190chi
Originally from Apicius, this authentic bistro located in the back alleys of Ginza has been around for over 20 years. I often peeked in from Namiki Street, but never had the chance to visit until now. This time, my foodie friends were looking for a casual place where we could enjoy wine and treat it like an izakaya, so we decided to check it out. The back alleys definitely have a lot of character. The menu is simple yet enticing, with a real and delicious vibe. When it's just two of us, I usually go for a bottle of Champagne and adjust with glasses, but this time my companion wanted a bottle of red. Without a wine list, we just described the grape and price range, and they made a recommendation. We settled on a Merlot around 10,000 yen. Before that, let's start with a glass of Champagne. It's quite rare to find a back alley bistro like this offering Champagne for 2,000 yen. They serve it in a white wine glass, which feels like you could easily have 10 glasses or more. Is it the Ginza price even in the back alleys? The food prices have also gone up quite a bit. Well, it's understandable given the current situation, right? Abalone steak for 8,000 yen or wagyu steak for 8,000 yen... we skipped those and focused on the menu. Since my companion wasn't into foie gras, there weren't many options left! Cauliflower mousse with sea urchin and caviar, seasonal vegetable and seafood salad, crab gratin, and red wine-braised beef cheek. When the dishes arrived, they were served for sharing, which was a nice touch. The dishes are all classic Apicius style - well-prepared and flavorful, but without any unnecessary frills. The taste is solid and delicious. We had some wine left, so we added a cheese plate and finished with pudding, fondant au chocolat, and vanilla ice cream. Being in the back alleys and having that old charm, it's perfect for a casual izakaya-style dining, but it does come with Ginza prices. It's not much different from a restaurant, right? One thing that caught my attention was that bread didn't automatically come out - you had to ask for it, and it took a while. Were they reheating frozen bread in the oven each time? It seems like they're quite particular about cost management. Maybe it's due to the impact of COVID-19? Opinions might vary on this. Well, the back alleys of Namiki Street - let's use it according to the occasion. Thank you for the meal.