Despair in Shinjuku... Not my blue mood, but the name of this pasta~ haha This Despair Pasta that appears in various media, when you look at it on Instagram, it's a pasta with a strong impact that you often see. I wanted to try this pasta once. On the last day before Golden Week, Friday at noon, just before 1pm, during lunch time, I thought I could smoothly get in. But there was a line of about 30 people... Oh no, how long will it take? Should I give up? It was such a long line... The pasta restaurant is on the 3rd floor, and the line is on the sidewalk. How do we line up? When I looked closely, I saw that famous rice ball shop on the 1st floor... Oh, it's here? So, this line is for that... I organized my thoughts and went straight to the 3rd floor! As I got off the elevator, there was no line. Lucky! But then they said, please line up here! and we went up the stairs... There was still a line here too... About 5 people, so it was over quickly. They handed me the menu, and it was time to order. I don't really need to look at the menu... haha But still, as expected! A top-notch pasta restaurant has many lunch menu options. While looking at the other extensive menu, without any hesitation, I ordered the Despair (large portion). There is no large portion... Oh... really... Seriously... At this point, I was filled with despair... haha The Despair Pasta~ haha Putting aside such a silly story, the origin of this Despair Pasta is apparently from the pitch-black color of olives, meaning pitch black? What kind of story is that...? haha But looking around the packed restaurant, about 90% of the people were enjoying the Despair Pasta... haha Oh, sorry... not showing despair, but savoring the despair... haha Creamy meat sauce with plenty of mushrooms, and a garlic flavor, perhaps? It's a taste with very high addictiveness. Delicious~✨ It's addictive. A feeling of happiness spreads in your mouth. Is the Despair Pasta meant to make you feel happy when you're feeling a little blue? During lunch time, you get a nice drink too, either oolong tea or iced coffee. The iced coffee is too sweet... haha Full of despair! I shout in my mind~ haha So, with all that, it was a touching first experience of the Despair Pasta ===========

I finished my errands around Shinjuku East Exit and decided to search for a place to have lunch. I happened to come across this pasta restaurant and thought it looked delicious based on the reviews. It seemed like it was popular, maybe because it was featured on TV? There was a short wait on the stairs. The most popular dish here is the "Despair Pasta." It looks like a soup-based pasta similar to Arrabiata, with mushrooms, garlic, cheese, and a slightly spicy taste that makes you want to keep eating. I wanted to order a large portion, but unfortunately, they don't offer it. Nevertheless, it was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

This is my 6th visit to this restaurant. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, there were about three people dining during the day, and it was full around January 2023 after the pandemic, but today, I visited around 7:30 pm on a weekday and it was about half full. It seems to be getting a little less crowded. I ordered the Garlic Tomato Chili Spaghetti for 1250 yen. As always, it was voluminous and whets my appetite! I usually don't like spicy food, but I keep coming back for this dish. The Despair Spaghetti is delicious, and the Clam Spaghetti is also delicious! The menu that used to be tattered is now clean! I will visit again!

Visited on Sunday night at 6 pm. The restaurant was almost full. I ordered the Despair Pasta, recommended by a friend. It wasn't written on the menu, so I wasn't sure which one it was, but if you tell the staff "Despair Pasta," they'll know. The more you eat, the more the deliciousness of the seafood intensifies towards the end. It's the best pasta I've ever had.

The other night's pasta! I had the "Despair Pasta" at IVO Homes Pasta near Isetan in Shinjuku❣️I ordered a small portion, so I apologize for the poor quality of the photo. It's called "Despair Pasta" because it's unbelievably delicious! Is it meat sauce? Tomato sauce? Americaine? It has a mix of various sauces and a strong garlic flavor that makes it impossible to stop eating. Thank you for the delicious meal♪♪♪♪♪ #ShinjukuPasta #IVOHomesPasta #DespairPasta

Visited around 12:30. Last time I came on a holiday, there was a line outside, so I thought, "Oh, can we go without waiting?" but ended up lining up inside at the back emergency staircase. However, since there were only 8 people, we were able to be seated in about 10-15 minutes. It was my first visit, so I ordered the Despair Pasta. The visual impact is as shown in the photo, but my impression was that it was just an ordinary pasta. It had a meat sauce base with a strong garlic flavor, giving it a junky feel. In a genre where soup pasta doesn't seem to be very popular, the visual impact and variety of options allow people of all ages to enjoy different flavors of robustly seasoned soup. I thought there might be a secret to its popularity in the sense that you can eat a variety of flavors of soup with a strong taste. It tends to have long lines, so I recommend visiting at a strategic time.

