November 3, 2011
Pilgrim’s Picnic
Tokyo serves up turkey with all the trimmings this thanksgiving
By Metropolis
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2011
Addis
Meet the eminently charming Chef Tilksew Seife, from Ethiopia, who this year—as always—will be serving up his unique brand of Thanksgiving meal (¥3,900; ¥2,500 kids). A lentil and fresh thyme soup starts proceedings, followed by cranberry and cream cheese canapé, and a roast beet, goat’s cheese and fennel salad. Then comes the turkey (or grilled homemade tofu wrapped in eggplant for veggies) plus Addis’ notorious pumpkin cheesecake. Reservation only.
Nov 23-25, 5:30 & 8pm. 2F, 2-3-15 Nakane, Meguro-ku. Tel: 03-6421-4302. Nearest stn: Toritsu-Daigaku. http://addiscafetokyo.com
Bacana Ginza
In this haven of churrasco in the heart of Ginza, you can enjoy a Thanksgiving repast par excellence, with a traditional turkey added to the Brazilian buffet and meat feast at dinnertime only. Enjoy your roast turkey with all the extra tidbits alongside the monumental all-you-can-eat buffet that has made Bacana a favorite since its recent opening. All this for ¥4,500. Why not wash it down with some tropical cocktails, and commence digestion bopping around the room with their famous samba dancers?
Nov 23-27. B1F Izumo Bldg, 8-8-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku. Tel: 03-6228-5627. Mon-Fri 11:30-3pm & 5:30pm-11pm, Sat-Sun & hols noon-4pm & 5:30pm-10pm. Nearest stn: Shimbashi or Ginza. http://bacana-ginza.jimdo.com
Bubby’s
The Tribeca-founded Bubby’s is a New York institution that effortlessly made the transition to Yokohama with its brand of home-cooked American soul food. For Thanksgiving Bubby’s will apply its values of traditional recipes, fresh produce and healthy portions to a fabulous roast turkey meal with all the trimmings, plus the famous Bubby’s apple pie or a seasonal pumpkin or pecan pie for dessert. The meal weighs in at ¥2,900—or ¥1,200 for elementary school kids. Kids under school age eat for free. Bubby’s is situated under JR Sakuragicho station.
1-1-1 Sakuragicho, Naka-ku, Yokohama. Tel: 045-263-8139. Open daily 8am-10pm (café), 11am-11pm (diner). Nearest stn: Sakuragicho. www.bubbys.jp
Checkers & Marble Lounge
This Thanksgiving, the star duo of restaurants at the Hilton Tokyo present a pair of regal repasts. At the lobby-level Marble Lounge, the buffet—with over 60 dishes including onion and Gruyère tart, duck breast salad, the compulsory turkey and more—costs ¥5,000, or ¥3,500 for kids. Upstairs at casual brasserie Checkers, the usual Mediterranean-style dinner buffet comes with Thanksgiving turkey and traditional desserts such as pecan pie (¥6,700; ¥4,500 kids).
Marble Lounge: Nov 23, 7-9pm; Checkers: Nov 24, 5:30-10pm. 6-6-2 Nishi-Shinjuku. Tel: 03-3344-5111. Nearest stn: Shinjuku, west exit. www.hilton.co.jp
Nov 24-25. Grand Hyatt Tokyo, 6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-Ku. Tel: 03-4333-8784. http://meturl.com/oakdoor
Good Honest Grub
Enjoy Turkey Day all week long with the set feast at GHG. Dinner kicks off with a salad of harvest greens topped with poppyseed dressing, then moves on to roast turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, gravy and homemade cranberry sauce. There are also vegetarian options available, and all dinners come with a sweet chaser of homemade pumpkin ginger cake with lemon sauce, plus coffee or tea (¥3,900/¥2,500 under-11s). Reservations required.
Nov 22-25 (seatings at 6 & 8:30pm only on Nov 23-24). 2-20-8 Higashi, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3797-9877. Nearest stn: Shibuya or Ebisu. www.goodhonestgrub.com
Kimono Wine Bar
In this stylish and cozy Minami-Aoyama hangout, you can enjoy a fantastic set (¥3,500) including a welcome glass of bubbly, a turkey dinner served share-style with all the trimmings, and dessert—choose from pumpkin pie, almond or chocolate cake—for an extra ¥500. Space is limited, so book early. Sister outfit, To the Moon and Back Catering, can provide Thanksgiving bento, hot buffet and even whole roast turkeys.
Nov 22-26, 6 & 8:30pm. 1-15-28 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-6438-1685. Nearest stn: Nogizaka. www.kimonowinebar.com. Catering: Tel: 03-6438-1685. Email: lauren@tothemoonandback.jp. www.tothemoonandback.jp
The Oak Door
One of the Grand Hyatt’s most luxurious restaurants is preparing a sumptuous feast for Thanksgiving this year, with smoked trout salad, roasted turkey with chestnut stuffing and an assortment of delicious accessories, pecan pie with chocolate ice cream or pumpkin pie with pumpkin ice cream, and a hot beverage, all for ¥8,500, plus ten percent service charge.
