant. The idea seems to be enjoying a weekend lunch at a reasonable price somewhere with a pleasant atmosphere.
Bread
Not bad.
Fresh fish carpaccio
I think it was sea bream… Fresh, but not up to a sashimi place. That’s only natural, really, but lately I’ve been going round nothing but places that aren’t “natural”… This is probably the first ordinary-concept restaurant I’ve been to in a while.
Antipasto platter
A good variety of antipasti came out, and they looked like they’d go nicely with wine. A proper Italian approach, I’d say… But the other diners were mostly women, and with the small tables and bright, café-like interior it didn’t feel like a place for drinking, so I held back.
Chilled potato soup
This soup was tasty. Home-style, though.
Penne
Apparently a cream sauce with prosciutto and zucchini. Again, simple home-style cooking. Rather than coming for lunch, I’d like to come in the evening and take my time over it with some wine.
Spaghettini
A meat sauce with pancetta, they said, and it was just okay, nothing more.
Homemade pasta
It has white fish, arugula, olives and capers, apparently. Generous portion and nothing wrong with the taste, but whether it’s the price or the lack of any special ingredients, it didn’t really wow me. Truth is, the day before I’d had the ultimate meal at Matagi in Roppongi, so ever since then it’s been hard for most food to impress me.
Abruzzo-style lamb leg and white bean stew in tomato
The cooking itself isn’t bad, but the lamb quality is lacking…
Grilled fish of the day
Same story with this one. If they raised the prices a little the food would get much better, but then the customers would drop off sharply. I’ll have to come back for dinner.
Grilled Hakkinton pork
I think this was the best one…
Dessert
The desserts are modest too.
Herbal tea
I think I expected a bit too much. It might have been better if I’d gone in the evening. Honestly, if you want to eat properly at this price, La Bettola is almost the only answer in Tokyo. It’s not that there are no other places on La Bettola’s level, but the problem is you have to book them far in advance. (La Bettola only takes same-day reservations for lunch.) Next time I go to Tokyo I’ll try booking somewhere a bit earlier. Finding a place that will satisfy everyone is hard after all.