I waited for about 10 minutes before entering the restaurant. Most of the people inside seemed to be eating Despair Pasta. The garlic-infused tomato-based pasta was quite generous in portion but easy to eat. It's a popular place, so it's more like eating at a ramen shop where you eat and leave right away, rather than having a leisurely lunch.

I had tried to visit this restaurant for lunch several times, but always gave up when I saw the long line stretching up to the third floor. However, this time I went in the evening and was able to be seated smoothly. The staff all spoke broken Japanese and the service was a bit disorganized. The interior of the restaurant was a bit messy and I felt they could have taken advantage of the downtime to tidy up a bit. I ordered the pasta with tomato soup, which was generously topped with garlic and very tasty. However, I'm not sure if it was worth waiting in line for. I believe that not only the food, but also the cleanliness of the restaurant and the hospitality are important factors in forming an impression. Thank you for the meal.

I had always wanted to visit this place but it was a bit far from my workplace and I never had the chance. However, I finally went there because I had some business at Isetan. I arrived 20 minutes before opening and I was the third in line. By the time they opened, there was quite a long line, but everyone was able to get in for the first round. I ordered the Despair Pasta Lunch for 1350 yen. They serve the dishes in the order of entry, and I arrived about 15 minutes later. Those who were further back in line probably had to wait a while before getting their food. The pasta was really delicious with a strong garlic flavor. The sauce was like a soup pasta, but on the richer side. I was satisfied with the food, but the counter seats were a bit cramped and uncomfortable, and it was easy for the sauce to splatter without an apron. I will wear clothes that won't show stains next time I visit.

After work, I met up with my daughter and went shopping at Shinjuku Isetan. We decided to have dinner as well at a pasta restaurant I had been wanting to try. I tried calling to make a reservation, but no one answered. Even though it was past 5 pm, I decided to go anyway. When I got off the elevator, I found that the restaurant was open. They don't take phone reservations, so they don't answer the phone. We ordered two types of pasta: the Despair Spaghetti with a basil sauce and the Tomato Spaghetti with a basil sauce. The Tomato Spaghetti was served generously with a tomato cream sauce with a strong garlic flavor. The Despair Spaghetti had a lot of olive oil and a spicy curry-like spice. The plating may not be ideal for a date, but the delicious pasta makes me want to come back to this restaurant.

I visited this restaurant for lunch on a regular day. There were about 5 people lined up. I remembered hearing about this place as being delicious, so I decided to try their famous Despair Pasta. It was said to be a dish that can lift the spirits of even those in despair, so I was looking forward to it. Indeed, I wasn't feeling great that day...haha. When it was served, it was Despair Pasta with soup covering it. The pasta was refreshing yet flavorful, a taste I had never experienced before. I finished all the soup and left feeling energized!

I've been thinking about having ramen, but lately I keep choosing this pasta restaurant every time. The portions are large and I love the flavors, but this time I decided to try a new menu item. I usually go for either Despair or Tomato and Garlic, but this time I asked the staff for a recommendation, and they suggested Basil and Tomato. I ordered it for 1500 yen and it certainly had a striking appearance, just like other reviews mentioned. The taste was somewhat similar to Tomato and Garlic, but with a strong basil flavor that didn't overpower the tomato and garlic. Both flavors were good, but personally, I think I could do without the basil. Once I start on tomatoes, I always end up craving Despair next. I'll definitely be back again! It was delicious! Thank you for the meal!

I visited around 12:00 pm on a regular day, and there were 3 to 4 groups waiting in line, with more customers coming in even after entering the shop. I ordered the second most popular menu item, which was a tomato, garlic, and chili soup pasta. It had a strong punch of garlic, but also the richness of tomato and melted cheese that blended well together. The soup itself was so delicious that I could drink it all day. The clam pasta that my companion ordered also looked very delicious with plenty of clams, so I would like to try a seafood pasta next time.