Nov 24-25. Grand Hyatt Tokyo, 6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-Ku. Tel: 03-4333-8784. http://meturl.com/oakdoor
Opera
Legendary chef Masakatsu Kato, famed for pioneering Californian cuisine to Tokyo, is turning his hand to the pilgrim’s banquet this year at Opera. The centerpiece is the roasted turkey with foie gras, mash and gravy, flanked by Caesar salad and wild mushroom soup before and pumpkin pie with ice cream after, plus a complimentary coffee or tea. All of this can be had for the bargain snip of ¥4,000 per person—reservation only. What’s more, this all coincides with the Opera anniversary—with boundless club action downstairs from Nov 24-26. On the 24th, you can even follow your Thanksgiving banquet with a buffet and all you can drink for just ¥2,500.
Nov 24, 5-10pm (LO). 5F Izumi Garden, 1-6-1 Roppongi, Minato-Ku. Tel:03-5575-8055. Nearest stn: Roppongi-itchome. http://operatokyo.jp
Pink Cow
Time for the Pink Cow’s thanksgiving bash, which they confidently proclaim to be the best in town. Pies, stuffing, mash and gravy, cream peas, cranberries, the regal bird itself and stuffed tofu for the veggies is all yours for ¥4,200. Just make sure you email nice and early with your phone number and desired seating time—or risk crying alone into your Subway turkey sandwich.
Nov 24-25, 6:30 & 8:30pm. B1 Villa Moderuna, 1-3-18 Shibuya. Tel: 03-3406-5597. Email: cowmail@thepinkcow.com. www.thepinkcow.com
Roti Roppongi
Book fast, as Roti will be filled up faster than you can say “Thanksgiving turkey dinner extravaganza.” This year it’s all about the sweet combo of the bird and the grape—choose from the best American Zinfandel wines, with at least four by glass. For the three-course dinner (¥4,800/person), the kitchen takes fanatical care in bird-preparation, giving them a herbal bath of sage, thyme and spices. The moist meat is served with giblet gravy, cornbread dressing and cranberry ginger relish, plus creamy whipped potatoes and grilled winter veg, appetizers, and a pumpkin-based dessert to round it off. Ask for kids’ and veggie options. Pre-ordered birds will be on sale on the 24-25, but they fly off the shelves too—so get in fast.
Nov 24-25, 6 & 9pm. 6-6-9 Roppongi, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5785-3671. Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.roti.jp
Bisteria Sama Sama
Owner-chef Masa Nagasaka worked in various high-profile restaurants in California and as head chef in several Tokyo mainstays before opening his own place in October last year. Pizza is his speciality, expecially his famed porcini cream cheese pizza with thick cream and truffles (¥1,680). For Thanksgiving you can opt for the roast turkey with cranberry sauce and gravy, plus mashed potato and vegetables from the chef’s native Hidatakayama (¥1,980). The special thanksgiving apple pie with vanilla ice cream (¥780) is a strong finisher, and Metropolis readers can even get their first drink free. Reservation Required.
24-26 Nov. 1-13-14 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-6804-5988. Email: arisa@samasama.net. Lunch 11:30-3pm, dinner 6pm-midnight. www.samasama.net
Suji’s
This stylish NYC-style Roppongi eatery is the chow-down, copious-comfort-food capital of Thanksgiving. Try the wares of their hot new chef Frankie at the all-you-can-eat buffet (¥5,000 adult/¥2,500 child)—including roast herb turkey, salads, veggies, sauces, pumpkin pie, spiced cider, and one alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink to lubricate the gushing gratitude. Veggies can tuck into a grilled veggie lasagne. Book fast as space is limited.
Nov 25, 5:30 & 8pm. 3-1-5 Azabudai, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3505-4490. Nearest stn: Azabu-Juban or Roppongi-Itchome. www.sujis.net
Trader Vic’s
Head to the luxurious New Otani for an upscale Thanksgiving treat. Evening seatings are ¥10,500 (plus 10 percent service charge) each night, and include prawn cocktail, soup in a bread bowl, salad, roast turkey with all the accoutrements, and pumpkin pie with ice cream to leave that sweet, sweet taste of gratitude on your lips.
Nov 23-25, 5-10pm. 4F Garden Tower, 4-1 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku. Tel: 03-3565-4707. Nearest stn: Nagatacho or Akasaka-Mitsuke. http://meturl.com/tradervics
Tucano’s
Tucano’s Brazilian barbeque is offering a Thanksgiving feast to rival its all-you-can-eat churrasco buffet. Enjoy roast turkey with all the biz, mashed potatoes, green bean salad, stewed sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie—all of which come alongside the regular all-you-can-eat menu (¥4,000/120min). Learn the true meaning of “thank you, God” when you witness their stunning samba dancers strut their stuff twice a day on both Wednesday and Thursday, plus live bossanova twice ever day (music charge ¥500) .
Nov 23-26, 5:30-11:30pm (last entry 9:30pm). B1 Fhontis bldg, 2-23-12 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5784-2661. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.pjgroup.jp/tucanos
