Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2011

Courtesy of Biscotti

Yoyogi-Uehara may be off the beaten track for most Tokyo foodies, but locals know that the neighborhood is filled with gems. One such find is Biscotti, a newly opened tapas bar that’s worth the short trip from Shibuya.

The interior gets the feel of a European pub just right, with communal seating and a collegial atmosphere. The hefty wooden table that dominates the room looks strong enough to dance on—and, considering the low cost of the drinks, you may be tempted to do just that.

Biscotti’s menu makes ordering easy—everything is ¥600, and everything is fantastic. The selection of Spanish-style tapas includes camarones ajillo, tortilla and chorizo. But Italy is represented as well, most notably in the form of the heaping plate of meatballs and tomato sauce. We particularly enjoyed the rilletes served with fantastic toasted French bread, and the potato salad with coppa and egg. Little half-moon symbols on the menu indicate which items are offered that day; on a recent visit, we were bummed that both the lamb chops, which came highly recommended, and the oyster croquettes, now in season, were unavailable. Oh well, all the more reason to go back again.

Most drinks, too, are ¥600, including beer, sangria and sparkling wine. We tried our luck with the “weekly wine,” but luck had nothing to do with it: the friendly barman presented four bottles of red for our delectation (a selection of white is also available), and the Barolo we chose proved a hit. All the more so when it was served in a tumbler, Spanish-style. Touches like that make Biscotti a winner, no matter what its street address may be.