2018 Spring Dessert Buffet First Edition Round 2

Spring 2018 Dessert Buffet First Edition

I used it for a relative's wedding.

A wedding venue located on the 2nd floor of Park Court Jingumae, a 5-minute walk from Takeshita Exit of Harajuku Station. They are currently hosting a Summer Sweets Buffet from July 29th (Sunday) to August 25th (Saturday) between 11:30-13:30 and 14:00-16:00, offering a 120-minute session with a welcome drink and 2 hours of free-flowing drinks for 5,000 yen (tax included). They also offer a buffet without the welcome drink for 3,800 yen (tax included), student discount for 3,000 yen (tax included), senior discount (60 years and above) for 3,300 yen (tax included), elementary school students for 2,500 yen (tax included), and preschoolers (ages 4-6) for 800 yen (tax included). I visited the Summer Sweets Buffet. Overall, the sweets were honestly quite plain. The specialty Pistachio Chocolate was delicious, and there were some summer-themed desserts like pineapple and coconut roll cake that I liked, but I felt like it was a bit underwhelming. In particular, the grape shortcake, despite using Shine Muscat and Pione grapes, looked like it was made for commercial use. The variety of light meals was decent. In a sweets buffet, a bit of saltiness can make desserts more enjoyable, but the summer vegetable ethnic sauce was too salty. It was meant to be eaten over garlic rice, but if you eat it like curry rice or hashed beef, it was too salty to be enjoyable. There were live demonstrations for churros and steak. The freshly fried churros were served with 5 types of powdered sugar and maple syrup, and they were delicious. The steak was a bit tough, but for a sweets buffet, it was sufficient. You could choose to add sauce to your liking, but the meat was already well-seasoned, so adding too much sauce made it too salty. There were no issues with replenishing the food, but the service quality seemed to vary among staff. For example, when the steak took longer to cook, some people were told it would be brought to their table without having to wait in line, while others, like myself who ate 6 servings, were never offered this service. The venue is surrounded by nature despite its location in Harajuku, and the atmosphere is not bad. However, personally, I found it to be just average.

Limited time sweets buffet. Families (probably guests getting married) and sweets lovers gathered. The seating was at round tables in the banquet hall, making conversation a bit distant but comfortable. The table setting for weddings was also nice, felt like it was also serving as advertising. When thinking about the title of this month's "Tropical" theme, I felt a bit lonely, but the intricate mousse cakes and jellies with alcohol were enjoyable. Each item had explanations, which was nice. The canelé was quite burnt, so I hope they clarify that. The meal included Thai curry and a pot-au-feu style soup. In about an hour, there was a flambé ice cream performance, a unique experience that may be specific to banquet halls. There were about 10 drink options, similar to what you'd find at a wedding reception. The price might be a bit high compared to what's offered, but if there are some improvements, I'd like to visit again. I can see why the afternoon tea is popular.

The buffet in May was a cute buffet inspired by koinobori, but this time I visited the Tropical Dessert and Light Meal! The regular price is 3500 yen, but there is a student discount, so students pay 3000 yen. It was a hot day in Tokyo, over 30 degrees, but Leal Togo was cool and surrounded by greenery. It was a lovely location. On the table, there was a welcome plate with a summer theme. The buffet included a free drink bar with orange juice, oolong tea, grapefruit juice, ginger ale, coffee, and tea. The light meal options were delicious, including Vietnamese-style rice noodles with steamed chicken, couscous with 10 spices, coconut rice and green curry, French fries, onion rings, salad bar, and chef's special cold gazpacho soup. There were also various condiments available. The cake buffet had a variety of options, such as shortcake with premium red meat melon, caramelized pineapple and coconut roll cake, Leal Togo's original rare cheesecake, blueberry mousse, lychee tropical fruit tart, pistachio and praline gateau, and more. There were also Japanese sweets, fruit punch with watermelon, honey pudding, creme brulee, and more. The summer limited edition specialty was Baked Alaska, which was delicious. Overall, the desserts were a favorite, especially the Baked Alaska. The atmosphere was enjoyable, and it was a fun buffet experience.

