BareBurger @ Jiyugaoka

September 21, 2015 Dave Perry

Yet another entrant to Tokyo's gourmet burger scene, this time promising a diverse seasonal menu of health conscious organic gourmet burgers, BareBurger brings a culinary twist and a bright and airy non-Americana themed restaurant, which is also a welcome addition to the few al fresco dining options in Jiyugaoka.

The menu provides a range of eclectic burgers encompassing beef (including premium wagyu), chicken and turkey patties, as well as a fun "build your own" option. Our favourite was the County Fair, which delivered visually and excited the palate, as well as being the closest approximation of a standard cheeseburger on offer. The Supreme burger was a visually stunning stack, but would have benefited from less focus on the breaded onion. The Standard was less satisfying, its special sauce proving particularly distracting, while the Big Blue failed to express blue cheese flavours except in erratic, overpowering doses. The headlining Tomorrow Burger (complete with Ozaki wagyu patties, coming in at approximately ¥3,000) was disappointing.

These burgers are an acquired taste; the crumbly texture of the patties and bland tasting buns do little to bring the at times overly complex flavour/ organic ingredient combinations to life, resulting in a rather dull experience. The fries, notable for their crispy deep-fried crunch, soon become tiresome, leaving an unpleasant oily sensation which detracts from the flavour of burgers.

BareBurger

03 3724 5820

Meon Garden Cafe @ Chitose

August 10, 2015 Dave Perry

En route from Hokkaido’s Chitose airport to the resort town of Niseko, Meon Garden Cafe provides a charming garden terrace of wild flowers surrounding an ornamental pond and - by all accounts - an excellent menu of flammkuchen, the renowned pizza-like dish of south west Germany and Alsace.

Arriving shortly after the lunch service had ended, we missed the opportunity to try the savoury "flame cakes," but were fortunate to enjoy the hospitality of the house and its blueberry flammkuchen with delicious Hokkaido ice cream — a dessert which made amends for the mediocre house wine.

Meon Garden Cafe

0123 26 2007

Au Péché Gourmand @ Hatagaya

July 29, 2015 Dave Perry

**Rolled roast pork with seasonal vegetables**

Kudos to Au Péché Gourmand, the "sin of gluttony," for its name and the originality of its modern bistro cuisine, if not for its location.

This is a compact, and not always cosy, restaurant — at times the dining tables struggle to accommodate the accoutrements of even a modest meal. Counter seats overlooking the vermillion-themed open kitchen would be our preference in future.

The food, however, is very good. Careful use of exotic spices and occasional Moroccan culinary influences, as exemplified by the couscous with lamb and tomato stew, add excitement to a menu of bistro staples. Favourites were the creamy foie gras terrine with fruit chutney and the fabulous rolled roast pork with seasonal vegetables. And yet, those with hearty appetites may find that much like the small tables, the petite portions of some standout dishes preclude both sharing and gluttony…

Au Péché Gourmand

03 6276 6332

Burger Mania @ Ebisu

July 10, 2015 Dave Perry

**Monthly Burger - peach and uncured ham caprese**

**Monthly Burger - genovese with snap peas and asparagus**

In a neighbourhood brimming with restaurants, Burger Mania’s inviting open frontage, decor (retro Americana is kept to a minimum), friendly staff and menu of delicious “hand crafted” burgers and beers set it apart from the surrounding competition and rival gourmet burger joints.

We usually ignore the sandwiches, pancakes and salads in favour of core competencies such as the bacon or avocado cheeseburgers, although the more extravagant cherry and platinum (100% pure wagyu steak) burgers are also superb; as are the eclectic “monthly burgers” — past favourites being the foie gras burger, peach and uncured ham caprese burger, and genovese with snap peas and asparagus burger.

Along with the succulent patties and eccentric filling combinations, the pairing of these burgers with a variety of ales, stouts, lagers and "specials" (pineapple ale, anyone?) is pleasing. The IPAs, such as Revolution Brewing Company’s Anti-Hero IPA, are generally excellent and compliment the burgers best of all, although if you can’t make up your mind the three-glass taster sets are a great way to experience several of the often potent brews without falling off your chair.

Burger Mania

03 6277 4221