Tokyo Food - Brunch at Two Rooms Aoyama

On my continuing quest for great brunches in Tokyo, I headed to Two Rooms in Aoyama to try the set brunch menu. I often come to Two Rooms for a late night cocktail on their balcony, which looks out to Yoyogi Park and Shinjuku. On this balmy summer Sunday I couldn't help try Two Rooms' signature brunch specials, the eggs benedict and bloody mary (which I discovered is also wonderful out on the balcony during the day).

The crisp white linen on the tables, suited waiters and open stainless steel kitchen set the scene for quite the decadent Sunday brunch. The brunch menu, only served on weekends, is around 3000 yen and comes with choices from breakfast-style bircher muesli and french toast, to later-in-the-day burgers, sandwiches, meat and fish dishes. Keeping with the brunch theme I went for the sweet corn fritters and eggs benedict.

Despite being warned by one friend of the tiny serving sizes, I did not see this as a problem. The two small, round sweet corn fritters with a mango sauce accompaniment were the perfect start to the meal. And as the mammoth plate of eggs slathered with sauce made its way to our table, I was glad that the starter's were so small.

watching the chefs at work

sweet corn fritters

fruit salad

eggs benedict

signature bloody mary

Two Rooms really is a great spot day or night. Whilst the food is good, what I really go for is the balcony (hard to come by in Tokyo), the bar and the cocktails (they also do a fantastic dirty martini).

Two Rooms can be accessed easily from Omotesando station.
Map:

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Tokyo Food - Pariya Aoyama

Another great brunch / lunch find, just steps from Omotesando Station, is Pariya. Tucked down a fashionable side street off Aoyama-Dori, the small cafe feels like a comfy living room, with balcony seating in the sun perfect for a beautiful Spring day.

There are 3 things I love about Pariya:

1) They keep the food simple but delicious
On entry you make your way to the cafeteria style counter and pick your choice of rice, one main, one salad and a side. On the day I went to Pariya the choices included a delicious Korean pork salad, prawn spaghetti, hokkien style noodles, roast vegetables, and Mexican salad to name a few. 1200 yen later you take your tray with 4 little plates to the communal dining table where you can enjoy a meal with your friends (or if dining alone, you can still feel like you have friends).

2) Dessert is the star
You cannot help but notice the gorgeously decorated cup-cakes and colourful gelato as you enter Pariya. And trust me, it is as good as it looks. Ask the friendly staff if you can try a few flavours, and pick your favourite. At only 200 yen for a cup, it's almost criminal not to have desert. As they say in Japanese, there is always room in your 'betsu bara' (separate stomach). I opted for the Berry and Rose flavour, but dying to get back and try the Avocado gelato!

3) Self-service all you can drink
One thing which often bugs me about cafe's in Tokyo is that a cup of coffee can cost as much as the meal. Pariya let's you choose your choice of soft drink, coffee or tea, hot or cold and drink as much of it as you want!

The perfect weekend brunch time location.

Berry Rose Gelato - Top left

Pariya Aoyama
Kita-aoyama Bldg.1F 3-12-14 Kita-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
03-3486-1316      


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Turducken in Tokyo

I haven't been to this restaurant, nor am I sure if I will ever go, but thought it was worth a mention as one of Tokyo's to watch in 2011.

Aptly named FATGROOVE; the restaurant claims to be the first to ever offer turducken in Tokyo (A chicken, inside a duck, inside a turkey).

Click here for the website.

If anyone goes, please fill me in all on the gory details.