In the past, I had a bitter experience of not being able to use a shop that I wanted to visit. When I looked inside the shop through the large windows, it was full of female customers. It was a sunny day from the morning. I remembered this shop and felt a strong desire to have lunch there. I called the shop for confirmation of their business hours around 11 o'clock. A man who seemed to be the owner answered the phone and his polite manner made me want to visit the shop even more. He suggested that I make a reservation since I couldn't visit before. After passing through the west exit ticket gate of Higashi-Nakano station, I waited for the traffic light to change on Yamate Street. When the light changed, I leisurely walked through the arcade of Higashi-Nakano Ginza shopping street. Normally, I would rush here, but I didn't have to worry this time because I had a reservation. In the popular Chinese restaurant area of Higashi-Nakano, there were four older men waiting outside. As I walked further down the shopping street, there was a supermarket Life on the right. Just before that, there was the destination with a calm exterior. I entered the shop and informed the female staff that I had made a lunch reservation over the phone. A man who appeared to be the owner came out from the kitchen and welcomed me with a smile. Although there were many female solo customers, it wasn't as crowded as the last time I couldn't visit. I was shown to an available table and sat down, immediately looking at the menu. They had options for fresh pasta and Awaji Island beef bone curry. I was drawn to the curry dishes and chose the "Grilled Tomato & Seared Cheese (Large)" with a topping of pork. I also added a salad. The curry could be chosen in small, medium, or large sizes, and I chose the Grilled Tomato & Seared Cheese because it looked visually appealing in the menu photos. It took about 10 minutes for the food to be served. I didn't feel like I was kept waiting for too long. While waiting, I enjoyed observing the inside of the shop, the passersby on the shopping street visible from the window. The "Grilled Tomato & Seared Cheese (Large)" was arranged with grilled tomatoes, melty cheese, tender pork, and rice. Pickles and fried onions from Awaji Island were sprinkled on top. The red spherical grilled tomato looked like a palace and was enjoyable to look at. I scooped up some rice with a spoon, dipped it in the curry, and tasted it. The rounded umami, sweetness, and subtly spicy aroma pleasantly tickled my nostrils. The sweetness and roundness might be derived from the beef bones. With the addition of the savory seared cheese, the curry's umami was enhanced. The tender pork was undoubtedly exquisite. As soon as I put it in my mouth, it melted away. The slightly firm rice was perfect for this dish. Inserting a fork into the tomato and tasting it revealed a nice acidity that had increased from being grilled. The side pickles, fried onions, and salad served as a good palate cleanser. Before I knew it, I had savored the curry with a spoon until the very end. At the time of payment, the owner came out from the kitchen, perhaps with some free time. We chatted a bit about the eateries in Higashi-Nakano. I heard some negative comments from other reviews. This review is based on my own thoughts. I hope it can be helpful to you.

On Wednesday, it was 22 degrees Celsius and sunny. I entered the restaurant at 11:35 and there were already 2 groups of customers with a total of 3 people. Three minutes later, the restaurant was full. The curry menu had three sizes: small, medium, and large. When I asked the staff how much rice was in the medium size, it seemed like they were still in training, so I decided to just go with the medium Stout Pork Curry for ¥950. After 3 minutes, my dish arrived. It was a curry with pork chunks, topped with fried onions and a bit sweet with a mild spice level. It came with a side of sweet and sour cabbage pickle. The portion of rice in the medium size was around 230g, which was a bit on the smaller side. Overall, I visited a popular Italian restaurant in Higashi-Nakano.

Lunch in Higashi-Nakano. It's just a few minutes from the station. I've been curious about this place for a while, and decided to visit after seeing reviews from MyRebi-san. I arrived around 1 pm, with 5 or 6 customers already there and a few more coming in later. The interior is cozy with a woody atmosphere. The lunch menu includes Awaji Island curry, pasta, and plate dishes. The Awaji Island curry can be customized with toppings and portion sizes, which may affect the price. Pasta prices vary depending on the type, but all are around 1000 yen. On this day, they were sold out of plate dishes when I arrived. I chose the Stout Pork curry in a large portion and the Rigatoni Arrabbiata pasta. The pasta comes with salad and a drink, while the curry is a standalone dish. The main dishes were served in about 10 minutes. The Awaji Island curry was light and delicate. I may have tried something similar at another place before, as it left a similar impression. While it was well-made, I personally prefer curry with more punch. The Rigatoni Arrabbiata was made with firm penne pasta and a great tomato-based sauce. For the same price, I felt the pasta was a better deal with the salad and drink included. (October 2022)

I feel like I visit this place regularly (laughs). This time, I visited with my family. It was a weekday night, but the restaurant was full. It seems to be popular in this area. I'm glad we have such a nice place nearby. I realized it was my first time visiting on a weekday night, and they had a happy hour (^^) We ordered the usual appetizer platter, avocado and steamed chicken salad, today's carpaccio, smoked duck, and margherita pizza. Beer was only 300 yen until 7 pm, so we had another round. Thank you for another delicious meal tonight. Personally, I might be getting used to the taste by now.

Casual Italian restaurant in Higashi-Nakano Ginza shopping street. Despite being Italian, they had a banner for Awaji Island curry, which caught my attention. One day, I decided to drop by for lunch. The lunch menu is quite extensive, with various options for Awaji Island curry alone. They also offer a variety of pasta dishes and main courses. I was intrigued by everything on the menu, but I ended up ordering the curry made with plenty of Awaji Island onions. I opted for a side salad as well. The curry was topped with vegetables such as potatoes, broccoli, baby corn, scallions, tomatoes, and mushrooms, along with cabbage pickles and fried onions on top. The curry had a gentle sweetness, probably from the abundance of onions, and the spices were well balanced. The salad was also great with plenty of leafy greens. Thank you for the meal.

