I visited this restaurant again and this time they had an Arab lunch plate available. You could choose between soup or a cold dish, and I chose the soup. The plate included hummus, pita bread, and more, all served on Moroccan dishes which made me feel like I was traveling. The biryani I had before was delicious, but this time was also amazing. I'm glad I brought my companion along.

The other day, on my way to Nasu Oyaji, I saw a sign saying that a French bistro was serving Sri Lankan curry. It's a common sight in Shimokitazawa to see curry being sold in non-curry restaurants, but authentic Sri Lankan curry is not something you hear about often in Shimokitazawa, so it's quite rare. This hidden gem bistro offers Arab and Lebanese cuisine with wine, providing a cozy atmosphere to enjoy French B-class gourmet dishes. The lunch menu includes rice & curry, biryani, and a plate with three types of Sri Lankan dishes, each with rich and flavorful contents. For example, the rice & curry comes with a main curry, vegetable curry, and dal, while the chicken biryani comes with a whole leg. The plate of ten side dishes is served with a special beef curry that the chef takes pride in. The chef, who is from Sri Lanka, and the Japanese owner chef work together in this bistro. The "Ayurveda Plate" was beautifully presented with colorful side dishes radiating from the center. The Basmati rice was seasoned with turmeric and other spices, giving it a vibrant appearance. Ingredients like beets, pumpkin, bitter gourd, cabbage, and a unique combination of daikon with Maldive fish stood out, offering a bold and hearty flavor. The dal was made with lentils, providing a crunchy texture. The beef curry had a rich flavor with a blend of toasted rice and tuna paha, enhancing the taste. Mixing it all together brought out the flavors, especially the daikon. The rice was light and fluffy, despite the generous portion of 200g. The dessert, a daily special made with semolina and coconut, paired well with the apple tea, creating a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience. This Sri Lankan lunch at a chic bistro with a red-themed decor was truly a delightful experience, showcasing the depth of flavors in non-curry restaurants in Shimokitazawa.

In the Cappadocia region of Turkey, there is a traditional dish called SacTava, which is a teppanyaki dish of lamb and colorful vegetables. You can try it at "Cafe de Set" for lunch (1700 yen). The meal starts with a salad with a nice crunch from the carrots. The main dish, SacTava, is served with herb rice surrounded by vibrant vegetables and lamb meat. While it's not served on a hot plate, you can still feel the atmosphere. The taste is unique, with the deliciousness of the vegetables filling your mouth in a way not found in Japanese cuisine. The onions and tomatoes add to the flavor, making it enjoyable till the end without getting tired of it. The dessert with black sugar is served with a spicy tea, similar to chai. The bistro menu and Sri Lankan curry are also delicious, but this was a new discovery. If there are more interesting dishes on the menu, I would like to try them again. Until May 31st, takeout is available on weekdays only. Lunch is served on weekends from 12-3pm.

The lunch set is delicious! Normally a French restaurant, but on weekends and holidays during the state of emergency, they offer a variety of lunch sets such as Sri Lankan Biryani set, Ayurveda set with a wide selection of healthy dishes, and Turkish Sajita set, all with flavorful spices. When it comes to spices in Shimokitazawa, curry is the first thing that comes to mind, but this lunch set is a bit different from curry. In addition to the main plate, it comes with salad, tea, and dessert for 1700 yen. The tea is not just regular tea, but a sweet tea with added spices. Even without alcohol being served during the state of emergency, the satisfaction level is still high. It makes you feel rich and content. Sometimes you have to indulge a little to get through this.

I visited the restaurant because I heard they have an Ayurveda lunch plate! I sometimes come to Shimo-Kitazawa, and I had passed by this shop without knowing they had such a wonderful menu! I saw a post on my friend's Facebook and decided to visit right away. The shop had good ventilation, so I felt safe entering. Today they didn't have the Ayurveda lunch plate, but they had "Biryani with bone-in chicken thigh meat"! It looked delicious from the appearance. The chicken was tender and flavorful! The spicy biryani was just right! The side dishes like eggs and mint were also good. Mixing them all together made it even more delicious. The portion was generous, and I was quite full. Among all the dishes I have tried, this biryani was definitely one of the best! It also came with coffee and dessert. They were refreshing and tasty. This is a reliable restaurant. Next time, I will definitely come back to try the Ayurveda lunch!

