特盛ヒロシ
This time, I would like to introduce a popular and reasonably priced Italian restaurant that opened in Shin-Otsuka three years ago, specializing in homemade fresh pasta. The location is just a short walk from Shin-Otsuka Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, about 10 seconds away. It is also a 5-minute walk from Otsuka Station on the JR Yamanote Line and Toden Arakawa Line. The business hours are from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm for lunch (last order at 2:00 pm) and from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm for dinner (last order at 10:00 pm), with Sundays being closed.
I visited this restaurant based on a recommendation from a friend who loves pasta. My friend and I went on a weekday at 7:00 pm. The restaurant has around 20 seats, with a mix of counter and table seating. We were seated at a table towards the right back of the restaurant. The interior has a cozy Italian vibe and offers a range of wines and authentic Italian dishes at reasonable prices.
The drink menu includes a selection of wines ranging from 2,800 yen to 5,000 yen per bottle, with some higher-priced options at 8,800 yen and 12,800 yen. They also offer beers like Carlsberg on tap and beer balls, highballs such as Kakubin, Toris, and Jim Beam, cocktails including Cassis, Campari, and Moscow Mule, and sours like lemon sour and various fruit sours. I tried the Seven Lucky Gods series of orange sour (700 yen) and Carlsberg draft beer (700 yen).
For food, they offer a variety of dishes including carpaccio, pizza, pasta, aglio olio, and meat dishes. The recommended items are the stone-baked cheese Bolognese, ripe tomato arrabbiata (950 yen), karasumi peperoncino (1,250 yen), carbonara (1,250 yen), tomato cream pasta (1,250 yen), as well as weekly pasta specials and recommended dishes.
We ordered the following items:
- Truffle-flavored potato fries (500 yen)
- Chicken liver pate with baguette (680 yen)
- Recommended bonito tataki salad (880 yen)
- Margherita pizza (1,200 yen)
- Weekly pasta with anchovy and cabbage (1,200 yen)
- Stone-baked cheese Bolognese (1,350 yen)
- Roast chicken thigh meat - half size (950 yen)
- Grilled half-size Azumino Genki pork shoulder loin (1,050 yen)
- Homemade tiramisu (500 yen)
- Iced coffee (700 yen)
Overall, the pasta, meat dishes, and other items were delicious. The homemade fresh pasta, made using a low-hydration vacuum method, had a unique texture. The stone-baked cheese Bolognese and creamy anchovy and cabbage pasta were rich and flavorful. The grilled Azumino Genki pork shoulder loin was exceptionally tasty, with a melt-in-your-mouth quality. The roast chicken thigh meat was also delicious. The dishes were presented beautifully, with crescent moon patterns on the plates, adding to the dining experience. The homemade tiramisu was a perfect way to end the meal.
The service was excellent, and I would definitely like to visit again. Thank you for the wonderful meal.