After the 3rd day of the second half of Golden Week, the consecutive holidays will end in just one day, which is so sad. Today, I visited "Leal Togo" at the end of Takeshita Street in Harajuku, which was filled with young people. It is a lovely venue that makes you forget you are in the city, and it also serves as a beautiful wedding reception venue. The service from the staff is top-notch. Since it was Children's Day, there was a shaved ice station where kids could make their own shaved ice and add their favorite syrup, which was a hit with the little ones. In line with Children's Day, the shortcake was shaped like a carp kite. In the kids' corner, there were popular dishes like fried chicken, shrimp fry, and spaghetti, making it look like a kids' lunch. The turnip potage and penne arrabbiata were delicious, and the A5 Wagyu stew was a masterpiece that had been simmering for three days. There was a variety of tomatoes, salad greens, and dressings for the salad bar. The fruit selection included watermelon, melon, lychee, and pineapple, giving a taste of early summer. The glass desserts were also impressive. There were sweets with a Japanese twist like choco yokan and matcha tiramisu. The cream brulee, melon roll cake, cream cheese, and caramel chocolate cake were all delicious. The caramel-filled choux pastry was a favorite, and the cream brulee was delightful. The cakes were bite-sized, making it easy to try them all. The fresh watermelon and melon were delightful, while the prince melon was slightly lacking in sweetness. The pineapple was sweet, and the lychee was refreshing. The shortcake was a bit buttercream-heavy, and a moister sponge would have been preferred. There were also treats like kashiwa mochi and taiyaki. The A5 Wagyu stew was tender and flavorful, highly recommended by the staff. The corn potage, kids' corner with shrimp fry and fried chicken, and scallop fry were all delicious. The penne pasta was also a hit. The choco yokan had a subtle chocolate flavor, and the fruits were a refreshing way to cleanse the palate. Vanilla and strawberry ice cream were served, and a live demonstration of making chiffon cake in a rice cooker was a delightful way to end the meal. The fluffy chiffon cake was served warm with maple syrup and whipped cream. It felt like a leisurely time in a vacation home in the pleasant weather. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I went to the restaurant at 3:15 in the afternoon on a regular day with five customers. They only had fried potatoes for replenishment, nothing else. The fried chicken and pistachio mousse were sold out, so they remained as they were. It seems like they have simplified their menu. The taste was simple and easy to eat, but nothing stood out. In terms of sweets: the Amaou strawberry roll cake had very small strawberries and lacked the Amaou flavor. The decoration was simplified. The tiramisu was delicious. The pistachio mousse had a very weak pistachio flavor. The caramel chocolate was rich in flavor. The sakura pound cake, cheesecake, and sakura Mont Blanc were all delicious. The tart had a small and brittle crust and had cinnamon which may not be to everyone's liking. The chocolate yokan was as the name suggests. The souffle had a coarse texture. The sakura creme brulee had a crispy surface and was delicious. The taiyaki and imagawayaki had red beans and cream respectively, and were overly sweet. In terms of savory dishes: the penne had eggplant in tomato sauce. The root vegetable soup was very delicious. The fried chicken only had small pieces. I had a total of 31 sweet items and 6 savory items.