My parents came to Tokyo, so we went to this restaurant in the neighborhood just like last time. I have never had curry for lunch here, but this is my second time for dinner. We ordered dishes like octopus and broccoli basil marinade, prosciutto with seasonal fruits and mozzarella, cream pasta with mushroom paste, margherita pizza, and carbonara. The taste is consistent and delicious, especially the octopus and broccoli basil marinade, which I could have seconds of. What makes me happiest is that they have Ebisu beer in small bottles. That alone makes me happy. Some other reviews mentioned negative things about the service, but that's not true. The staff is very friendly, and I would love to visit again.

Italian restaurant located on Ginza Street near Higashi-Nakano Station. I used to go there occasionally because it's close to my house, but I was always bothered by the smoking... However, I was relieved to find out that they became non-smoking earlier this year (laughs). For appetizers, we ordered a mixed platter, firefly squid pasta, Margherita pizza, avocado salad, and pancakes. They even gave us complimentary Ebisu beer. The staff were very polite and kind. As for the taste of the food, everything was delicious and comforting. My kids especially loved the Margherita pizza and had seconds (laughs). The firefly squid oil pasta was a standout for me. I already like firefly squid, and it paired perfectly with the oil base, giving me a "oh, I really like this" feeling. The pancakes alone were filling enough for a meal replacement. This is a place where families can casually enjoy a meal together. I'm thinking about trying their curry for lunch next time.

I invited my close mom friend to have tea at night, and she immediately agreed. We decided to meet at 8pm on a weekday. We tried to make reservations at several places in Higashi-Nakano, but they were all full. We ended up at a restaurant in front of LIFE without a reservation. We ordered Pinot Chardonnay Sparkling wine for 730 yen, Okinawa salt tomato sour for 480 yen for my friend, and grapefruit juice for 380 yen for my friend. We also ordered liver mousse for 250 yen, green salad for 660 yen, whitebait and green onion pizza for 1,200 yen, whole broccoli with garlic oil for 700 yen, Japanese beef taliata for 1,300 yen, and watermelon gelato for August (price forgotten). My friend's son joined us later and enjoyed dishes like carbonara, garlic potato fries, and orange juice. We had a great time with delicious food, drinks, and enjoyable conversation. We will definitely come back for the taliata! Thank you for the wonderful meal.

After putting the kids to bed, I left it to my husband and went out for drinks with friends! Italian food goes well with sparkling wine! The delicious carpaccio and avocado with wasabi dressing were amazing. We also ordered pizza and pasta, which were delicious too.

Awaji Island Stout Pork Curry 950 yen Curry made with plenty of Awaji Island onions. The onion chips on top of the curry have a nice sweetness and flavor. The sliced pork is so tender that it can be easily cut with a spoon, and the sweetness of the meat goes well with the curry, creating a taste that I quite like.

Located on Ginza Street in Higashi Nakano, Casual Italian & Pasta LEGARE has recently seen an increase in female customers due to offering half-sized menu options for solo diners. The dishes I tried included Grilled Stout Pork, Chef's Special Salad, Homemade Potato Salad, Napolitan, and Chicken and Mushroom Peperoncino. The Grilled Stout Pork is named after being simmered in black beer until just before melting, enhancing the pork's flavor with the scent of the beer. It is served with onions from Awaji Island, adding a refreshing sweetness to complement the pork. However, the Napolitan dish, priced at ¥830, had a smaller portion size than expected, so I also ordered the Chicken and Mushroom Peperoncino. The Napolitan had a higher ratio of tomato sauce than usual, which may not appeal to everyone. The use of fresh pasta with a high moisture content combined with the abundant tomato sauce resulted in a somewhat bland impression. Despite the generous use of Awaji Island onions, their crispness was not fully showcased in the watery tomato sauce.

Headed to an Italian restaurant on Ginza Street in Higashi-Nakano. The interior is more like a bar than Italian. There is a counter at the back of the restaurant. I wanted to watch the kitchen while eating, so I sat at the counter. There is only one chef, who I assume is the owner, and another person, maybe his wife, running the place. The restaurant was full and quite busy. The most memorable thing was the sauce for the steak! It had a strong garlic flavor that went really well with the meat! It was perfect with beer! The pasta wasn't exactly to my liking, but I definitely want to go back for the meat.

The curry made with beef bones and Awaji onions was even more delicious than I imagined. The cozy atmosphere of the small restaurant is also very nice. Next time, I'll come at night for wine and pasta!

The Italian restaurant in Higashi-Nakano shopping street is probably run by a couple. They serve delicious and reasonably priced dishes with attentive service, making it a perfect place to enjoy wine!

Very ordinary. The curry that you would have at home. Average deliciousness. When it comes to eating curry out, there are often spicier options, so having a milder curry was actually refreshing.

The lunch menu is so varied that you wouldn't get tired of it even if you went every day! From curry made with a whole tomato, to fresh pasta, and plate lunches, it's so enticing that it's hard to choose. On this day, I ordered the basil chicken steak plate and the baked tomato curry! The chunky baked tomatoes were delicious, and both the chicken steak and curry were tasty. I want to go back to try a different lunch next time.

All dishes are delicious. The food is tasty and worth the price, making you want to come back again.

I arrived after 1pm and the plates were already sold out. On weekdays, you get a free large portion, so I ordered the Tuna and Mushroom Peperoncino (1000 yen) with a large portion. It came with a salad and a choice of drink, all for this price, which made me happy! There was plenty of tuna and mushrooms in the dish. The dressing for the salad was really delicious. I ate until I was full! As I was leaving, the staff said "Have a good day!" with a smile, which made me feel really good. Thank you for the meal!

Curry and pasta.