I took my junior colleague out for lunch in Kiba. While wandering around, I thought about what to eat. Maybe Chinese? Or Italian? As I was looking at a menu displayed by the road, I was considering pasta when my junior insisted that this place was good. So, we decided to visit 【CRANE (Italian & BAR)】, which appears to be located on the first floor of a hotel. It was a weekday, cloudy, and around 12:10 PM. Surprisingly, there were no customers in the restaurant. The lunch set menu included pasta options and a chicken plate. I initially ordered the "Teriyaki Chicken," but was told it was sold out. With no customers around, I was puzzled as to how that could happen. So, I settled for the other option: 【Mochiko Chicken Set for 880 yen】, which comes with soup, salad, and a drink. The staff informed me that the soup was self-serve, and when I went to get some, there seemed to be only a few cups worth available. I'm guessing they don’t get many customers. After waiting about 15 minutes while sipping my soup, the food finally arrived. The soup had a nice balance of vegetable flavors and acidity, although it was a bit oily and had decent ingredients. The main plate featured two small sides. The first was potato salad, which tasted standard with a light onion dressing. The second was a salad of lettuce and tomato with a mild Italian dressing. Next was the main dish: the fried chicken. I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was! The crispy outer coating yielded to juicy chicken that was full of flavor. The menu noted that it was fried with “mochi flour,” which I hadn’t expected. There weren’t any strong spices, allowing the natural taste of the chicken to shine. This was some seriously good fried chicken! I might try using “mochi flour” the next time I make fried chicken myself. Overall, I enjoyed my meal. The place could use a few more customers, but there’s a sort of intimidating feel about dining in a hotel restaurant. Also, I wish they would inform guests more clearly about unavailable items on the menu. It would be nice if they marked items with an "X" when they can't be prepared.

The restaurant "Kiba no Tsuru" is located on the first floor of the Crane Hotel. It is attached to a bar for hotel guests. The hotel’s opening was delayed due to COVID-19, but it seems they have just recently started serving lunch. Upon entering, there is a reception desk, and when I told the Southeast Asian male concierge that I was there for lunch, he informed me that I could choose any seat. The dining area is bright, clean, and compact. I chose a seat in the middle of the room. For lunch, I ordered the cheapest option available, Aglio e Olio Peperoncino, from the pasta and one-plate menu. The menu mentions it comes as a three-item set with salad and a drink, and there are pictures indicating this, but it actually also includes a soup. At 680 yen, this is quite a bargain, isn't it? The soup is a self-service minestrone. I salvaged some goodies from the bottom of the soup jar. There was a water server nearby, so I filled a paper cup with water, grabbed a toothpick, and returned to my seat, only to find a glass of water already sitting on the coaster. Although I was the only customer, it took longer than expected for the food to arrive. By the way, they didn’t ask me what kind of drink I wanted, but the iced coffee came out at the same time. First, I started with the salad for my veggie-first approach. The fresh vegetables were well-presented, and the cherry tomatoes were particularly sweet, almost like fruit. Even though I took the bagged chopsticks from the box, I ended up finishing it all with a fork. Next, I enjoyed the soup that I had set aside while waiting for the main dishes. It was as hearty as I had hoped. I think adding Tabasco would enhance the flavor even more. Then came the main pasta dish. The plate, resembling an overturned straw hat, often has shallow depressions in the center, but this one was surprisingly deep and quite satisfying in portion size. The combination of the noodles, chili pepper, and spinach reminded me of the Italian flag. I twirled the pasta with a spoon and fork and took a bite. Huh? There was a surprising lack of spiciness from the chili, and the garlic was quite mild too. However, the olive oil was abundant, like it was a competition to see how much could pool at the bottom. There wasn't much Aglio or Peperoncino flavor, but the oil lingered in my mouth long after. Perhaps due to being boiled for a longer time, the pasta was not al dente at all. I decided to eat the last bit with the chopsticks, but I noticed toothpicks were included in the bag. I ended up utilizing the toothpick I brought for a different purpose later! When I finished drinking from the water server, I used the paper cup as a mini trash bin for discarded paper napkins and the chopstick packaging. As they say, "A blessing in disguise." At the counter bar, you can pay with PayPay. The wall showcasing various domestic and international alcoholic beverages includes some premium options, suggesting they are targeting inbound customers. The name "Kiba no Tsuru” has a nice ring to it, and it could fit well into a series with names like "Nikko's Monkeys" or "Shibuya's Dog." Next time, I might try one of the plate meals. Thank you for the meal!