Sweets buffet mania Amako visits a dessert buffet at a wedding venue in Harajuku♪ ※The system used during the visit is as follows: [Weekdays] ♦Price (tax and service charge included): Adults: 3000 yen, Elementary school students: 1400 yen, Toddlers: 800 yen, Under 3 years old: Free ♦Time: 13:30-16:00 (Last entry at 14:30) 120-minute system (L.O. 30 minutes before closing) [Weekends and Holidays] ♦Price (tax and service charge included): Adults: 3200 yen, Elementary school students: 1400 yen, Toddlers: 800 yen, Under 3 years old: Free ♦Time: 13:30-16:45 (Last entry at 15:15) 90-minute system (L.O. 30 minutes before closing) ♦️Dates: Please check on the reservation website ♦Lineup: [Welcome Plate]: Strawberry, Custard Pudding, Citrus Jelly, Rouge Chocolate (Raspberry) [Cake Buffet]: 13 types including Strawberry Shortcake, Arita Mandarin Tart, Amao Roll Cake, Caramel Chocolat, Pistachio, Gateau Chocolat, Mont Blanc, Matcha Tiramisu, Galette des Rois (January dessert), Yōkan Chocolat, Anno Sweet Potato Crème Brûlée, Apple Pie, Amazake Blancmange [Petit Fours]: 5 types including Boudinage, Coconut Passion Guimauve, Financier, Monaka Florentin, Canelé de Bordeaux [Light Meal]: 4 types including Onion Ring Fry, French Fried Potato, 5 types of Dip Sauce, Cauliflower Potage, Penne Arrabbiata [Ruhr Togo Speciality]: Time Service Demonstration HANGO Chiffon Cake [Drink Bar]: Coffee, Black Tea, Orange Juice, Grapefruit Juice, Ginger Ale, Oolong Tea - A dessert buffet at a restaurant attached to a wedding venue - Easy reservations through sites like Ikkyu and OZmall. There is also a student discount available - Different prices and timings for weekdays and weekends/holidays - The location of the restaurant is a bit hard to find, so be cautious - Self-service system for both food and drinks from the buffet table - The serving plates are quite small - A welcome plate is provided at the beginning - A live service of freshly baked "HANGO Chiffon" cake is offered midway - Delicious and well-made desserts - The staff's attention to detail is excellent This venue is affiliated with the Togo Shrine, located right next to the shrine, but it can be a bit hard to find. If you head from Laforet Harajuku towards Meiji Street, you will find it just past the police station inside M-SQUARE. There are signs along the way, but if you're worried about arriving on time, there are waiting sofas available, so it's recommended to arrive early (I made the mistake and got a bit flustered). The theme for the dessert buffet in January 2018 is "Season, Beauty, Harmony". The welcome plate follows a "Cosmetics" theme, with lipstick-shaped chocolates and lipsticks that you can eat, providing a unique and fun experience. The desserts range from standard Western-style sweets to creatively arranged Japanese-style sweets like chocolate yokan. The limited variety offers a rich selection, all with a homemade warmth and a touch of the shrine's unique personality. The desserts are posted on Instagram, showcasing the fun and lively atmosphere of the patissiers, leaving no doubt that they are delicious. The MVPs of this visit were the New York-style Lemon Cheesecake, the Crispy Florentin Monaka, and the Caramel Chocolate. The Shortcake that I casually ate made me crave more the next day. The lineup may change slightly seasonally, so be sure to check it out. The buffet is scheduled to run until the end of March, with seasonal changes in the lineup.

Less than a 10-minute walk from Harajuku Station. Despite being very close, it felt completely secluded from the hustle and bustle of Takeshita Street. There was a lot of greenery around. We arrived 15 minutes early for the 1:00 PM opening time, so we waited on the sofa inside. The weather was nice that day, so we enjoyed sitting on the terrace. The Glamping Afternoon Tea started with sandwiches and savory items. While the sandwiches were okay, I felt like champagne would have been a better match than tea. I regret not choosing the course with a champagne toast. The pate de campagne on a skewer was rich and delicious! The rice cooker cake, made with rice flour, was light, moist, and very tasty. It was generously portioned, and we were full even with just the two of us. There were also chocolate salami, chocolate-covered orange peel, and watermelon fruit punch, among other treats. The herbal tea selection was varied. Although the service was a bit slow at times, and there were mix-ups with the drinks, overall it was a pleasant experience.