Solid, authentic Italian food in a pleasant setting. There's also a casual dining bar called Shiori on the ground floor.

Nishi-Ikebukuro 3-25-2. Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm (LO). Closed third Monday.

Agio call themselves a "market restaurant," and serve delicious grilled fish and meat and brick-oven-baked pizzas.

Higashi-Ikebukuro 3-1-2, Sunshine City Alpa 3F. Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.

Nicely prepared food in a modest basement coffee-shop setting.

Takadanobaba 1-26-5, FI Bldg, B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm (LO) daily.

Part of the Fealteria complex, this casual restaurant offers solid Italian fare, including pizzas, in an unpretentious, smoke-free dining room. Prix-fixe dinners are Y2100-5200. Weekday lunches run Y1000-3000, including several "salad lunches"; weekends are a bit fancier, from Y1500-3500.

Takadanobaba 1-25-30. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-9:30pm (LO) daily.

You'll find some of Shinjuku's best Italian cooking here, along with a wide selection of wines. The trattoria is under corporate management (Isetan), so you won't find too many surprises, just solid, by-the-book Tuscan fare - nice pastas and pizzas and excellent main dishes. Full-course dinners start at Y3,800, or you can order a la carte, including many daily specials.

Shinjuku 3-16-13. Open 11:30am-3 (LO), 5:30-9:30pm (LO) daily.

A lively "market-style" restaurant, with the emphasis on top-quality ingredients and simple preparation. Grilled meats and seafood, brick-oven-baked pizzas and assorted pastas make up most of the menu, and there are always plenty of daily specials.

Shinjuku 3-14-1, Isetan 7F. Open 11am-9:15pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.

Tasty, sometimes unusual pizzas and well-constructed pastas at this budget Italian cafe chain. Open all afternoon.

Shinjuku 3-1-26, Shinjuku Marui Annex 8F. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO) daily.

Venetian-style specialties, with a casual Venice-style wine and tapas stand-up bar in front. There are usually a few dozen tiny cichetti appetizers to nibble on, ranging from single spears of asparagus to mussels and sardines. Wines at the bar range from Y200-580 per glass, with some unusual and interesting choices. [See FULL REVIEW.]

Shinjuku 3-4-8, Frente Shinjuku 3-chome B1F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-10pm (LO) daily.

Reliable Italian cooking in a casual setting. The food ranges from good to excellent, so the large menu warrants some exploration to find your favorites. Full-course dinners from Y3980, or a la carte.

Nishi-Shinjuku 1-26-2, Shinjuku Nomura Bldg. B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-9:30pm (LO) daily.

Basic budget pizzas and pastas.

Yoyogi 2-2-1, Odakyu Southern Tower 3F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

This is the kind of unpretentious neighborhood trattoria that we love, serving good grilled meats and nice pastas, with some very reasonably priced wines in the Y3000-5000 range. Budget around Y2500-4000 for food at dinnertime.

Sendagaya 4-5-1. Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-10:30pm (LO) daily.

A more casual branch of Bulgari's flagship Ginza restaurant, Il Cafe offers full-course meals as well as a la carte choices - simple starters, pastas and sandwiches. One especially luxurious dish is the Matsuzaka beef and foie gras hamburger (Y4500). Prix-fixe menus start from Y2400 (weekday lunch); Y3500 (weekend lunch); and Y4500 (dinnertime).

Jingumae 5-10-1, Gyre 2F. Open 11am-10pm daily.

This tomato-centric Italian restaurant/cafe offers full-course dinners from Y3500, plus a la carte tomato salads, pastas and grilled meats. More than twenty different tomato varieties are featured, and various tomato juices are sold by the bottle. Tomato-based desserts are available during teatime.

Shibuya 2-2-2, Aoyama Luka Bldg 1F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 2:30-5, 5-9:30pm (LO) daily.

