Finding a great restaurant in any large city can be a real challenge. This challenge is complicated by the fact that the definition of "great restaurant" is very subjective. Some of us prefer haute cuisine restaurants, while others may prefer simple, everyday food. Yes, we can pore over Internet listings or ask the locals for a recommendation, but there is still this nagging feeling of uncertainty every time we venture out, as we sometimes may not have real confidence in our sources of information. There are just too many unknown variables in play.
Tokyo has a stellar reputation as one of the great food capitals of the world, so much so that some would say it's not possible to get a bad meal in Tokyo. Nevertheless, no matter how diligent we might be in our research, we still could end up having a bad experience, couldn't we?
Tokyo-Table can answer all those questions. Tokyo-Table and the online Tokyo Restaurant Guide are the brainchild of Kelly Crow. Kelly trained at Le Cordon Bleu and earned the highest certification, Le Grand Diplome, for mastering both Cuisine and Patisserie. She also holds a degree from UCLA in International Economics. She recently addressed this issue in a post entitled, "You Can Get a Bad Meal in Tokyo".
"I’ve often heard, 'You can’t get a bad meal in Tokyo.' And it’s true that Tokyo has an abundance of great dining opportunities. But there are times I’ve left a restaurant less than satisfied with the experience. Maybe I felt the value I received for the price was too low, or the quality of the preparation wasn’t high enough. And since many people exploring the dining opportunities in Tokyo are visiting for just a short time and often after traveling a great distance, the opportunity cost of spending one of your precious meal times at a less than satisfying restaurant is even higher.
"My goal at Tokyo Table it to help you avoid any missteps and have confidence that you will come away from every meal in Tokyo with a positive, memorable experience, whether you are a long time Tokyo resident or just visiting for the first time.
"As a friend of mine likes to say, 'You kiss a few frogs when looking for princes.' And I’ve had my share of frogs! And though Tokyo-table will never write about restaurants that I find unsatisfactory, I will share a few of my experiences from the past four years that didn’t live up to my standards. As a professionally trained Le Cordon Bleu chef, I seek out restaurants that I find have a high level of culinary expertise, a discernible cultural element, and value for the experience.
Too expensive
Paying too much for a meal is a relative judgment. A high price is many times justified to create the ambiance, acquire a location, and recruit highly skilled staff. But when the experience is rushed, the waitstaff is non-existent, or you feel you the restaurant is just trading off their international reputation, it’s not a place I would recommend.
Wrong Cultural Fit
Sometimes I will recommend a restaurant that might be of the highest quality and a potential memorable meal, but may not be for everyone. This is where Tokyo-Table can help direct you to the best meals.
For example, many visitors and even long-time residents are looking for restaurants that are Japanese in spirit but still cater to Western palates. Others are looking for a complete immersion experience while dining alongside Japanese locals. Each can be found, but knowing what you expect before you make a reservation will make for a truly memorable event.
Related to culture, each restaurant has a unique concept. The story can be simple or elaborate. Either way, it needs to be clear and find a way to elevate the experience, not detract. For example, my favorite lunch places are humble establishments, “Mom and Pops” who are serving traditional food from the heart. Their joy in sharing simple, authentic and delicious food is evident in every bite.
Quality Issues
No restaurant is perfect every day. And every restaurant can have a bad day. But sometimes the quality is too is just too substandard to give a recommendation. Even at highly recommended restaurants I have had burned vegetables, tough sushi, and undercooked pasta. This should have been noticed in the kitchen well before it came out to my table.
Food should also have flavor, and each item should have its own unique taste. More than once I have reveled in the beautiful creation on my plate, only to have the food lack discernible flavor. Personally, I find this most disappointing, especially if it’s the desserts!
Tokyo’s Remarkable Food Scene
And though I could continue with a few more examples, what I really want to share are the hundreds of memorable meals I’ve had in Tokyo. This city is teeming with culinary energy. Restaurants seem to gain fame and followers overnight as the culinary landscape continues to grow and expand.
The full text of the piece is available at the Tokyo-Table site.
In addition to the signature Tokyo Restaurant Guide, Tokyo-Table offers Tokyo dining tips (what you need to know BEFORE you dine in Tokyo), and a blog that offers information on individual Tokyo restaurants including cuisine, neighborhood, awards, price ranges, extra charges and links to each restaurant.
Kelly Crow is available for media interviews and can be contacted using the information below, or by email at gourmet@tokyo-table.com. More information is available at her website at http://www.tokyo-table.com.
About Tokyo-Table:
Tokyo-Table is the definitive source for dining enthusiasts who plan to visit Tokyo. The site features the online Tokyo Restaurant Guide, Tokyo dining tips, and information on individual Tokyo restaurants including cuisine, neighborhood, awards, price ranges, extra charges and links to Tokyo restaurants.
Contact:
Kelly Crow
gourmet@tokyo-table.com
http://www.tokyo-table.com
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