After a long time, I visited the restaurant. I arrived 15 minutes before opening, and there were already many customers waiting outside. It was a hot summer day, so the staff kindly let us in 10 minutes early. We just made it in time for the first round. Most people ordered the "Despair Pasta." We waited about 50 minutes for it to be served, but it was worth the wait. It was delicious!

IVO Holmes Pasta, a popular restaurant always crowded with customers, consistently provides delicious dishes. This time, I ordered the Despair Pasta (No. 1) and the Garlic and Chili Pasta (No. 2) with cheese topping. I usually go for the Despair Pasta, but decided to try the Garlic and Chili Pasta this time. Both dishes are equally amazing! Both have a tomato-based sauce with a strong garlic flavor. The Despair Pasta has a creamy and smooth taste with garlic and pepper, while the Garlic and Chili Pasta lives up to its name with a punch of garlic, chili, and pepper. Both dishes are addictive and make you crave for more.

I visited the restaurant after seeing it on TV and wanting to try it. I arrived around 3:00 PM on Saturday, so I was able to enter without waiting in line. I ordered the signature dish "Despair Pasta" and some powdered cheese. The lunch came with a drink and had a strong garlic aroma. The pasta noodles were average, but the acidity of the tomato sauce made it delicious. I wanted to dip the leftover pasta soup with bread, but they didn't sell bread during lunchtime. What a shame! It must have been delicious. I am interested in trying other menu items, so I would like to visit again.

After shopping at Isetan, I happened to pass by this restaurant and decided to stop by as I remembered how delicious it was. I ended up ordering the same Despair Pasta as last time, but this time I got the large size. It was still as delicious as ever.

Despair - 1,350 yen. There is nothing particularly special about it. It tastes just as it looks, nothing surprising. I was hoping for something unique based on the name, but it's just regular pasta. I think it would be fine even without the bread. I probably won't come back.

On a day off, I heard that people start lining up before the store opens. I arrived at 11:15, 15 minutes before opening, and there was already a line of about 20 people! The line started moving at 11:25 and they started seating people one after another. I thought I might have to wait for a second round, but surprisingly I got in pretty quickly! They seem to seat a lot of people at once. The Tuna with powdered cheese topping was amazing!! It's a soup, so it's even better. There was so much garlic that I thought they should rename it Garlic Tuna. It was incredibly delicious!! Spicy and a little bit hot. The despair and seasoning were almost the same, but the cream made it a bit milder. The thin noodles were like the dried noodles you cook at home, a bit al dente. The powdered cheese came in a separate dish, and there was plenty of it for one person, and it was only 50 yen, which is cheap! The soup was very hot, so the cheese melted well, it stretched, had a rich flavor, and adding more was the right choice. For lunch, it comes with bread and a drink. The toast was not toasted and a bit dry, but maybe they did it on purpose so you could dip it in the soup. You cannot get a large portion during lunchtime. The staff were all foreigners, not very friendly, and a bit careless. The customer service is not great, but the place was full, there was a line outside, they seemed busy, and the food was delicious, so it's okay. (^_−)ｂ Thank you for the meal! ^_^

Recently, whenever I crave pasta, I find myself heading to Holmes Pasta. Surprisingly, it was not crowded during Obon so I was able to get a seat easily. Once inside, it was full and there was even a line at the rice ball shop downstairs despite the rain. As I looked at the menu, I remembered my despair from the last time, so maybe I'll go for garlic this time. I have tried basil before, but I have only ever had despair or garlic, so I'm torn. Ordered dish: Spaghetti with garlic, tomato, and chili peppers: 1250 yen After a while, the dish arrived, piping hot as always. The taste was excellent! Unlike the sweetness of despair, this dish had a bit of spiciness. And with plenty of cheese and garlic, it was delicious! I ate carefully to avoid splattering, but with the soup being so hot, I could only eat slowly. Despite the mountain of garlic slices, it wasn't grated so it didn't make my breath smell too bad the next day. I might try adding basil next time to rotate between these two. It was delicious! Thank you for the meal!

Despair Spaghetti with Clams, Salty Spaghetti with Garlic and Tomato and Chili Spaghetti, along with the onigiri shop Bon-go-san (now called something else), is a popular restaurant with long lines. I tried to go for lunch a few times but gave up due to the long line. Luckily, I was able to get in for dinner!