This tomato-centric Italian restaurant/cafe offers full-course dinners from Y4000-7000. The buffet lunch (Y2500; Y3000 on weekends) includes a three-juice tasting flight, a choice of pasta, dessert, beverage, and a mid-sized buffet full of vegetable-based dishes like stuffed cabbage, carrot salad and stewed eggplant. More than twenty different tomato varieties are featured, and various tomato juices are sold by the bottle.

Kita-Aoyama 3-15-5, Portofino B1F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 2:30-5, 5-9:30pm (LO) daily.

Skillful Italian cooking in a casual but comfortable trattoria setting. Main courses include game in season, and the finest small-farm-raised meats and regional seafood year-round. There's a good selection of wines under Y7000, with at least a half dozen by the glass. [See FULL REVIEW.]

Jingumae 2-25-4. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-10:30pm (LO). Closed Thursdays.

The basement room may be unexciting, but the food and wine are first-rate. Great value for money.

Kita-Aoyama 1-2-3, Aoyama Bldg. B1F. (diagonally across from Aoyama Twin Towers) Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

A pleasant, casual Italian kitchen with culinary ambitions that aren't always fulfilled. The assorted appetizers (Y3400 for five items) were outstanding, but the main dishes and pastas didn't quite live up to expectations or to their high price tags. The wine list is geared toward big spenders, with very little in the under-Y5,000 range. The interior is comfortable, though, and the counter would make a nice setting for a quick pasta and glass of wine, or for a weekday lunch.

Udagawacho 33-13. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-10pm (LO). Closed third Monday.

Former Iron Chef Masahiko Kobe's tiny restaurant has just 10 tables, so reservations are essential. Full-course dinners are Y6000 and Y8000; lunch is Y2000.

Ebisu 1-23-22. Open 11:30am-1:30, 6:30-9:30pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays, 1st Tue.

Lots of Naples-style pizzas and grilled dishes, and even a few vegetarian items are on the menu.

Ebisu 1-22-20. Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-11pm daily.

One of the better Italian joints in the neighborhood, although there's lots of competition.

Ebisu 4-27-17. Open noon-1:30, 5:30-11pm (LO) daily.

Lunch from Y3500, dinner from Y8000.

Sarugakucho 29-3. Open noon-1:30, 6-8:30pm (LO) daily.

Four types of mozzarella cheese imported from Italy every day make up the centerpiece of the menu here. You can enjoy them with various salamis and dried hams, salads and pasta dishes, and Italian wines. Budget around Y5000 at dinnertime, Y1500 for lunch.

Roppongi 6-10-2, Roppongi Hills Hillside B1F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

Fine Italian dining in a casual atmosphere, from the Michelin-starred Sadler restaurant in Milan. Full-course dinners are Y8500, while pizzas and pastas are in the Y2200-2800 range. There's also a very impressive wine cellar. Terrace seating is available in the warmer months of the year.

Roppongi Hills, Keyakizaka-dori, Gate Tower 3F. Open 11am-1am daily.

The dramatic entrance to this spacious wine bar takes you through a tunnel of wine, with bottles displayed behind plexiglass panels on the ceiling, walls and floor. The interior is chic and casual, with seating at two long, undulating counters running the length of the dining room. The wine list covers a broad range of California wines, with two guest vineyards every month each offering a half dozen wines by the glass. The food is casual Italian; budget from Y3000 at lunch, Y10,000 at dinner, or cheaper if you just drop by for a glass and a snack.

Akasaka 9-7-4, Tokyo Midtown Garden Terrace 2F. Open 11am-2, 5-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Nestled in a corner of the Tadao Ando-designed musuem building, this Tokyo branch of an excellent Italian restaurant in Kyoto has one of the more impressive architectural settings in Tokyo Midtown. The food is first-rate modern Italian; budget around Y5000 for lunch and Y10,000 at dinnertime. Open from 8am weekends.

