I went to an Italian restaurant called "Il Leone," which is a 20-second walk from the company. I had visited once in January this year. During the daytime, it looks like this. It is located by the Shinjuku Gyoen Park, although it does not directly face the park. The first floor has counter seats, and the second floor has table seats. The first floor has a casual atmosphere, while the second floor has a nice ambiance suitable for business meetings. The windows can be opened, and the seating arrangement ensures proper social distancing for COVID-19 precautions. The menu is not very extensive, with the main dish being steak. There may be some seafood options not listed on the menu, so it's best to ask the staff for recommendations. I was shown a large porcini mushroom used for hand-made pasta, which costs around 2,000 yen each. Scallops and oysters were also available as specials. I had Antoniana, an Italian beer, to start, along with homemade focaccia. The olive oils on the table had different flavors to enjoy. I tried the grilled scallops and oysters with 'Nduja paste on top, which were delicious. The appetizer platter was highly recommended, offering a variety of tasty items. The cheese platter was also a hit, with different types of cheeses to try. We also had pasta dishes like the "Caltocho" made with live lobster and tomatoes. The pasta was wrapped in paper and baked in the oven. The Pappardelle with porcini mushrooms was a favorite among us. The sauce had a rich flavor from the porcini and butter. Overall, the dining experience was enjoyable and the wines were excellent.

After a yoga lesson, I made a detour for lunch. That day, they had a variety of fish dishes using swordfish and fish caught in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture. It was a seafood feast! It was hot that day, so I indulged in two different glasses of white wine with my lunch. What a luxurious time! The appetizers, pasta, and main course were all delicious and I left feeling completely satisfied!

My close friend, who is currently on temporary leave from the harsh conditions in Cuba (evacuation?), is a diplomat who is truly working tirelessly. They mentioned that there is a severe shortage of supplies in Cuba - having to wait in line for 3 hours just to get gasoline, recent water shortages, broken air conditioning since January, and not being able to withdraw foreign currency. They said they are surviving on beans as there is no rice or bread available. They are eager to escape Cuba and reach the paradise that is Japan. They seem to be enjoying the delicious food here, and since it's their birthday today, they requested Italian cuisine. I made a reservation for a course meal starting at 12 pm, and my friend is enjoying sparkling wine followed by white and red wine. I have to return to work, but I'm envious of their celebration. We had three appetizers, squid peperoncino, beef steak, tiramisu, and pistachio ice cream for dessert. They mentioned that in Cuba, they only have chicken meat and no rice. Everything was incredibly delicious. It was a wonderful and enjoyable time. Thank you so much to the staff for preparing everything so quickly. Thank you for the lovely experience.

Thank you for the delicious meal! The antipasto featured horse mackerel from Odawara, with dishes such as horse mackerel and green tomato carpaccio, horse mackerel tartare with cucumber pickles, and eggplant and horse mackerel melanzane pasta with rigatoni. The pasta with sardines and Fuji chili pepper (not spicy at all!) had a lovely lemon fragrance. The main dish was rosemary spare ribs, which were delicious with a nice crispy texture. It was a fun evening!

Finally the rain has stopped. It was past 2pm and the place was still open, so I decided to visit. The interior is long and narrow with many counter seats, creating a great atmosphere. Italian radio is playing from the speakers. The owner apparently trained in Tuscany, as the menu on the chalkboard is most likely in Italian, which I can't read. I ordered the pasta course for 1100 yen, which came with salad, bread, and espresso. I chose the oil-based seafood ragu sauce. The fluffy bread and green salad were delicious. The slightly firm al dente pasta, coated in garlic oil, was also very tasty. The refreshing acidity of the fresh tomatoes was nice as well. The drink served after the main course was espresso in a small, cute cup. The staff recommended adding sugar, and it did enhance the flavor. It was a nice balance of bitterness and sweetness. Thank you for the meal.