I visited the restaurant alone and was able to enjoy a relaxing lunch. There are many reasons for this, and I’ll detail a few below. First, the interior has a stylish bar atmosphere, and the attention from the owner is outstanding. The bar master, who is foreign, serves coffee after noticing when customers have finished their meals, and his relaxed speaking style along with polite service (like being considerate enough to minimize the water used while washing dishes near the counter seats) is commendable. Additionally, the background music in the restaurant is relaxing, which adds to the ambiance. Second, the food was delicious. The seasoning and cooking were just right. The pork was tasty, but the accompanying vegetables were also exceptionally good. There are very few places in Tokyo where you can have a peaceful lunch experience, so I would love to come back when I want to enjoy a calm meal again.

I had lunch at Italian & Bar CRANE, which is attached to the Crane Hotel in Kiba. I was tempted by the meat dishes, but since I might have meat for dinner, I decided to play it safe and ordered the pasta lunch for 850 yen. The soup was self-service, and on that day, it was a tomato and egg drop soup. The pasta was a simple dish with canned tomatoes and onions. The noodles were thick and chewy. It had a homemade taste and was quite good. There were many bottles lined up on the counter, so it seems like it would be enjoyable as a bar in the evening. I actually discovered this restaurant while searching for places where I could use my Hot Pepper gift points. I think if they expanded their offerings for business lunches and set meal plans for breakfast and dinner for hotel guests, it would become more well-known.

I visited Kiba, drawn by the beautiful Kawazu cherry blossoms, and thought it would be nice to have lunch while enjoying the scenery. I've already tried nearby ramen shops and Chinese restaurants, so I decided to check out this place that I hadn’t been to before. It turns out this restaurant is located on the first floor of a hotel. It serves as a dining area during the day and a bar at night. The staff appeared to be from China and, although their Japanese wasn't perfect, their earnestness was commendable. There are many lunch options available, but the recommendation is the garlic pork. However, I decided to go for the chicken instead. The set meal comes with soup and coffee. It took about 15 minutes for the food to be served. The grilled chicken was topped with a creamy sauce, accompanied by carrots and shimeji mushrooms. While 1400 yen seems a bit pricey for this dish, it was quite delicious.

I had lunch at an Italian restaurant near the Higashiyochō 3-chome intersection, between Higashiyochō and Kiba. It's right across from the noodle shop Rurikakesu that I often visit, located on the first floor of the Tsur Crean Hotel, a business hotel in Kiba that opened in July 2021. The restaurant itself just opened in October. When I think of Italian lunch, I often think of pasta, but they also had meat dishes, so I ordered the pork loin sauté. Orders are placed through a QR code with my smartphone. The meal comes with a salad and a drink, and there's a soup bar for unlimited refills, but there was no explanation from the staff. I found out from another customer that the soup is served from a jar in a spot that isn’t very visible, and you can help yourself. I wouldn't have noticed if they hadn't told me! The soup of the day was minestrone, and it was quite rich. First, the salad was served, and then finally, the pork loin sauté arrived, complete with rice. The pork loin was flavorful, seasoned with garlic and herbs, though it was a bit dry, the fat was sweet. However, while the sautéed shiitake mushrooms were warm and tasty, the marinated mushrooms and carrot raita seemed like they were just pre-prepared and cold, creating an awkward temperature contrast. Shouldn't warm and cold items be served separately? Also, wasn't there a bit too much oil on the plate? At the end of the meal, a mini cake was supposed to be served, but I remember there was also supposed to be a drink included, and no one mentioned it. I didn't have the time to ask about it, so I left without it. The service does seem a bit concerning.

It was a reasonable and delicious lunch. I went with my children, and I was happy that they made accommodations for the kids with salads and desserts. I would love to visit this restaurant again.