ostrea (akasaka)
Tonight I will be visiting Ostrea, arguably the best oyster bar in Tokyo. It will be my eighth time or so by now so I decided to post.
Ostrea is only 2 minute walk from the Akasaka-Mitsuke station on the Ginza or Marunouchi Line, alongside the Pachinko parlors on Tamachi-dori(田町通り).
Whenever I go in the evening on a weekday, it is packed. I usually make a reservation at least three days ahead to be safe. I usually start out with the oyster platter and ask for one each of each variety per person. They stock over a dozen varieties all four seasons except on very few occasions which I was there when they run out of stock. A la carte oyster prices vary from 330 yen to 840 yen apiece, depending on the variety and market conditions whereas the 12 piece platter sets you back 4880 yen.
The service is friendly and atmosphere is clean, modern, but cozy and relaxing. The wine list is not the likes of the best restaurants but the selection should not disappoint you. When in doubt, ask your server for the recommendation, seldom that she will let you down.
Although the cooked dishes are of reasonable quality, after a dozen or two of oysters and a few glasses of Champagne and a bottle of a nice Chardonnay, it may or may not matter, but I recommend the Bagna càuda and any of the desserts if you are not full from the oysters.
Sure, it is not somewhere that you would go everyday, but this place would impress your date if he/she is an oyster lover. I never seem to get bored of going back there. They also have locations in Roppongi on Roppongi-dori across from Roppongi Hills and also in Ginza. I prefer the atmosphere in Akasaka, Roppongi, then Ginza in that order not to say that Ginza is horrible, but Ginza location does not feel like an oyster bar. It is a bit claustrophobic.
All said, this is the place for oysters in Tokyo and I beg others to challenge me on this.
Ostrea (Akasaka)
★★★
3-10-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 03-6230-1100,
http://ostrea.jp (In Japanese)
ATMOSPHERE Open Oyster Cases, A bar and a bit cramped restaurant area good for first or third date.
SOUND LEVEL Moderate to loud
RECOMMENDED DISHES Oysters, oysters, and oysters.
WINE LIST Well selected, diverse for the size and moderately prices, from various regions some fine selections in the 7000 yen range.
PRICE RANGE Oyster a la carte, 350 to 840 yen, dozen 4980 yen; appetizers 1000 to 1800 yen; entrees, 1600 to 2000 yen ; desserts, 590 yen.
HOURS Lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays only, and dinner from 5 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. weeknights, to 5 a.m. Friday and to 11 p.m. Sunday.
RESERVATIONS Call at least three days ahead for prime times.
CREDIT CARDS All major cards.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN Ratings range from zero to four stars and reflect the reviewer’s reaction to food, ambience and service, with price taken into consideration. Menu listings and prices are subject to change.
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