I visited a Tuscan cuisine restaurant near Shinjuku Gyoen for lunch. I had the 4180 yen lunch course on a holiday. It includes a toast with sparkling wine (non-alcoholic option available), assorted appetizers, choice of pasta, meat dish, dessert, and a drink. The atmosphere is calm and great for catching up with friends during a lunch meeting. It's not too crowded even on holidays, so reservations should be easy to make. Remember this place for future reference.

Today, my favorite lobster pasta was served!! This is my favorite dish!! I highly recommend this pasta, it's in my top 3. Going back to the appetizer, it was Tonno Tuscany, which is salted pork leg mixed with white beans and red onions. It was light and delicious. For the main course, it was beef wrapped in cheese and ham, called involtini. It was served with shiitake mushrooms and Marsala sauce. Even though it's not shown in the photo, the focaccia bread with olive oil was also delicious. I had a glass of white wine and a glass of red wine. Everything was excellent! I always go for the chef's recommended course, and today's menu was very satisfying. ^_^

Located near Shinjuku Gyoen is the Italian restaurant "Osteria Il Leone". It opened in 2011, and the current chef took over the kitchen in 2016. The chef has experience in Tuscany and serves authentic regional dishes such as T-bone steak cooked over charcoal. The lunch course is 1,980 yen and includes an appetizer platter (mortadella ham, buffalo mozzarella and fruit tomato caprese, veal terrine), pasta (sausage and spicy tomato sauce), espresso. The mortadella ham is thickly sliced with a smooth texture typical of mortadella sausages. Buffalo mozzarella with sweet fruit tomatoes and anchovies stuffed inside another tomato is also delicious. The veal terrine is rich in beef flavor with pepper, sprouts, and a hint of spice. The pasta with sausage and spicy tomato sauce is full of garlic and anchovy aroma, with a fresh tomato sauce and al dente texture. The espresso is very strong. The interior is long and narrow, resembling a ship with wine bottles. The 1st floor has a casual counter seating, while the 2nd floor has table seating. Lunch reservations are recommended due to high demand. Overall, it is a fantastic Italian restaurant with great location and delicious food! Thank you for the meal!

Before enjoying cherry blossom viewing at Shinjuku Gyoen, we had lunch at this restaurant. It was fully booked on the day, so I was glad we made a reservation. The restaurant is located in a house, with counter seats on the first floor. We were led to the second floor where there were table seats. The spacious and comfortable atmosphere with natural light coming in made us feel relaxed. We started with a toast with sparkling wine. The appetizers were delicious. Second glass was white wine. The sommelier recommended multiple wines, explaining their origins and flavors, which was nice. The pasta, meat, and dessert were all tasty! Whether with friends or on a date, this restaurant is sure to be a pleasant experience. I would love to come back when I'm in the area again. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I went to a lunch meeting at Osteria Il Leone, which is a rare occasion for me. I didn't even think about the menu when making the reservation, but they had various courses to choose from. Both the pasta and meat dishes were delicious, and it was nice that dessert was included. #Shinjuku Gyoenmae Gourmet #Osteria Il Leone

Due to circumstances, I was running late for my reservation by about 5-10 minutes, so I contacted the restaurant and they said it was okay to come 30 minutes later, which made me feel suspicious. Furthermore, when I asked for a message on the dessert, even though I had ordered a course, I was told that the dessert would be an additional charge. When we arrived, the atmosphere was nice, but when we were choosing wine, even though there was a birthday celebration in our group, we were told the prices without being asked. My friend looked astonished. The food was delicious, but the presentation seemed a bit lacking. The last pasta dish was especially tasty. When it came time to pay the bill, even though it was advertised that GoTo Eat could be used, we were unable to use it. It might be okay to go for lunch and have pasta, but I would recommend avoiding birthdays or courses at this restaurant.

