Visionarium

Tucked in an alley parallel to the Hiroo Shopping District (Hiroo Shotengai) is a new restaurant called Visionarium. The place is trying to be cool with two menus (one for drinks, another for food) tucked inside a box, served to customers after they are seated. The place serves tapas-style food, as well as hearty entree (which we did not try as the menu noted the 20-30 minute preparation time, and we were just too hungry to wait that long). We tried the Mushroom Risotto, Cabbage and Anchovy Pasta, Mini Burger Set, and

Elements Restaurant

[The restaurant ceased operation as of October 2010 or earlier; the review will remain here for nostalgic purposes.]

I am glad that I got to try yet another great restaurant before departing the city for good. This fortunate dining experience came courtesy of a wonderful friend of mine who had an exquisite taste in food and who had a very high expectation when it came to satisfying the palate. Tonight, on an unusually breezy Tokyo summer evening, we met for a farewell dinner.

Unless you know about the place, there is no way you can find this restaurant just by strolling by it because it is rather hidden from view. The place itself is not difficult to find, as an easy landmark would be the two wings of the famous Hotel Okura in Toranomon. It becomes even easier if you know where the Nobu Tokyo is, because you head to the same area, and as you face the Nobu entrance, walk away from it, away from the Hotel Okura direction, and you will see a pole with three direction markers: two of them should be "Toranomon Towers Residence" and the bottom one "Elements Restaurant." Just follow the sign, down one level to an open forum, and across you will see the Elements Bar. The entrance to the Elements Restaurant is opposite and diagonal to the entrance to the bar. The entrance is very unassuming. An automatic door opens up and leads you to a higher level through few steps of stairs. It then opens up to the dining hall.





Steps leading to the dining hall


The Dining Hall


Counter Seats


Window Seats

(All pictures of the restaurant are lifted from their official website. Food pictures courtesy of Bloompy.com).

Tonight was a quiet night, and the clear weather enhanced the beauty of the adjoining garden. We were presented with a small sheet of paper with the Prix Fixe Menu,

"Nobu (Tokyo) Presents"

Tokyo's "Nobu Presents" One Night Collaboration Dinner between Nobu's own Kenichiro Togo and Chef Shohei Shimono from Le Jeu de l'Assiette on July 7, 2008. Nobu himself was present, although he was not in his usual uniform of the Chef's jacket, the colorful and patterned pants, plus his sneakers; instead, he was donning a suit and made his way through all the guests. (Pictured here, Chef Shimono and Nobu). Needless to say,