On this day, I had lunch at a bistro in Shimokitazawa, which is normally a cafe called Cafe de Sept where you can enjoy wine and bistro dishes. The lunch menu for the day was Sri Lankan curry. Due to the recent state of emergency declaration, it seemed to be a limited-time collaboration with Curry House Hata (located on Chazawa Street, Yoyogi). I wanted to support the restaurant, so I ate heartily. There was also a terrace seat available, and the curry enjoyed on the terrace was excellent. The curry was spicy, with grilled chicken (satay) as the base, and you could choose to have extra rice. The spiciness was around medium level and quite satisfyingly spicy. I drank plenty of water while eating the curry, and I felt very satisfied. The lassi was also delicious.

"Curry House HATA," a Sri Lankan curry restaurant that was operating as a sub-store in a different shop, has started offering curry menus due to changes in operating hours of the temporary shop during the state of emergency. The "Sri Lankan Curry (with soup - 800 yen)" is a chicken-based curry with a unique twist, and it's the star of the show here. You can choose between 200-300g of rice, with extra portions available for a fee. It's been a while since I've tasted curry this good. The Basmati rice, blended with Japanese rice, creates a perfect texture. The overall balance is great, and although it's spicy, the deliciousness outweighs the heat. Located in the curry town of Shimokita, it holds its own in terms of flavor. The "Plain Lassi (300 yen)" is a standard lassi, but it's essential to pair with the spicy curry. Drinking this quickly alleviates the spiciness. The "Salad (200 yen)" is a bulgur wheat salad with a good texture from the cucumbers. It's just right for filling up a bit, and the crunch of the cucumbers is enjoyable. I'm not sure how long this setup will last, but delicious food is always welcome. I'm looking forward to going back again.

I happened to find a restaurant while waiting in line at "Unagi no Takewaka", a Kansai-style Hitsumabushi restaurant that opened this summer. I visited the restaurant for lunch on another day. It opened in July 2017, and I didn't even notice it... I need to pay more attention. I ordered the lunch set with appetizers and soup (1,280 yen). The main dish was pork confit. I love meat after all! The appetizers and soup were quite generous in portion. The confit had a home-cooked feel to it. The carrot and lape side dish did have the satisfying crunch as mentioned by another reviewer (laughs). Unfortunately, it was a bit understaffed that day, and service was quite slow due to a group of local ladies dining there. I couldn't wait for the food and ended up drinking two glasses of wine. It was a bit hard to digest, but the ambiance was nice. I might give it another try if I have the chance.

Recently, the construction of Odakyu and Keio in Shimo-Kitazawa has temporarily ended. Although construction is ongoing in other areas, the increase in passageways and easily accessible roads has completely changed the flow of people. Even on the streets where popular izakayas like "Tobusakana" are scattered, there seems to be a larger population during the day than before. It feels like a different atmosphere now that the area that was once divided by railroad crossings. I had lunch at a French bistro along the way. For lunch, you can choose whether or not to have appetizers. The menu includes options such as hamburger steak, pork confit, and smoked mackerel, which are all popular among Japanese people. This time, I chose the 100% beef "simmered hamburger steak (980 yen)" without appetizers. The vegetable soup had a gentle flavor. The main hamburger steak was satisfying to eat, with a not too strong but delicious seasoning. The only thing I found a bit difficult to eat was the carrot and turnip salad. The portion was large and tiring to chew. Maybe it would be better to have a smaller portion of the side dish. The background music was nice, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was calm and pleasant. I enjoyed the meal, so I would like to come back again. Next time, I might try a menu with fewer side dishes.