Located about a 3-minute walk from Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station, I made a last-minute phone reservation and visited this restaurant. This place specializes in Tuscan cuisine and Bistecca. I ordered Burrata cheese and Amatriciana tomato salad with rocket lettuce for 1980 yen, a platter of prosciutto and salami for 2200 yen, Porcini pasta for 4400 yen, a 500g Fiorentina-style Bistecca for 6600 yen, and roasted potatoes for 990 yen. I also tried the dessert of the day. The first appetizer was served in authentic style. It's not common in Japan to have Burrata served with scallions. The flavors of the ham were unique and it was interesting to taste different things. I chose the Porcini pasta, which was not on the menu, and it had a very good flavor. For the main course, I had the Fiorentina-style Bistecca. Although it wasn't Chianina beef, the fillet was still my favorite. This is a casual place where you can enjoy regional dishes. I would like to visit again if I have the chance.

Shinjuku Gyoen is a 2-minute walk away, and there is a hidden gourmet area in the corner of the garden. The restaurant has a secretive atmosphere, with the interior not visible from the outside. It appears to be a two-story building. I visited for lunch without a reservation, but I noticed some people had made reservations for lunch. I had a course with three appetizers and a dessert. The appetizers were of very high quality. For an additional 800 yen, the high-quality appetizers are definitely worth it. The pasta was delicious, with a rich emulsion. The dessert was a chocolate and eggplant dessert, which was surprisingly delicious. I will definitely go back for dinner next time. Can't wait to visit again!

Located near Shinjuku Gyoen, in a quiet low-rise office district, is a two-story restaurant with a refined and aged appearance. A lion's head emblem hangs by the door. Yes, this is Leone, a restaurant named after the lion. Their specialty is T-bone steak, served on a wooden board in its original form. It is pre-cut for easy eating, allowing you to enjoy both the sirloin and fillet. We enjoyed it heartily with wine. We had pasta afterwards to fully savor the meat. They are accommodating with portion sizes, which is appreciated. ◆Assorted Appetizers ◆Bistecca ◆Pasta

I want to eat the Paccheri (pasta) with a strong lemongrass flavor again for sure. The cutlet had a sweet oiliness that was just right, not too greasy, and the sauce with lemon squeezed on top was delicious! I want to eat this again too! The white asparagus served as an appetizer was fresh and the smoked fish was also delicious.

Used at night. I arrived a little before 6:00 PM and was told, "I told you on the phone that we can't accommodate you!" I hadn't heard that because I didn't make a reservation. One of our group was running late due to work, but we were told, "We serve all dishes once everyone is here" and "It's a 2-hour limit, so please leave on time." The food was okay, but they opened an expensive bottle of wine without informing us of the price, so the bill ended up being very high. There were some other minor issues with the service. Despite it being a Friday night, we were the only customers. I consider service to be included in the cost of the meal, so unfortunately, I don't think I will be returning. Please take this into consideration if you are reading this.

Visited a client and enjoyed a high-quality meal starting with a great drink, followed by salad, prosciutto, T-bone steak, and pasta. Each ingredient was carefully selected and paired with a delicious wine. It was a satisfying experience and I look forward to visiting again.

Every year around this time, I ask the chef to cook me spiny lobster once a year. At home, I can only prepare it as sashimi, boiled, or grilled, so I'm very satisfied with being able to eat it cooked in an Italian style. Unlike lobster or red lobster, the taste of spiny lobster is truly exceptional! This year, there was a spiny lobster weighing over 1 kilogram.

The garlic sauce pasta with small clams and broccoli was delicious. The seasoning of the clams was well done, not too heavy, and very tasty. The lunch menu seems to be cooked according to the seasonal ingredients, which is satisfying.

I visited for lunch. The meal consisted of an assorted appetizer platter, spring cabbage and anchovy pasta, grilled miso, and dessert. Everything was delicious, but I particularly enjoyed the perfectly grilled meat and vegetables. The glass of wine was adjusted in terms of quantity for the same price, so it was fun to try various options that caught my interest.

The lobster pasta with Aomori-sourced nerve-squeezed flounder aquapazza and Hokkaido bear T-bone steak were pre-ordered, and the chef asked for our preferences before ad-libbing the seasoning based on the ingredients' condition. It was truly impressive, showcasing the skills of a chef who trained in Florence.