Iron Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Oscar-winner Robert De Niro, restaurateur Drew Nieporent, and investor Meir Teper agreed to a joint venture and on the 17 September 1994, the first Nobu opened. The rest, as they said, is history.
Known primarily as a business district full of skyscrapers, Toranomon 虎ノ門 is not your usual tourist spot which most other Nobus are located. However I am glad they are here, as Nobu Tokyo is just below my office.
We came to an empty dining hall as we were the first to come at 11.30am.
Lunch Short Course
Prefix course with choice of appetizer and main dish.
Nobu is quintessentially a Peruvian-Japanese restaurant, so I am not sure how accepted is that concept in Japan. After all, Peruvian cuisine is not readily available in Japan. And the bold flavours used in the cooking of classic Japanese dishes is also something worth exploring
Today’s Appetiser
While living in Lima, Peru, Matsuhisa developed his signature style: melding Japanese techniques with Peruvian ingredients. Like this tuna ceviche. The acidity is something not usual for Japanese, but it really wakes up one’s appetite.
Sushi Tasting
Only four pieces of nigiri sushi – maguro, tai, saba, anago – and they were quite small too. I was beginning to worry if I would not have enough. The quality of the fish was OK, and the sushi would at most be the quality of Sushizanmai at Tsukiji.
Main Dish – Roast Beef
While all my guests were ordering their signature miso cod fish, I decided to try their roast beef instead. It did not disappoint. The comforting taste of roast beef made from local kuroge beef, and a peppery sauce to accompany the beef, I wished they gave a thicker cut or offer it as a main course.
Cold Soba
Everyone laughed when I finished the cold soba in two mouthfuls. It was nice, but simply too little.
Mini Dessert & Coffee
The dessert was a ball of caramel ice cream with finger slices of pound cake with some berries and mango. Nice but common.
The set lunch was almost SGD 80, as everything has a 15% service charge (which is uncommon in other Japanese restaurants). The service was really good with all the service staff speaking English. Food was just average in a city where Japanese is outstanding. Need I say more.
Nobu Tokyo
4-1-28 Toranomon Tower Office 1F, Toranomon, Minato 105-0001 Tokyo Prefecture
Tel : +81 3-5733-0070
Visited Jul 2024
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