コージーイン 東京桜新町

Reading the signs of the times, the third owner transformed this sushi restaurant, once known for its catering, into an omakase spot serving appetizers and nigiri. Despite the modern shift, traditional Edomae techniques like ageing, marinating, and curing the fish remain unchanged. The friendly chef creates a welcoming atmosphere, while his wife skilfully handles the grilled dishes. With meticulous craftsmanship and reasonable prices, it’s easy to see why this place is a local favourite.

Creative dining focused on affinity with sake. Appetisers are served as a combination platter, the better to keep the libations flowing. Tsukuri feature ingenious arrangements of condiments. Uniquely, meat dishes are an indispensable part. Each dish is generous, making every morsel an unforgettable memory. The collection of sake and shochu, amassed on visits to breweries, is impressive; as the shop specialises in local tipples, the wine and whisky selection is also strictly Japanese.

A trattoria where à la carte dining is encouraged with a comprehensive menu of regional cuisines. Pici served with tomato ragú laden with garlic and vegetable sformato are all flavours learned in the Italian countryside. A marble bar counter and Tuscan-style stone walls create a stylish space inspired by interiors in Tuscany. Steps from Shoin Shrine, this is Italian food culture with deep roots in daily life.

In pursuit of a new expression of Japanese cuisine, the restaurant brings its own inventive ideas to the table. In the sashimi platter, each variety of seafood is paired with distinct seasonings and accompaniments. Inspired by the sauces of Western cuisine, grilled beef is served with smooth vegetable purées. The house’s credo, ‘onko-tokujitsu’, embodies a spirit of warmth, compassion and sincerity. That sincerity is evident in the way the chef approaches the work.

Pitigliano is a town the chef visited in his apprenticeship and has fond memories of. During his time in Italy, the chef was deeply impressed by the custom of ‘zuppa’, or dipping pieces of bread into soups of vegetables and beans, so the menu offers an extensive selection of soups. Honest flavours and presentations mirror the food culture of the Italian countryside, featuring simple handmade pasta and char-grilled fish and meat. Scenes of diners sharing from a single plate are a reflection of daily life in Italy.

In this white-walled detached house facing Komazawa-Koen Avenue, with its cosy, wood-lined interior, sounds of food preparation from the open kitchen, and the atmosphere of a shop run by a couple, guests feel invited into a home. Chef Naofumi Takahashi specializes in meat dishes, such as bruschetta with home-cured ham and simmered tripe. He takes special pride in his slow-aged, char-grilled meats. Beef, aged to enhance umami, is seasoned with salt and pepper.

‘Muku’ means ‘immaculate; innocent; pure’. The keynote white of the interior and the focus on the inherent flavours of ingredients are hallmarks of Tatsuki Mishima’s approach. In his native Shimane Prefecture, the chef worked at a fishmonger’s to learn about fish. He now gets his crab, abalone and rosy sea perch from that very shop, deepening relations between the two. Takikomi-gohan (rice dish seasoned with soy sauce and boiled with various ingredients) is followed by somen noodles or curry to fine-tune the palate. Tradition preserved, but with a playful spirit.