I found out that a bistro in Shimokitazawa started serving lunch from Wednesday to Sunday, so I called to confirm and visited "Cafe de Sette 7". The atmosphere is like an old-fashioned Parisian bistro, which got me really excited. For lunch, they offer 3 main dishes: hamburger, smoked mackerel, and cabbage roll. Each main dish comes with soup and rice or bread. You can add an appetizer for an extra 200 yen, a drink for an extra 200 yen, and dessert for an extra 300 yen. I chose the main dish "cabbage roll" and added an appetizer. The homemade bread was a sourdough called "campanile", and I opted for the "multigrain rice". For the appetizer, I had a sweet potato salad and liver pate, both delicious. The tomato vegetable soup was served in a large bowl and was very tasty. The multigrain rice was flavorful and had a nice texture. The cabbage roll in creamy bechamel sauce was beautifully presented and tasted like a comforting homemade dish. The bistro has a cozy and elegant atmosphere, reminiscent of a French countryside bistro. It's a lovely place to relax and enjoy a delicious meal.

I found this place by searching for French lunches in Shimokitazawa. Many French restaurants in Shimokitazawa are only open at night, so it's a bit inconvenient for lunch. This place, located close to the south exit, is decorated with Klimt paintings and various chandeliers, giving it a decadent Parisian vibe. I was guided to my preferred seat. I had the following (B course 1280 yen): - Sweet potato salad and liver pate - Tomato vegetable soup - Stuffed cabbage roll - Chocolate cake (+300 yen) - Coffee (+200 yen) The lunch menu also offers an A course with soup, main dish, and bread (mixed grain rice) for 1080 yen, with additional options for appetizers (+200 yen), dessert (+300 yen), and drinks (+200 yen). The appetizer was sweet potato and kumquat simmered in balsamic vinegar, along with liver pate. The sweet potato kumquat simmer was a unique idea. The pate was delicious. The tomato vegetable soup was hearty with kidney beans and root vegetables, very warming. You can choose between mixed grain rice or homemade whole wheat bread. The main dish had three options, including hamburger with demi-glace sauce and smoked mackerel, but I chose the white sauce stuffed cabbage roll. It was like a white stew with shimeji mushrooms, daikon, and other vegetables, very tasty. Topped with red bell pepper and parsley for color. The chocolate cake was served with almost unsweetened whipped cream, apple confiture, and grapes, a generous portion and a dessert you shouldn't miss. The staff were all friendly and made the experience relaxing. Above all, the atmosphere conveyed the chef's love for cooking. The dinner menu also looked very delicious, and I would like to try it with wine next time. *On a personal note, this is my 3200th review in over 4 years and 1 month of posting. Thank you for reading.

The Arabian cuisine and French cuisine were delicious with gentle flavors. It was impressive how they could create such flavors with spices. It was convenient that we could dine on the terrace with our dog!

The owner's love for Paris is evident in the meticulously designed Parisian-style interior and cuisine at this restaurant! I've lost count of how many times I've visited... I probably haven't tried a menu item here that wasn't incredibly delicious. Each dish shows the care and effort put into preparation, resulting in a truly tasty meal. The smoked mackerel may seem unusual, but the perfect balance of smokiness and rock salt creates a harmonious flavor without any fishy taste. Even the meat dishes, like the lamb, are prepared so well that there's no unpleasant odor. It's a taste that couldn't be achieved without attention to detail. The fact that you can enjoy such quality food at this price is truly appreciated. While there are other highly-rated bistros in Shimokitazawa, personally, having tasted various cuisines from around the world, this is the restaurant I recommend the most.

Shimokitazawa, where I live, has plenty of dining options, but there are few casual places for adults to enjoy. My husband, who loves wine, enjoys drinking with pate and terrine. In Paris, there are cafes everywhere that are familiar for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which is quite enviable. In this context, we found a cafe or rather a brasserie nearby. My husband had a light drink, and I wanted a light dinner. The handwritten menu on the blackboard gives it a French touch. We ordered pate de campagne, liver pate, and smoked pork tongue as appetizers. The marinated sardine salad was made with fresh sardines and was especially good. You don't have to be formal and order appetizers and mains separately, it's totally fine. My husband had a glass of wine after beer. There were about three types of red and white wines to choose from, which made it easy. The lamb and merguez sausage with couscous and vegetables that we chose in the end was a lot, even for the two of us. The lamb had no gamey taste, and the generous amount of warm vegetables and elegant soup warmed us up. If you come here in winter, be sure to order this. We found this place to be a valuable spot for casual dining in the neighborhood.