Akasaka 9-7-5, Tokyo Midtown Plaza 1F. Open 10am-9:30pm (LO; from 8am weekends) daily.

After Sunday mass at The Franciscan Center Roman Catholic Church, Italian nationals flock to Pizzeria 1830 for wonderfully prepared Napolitan pizzas and home-style pastas. The pizzas come with or without tomato sauce, topped with tantalizing combinations like mushrooms and Italian sausage; or ham, mixed mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and olives. Wines are reasonably priced, with a selection of five by the glass and more by the bottle. Budget around Y5000 for dinner.

Akasaka 9-6-28. Open 11:30am-3, 5:30-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Beautifully decorated and hosting an ever-changing exhibition of photography and contemporary art on its walls, this skyscraper restaurant is an impressive setting for a date or business meeting. Prix-fixe dinners start at Y9,450, and mains average around Y6000.

Higashi-Shimbashi 1-8-1, Caretta Shiodome 47F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm (LO) daily.

A budget Italian restaurant notable for its large portions.

Yurakucho 1-10-1, Yurakucho Bldg B1F. Open 11am-9:30pm (LO; Sat., Sun. earlier). Open every day.

Pizza from custom-made wood-burning ovens, from this upscale chain of Italian eateries.

Ginza 1-13-8. (Ginza 1-chome station exit 10) Open 11:30am-3, 5-11:30pm (LO) daily.

Located downstairs from Kihachi's flagship restaurant, this more casual cafe is open all day, and offers pastas and simple meals as well as desserts and coffee. There's also a separate bar area. English menus are available.

Ginza 2-2-6. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

High-quality budget Italian, nice-size portions and a good wine selection at this flagship restaurant of the La Verde chain.

Ginza 2-6-7, Meidi-ya Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO) daily.

Competent Italian cooking without any surprises.

Ginza 4-1-2, Nishi Ginza Dept. 2F. Open 11:30am-11pm (LO) daily.

Located high up in the Sony Building, this old-school spaghetti joint offers a nice view of Ginza's main drag to go with your noodles. Choose from some three dozen types of spaghetti, including Japanese-style variations like mentaiko and tuna-sansai; prices start at under Y1000. Cash only.

Ginza 5-3-1, Sony Bldg. 6F. Open 11am-8pm (LO) daily.

Consistently good food and service from this old Ginza Italian standby. Lunch Y3,800-7,500, dinner Y12,000-15,000.

Ginza 5-3-1, Sony Bldg. 7F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-9:30pm (LO) daily.

Good pizzas and other Italian fare from this San Francisco-based restaurant. Terrace seating in the Brick Square garden area. Budget around Y3500 at dinnertime. Lunch is served until 4:30pm.

Marunouchi 2-6-1, Brick Square 1F. Open 11am-10:30pm daily.

The cheerful green exterior of this recently opened cafe/trattoria adds a bit of color to a street lined with generically tasteful shops selling luxury goods. Large windows offering a peek at the warmly lit space inside entice passersby to stop in for an espresso or glass of wine. The cheerful green exterior of this recently opened cafe/trattoria adds a bit of color to a street lined with generically tasteful shops selling luxury goods. Large windows offering a peek at the warmly lit space inside entice passersby to stop in for an espresso or glass of wine.

The interior strives for a modern take on old-world charm and succeeds for the most part, although some may balk at the wall mural depicting clowns preparing spaghetti. Apparently, there are few sufferers of coulrophobia in the Marunoiuchi area - the place gets quite full after 7pm.

The drinks list features five wines by the glass priced around Y1000, and a nice selection of reasonably priced bottles from Y2900. Beer and cocktails start at Y750. The food menu offers a number of interesting nibbles - fried black olives stuffed with pork, a baked dish of tripe and vegetables smothered with melted cheese (Y780 each) - as well as straightforward items like mixed olives and cured meats.

Fritters of all sorts (eggplant, octopus, and tomatoes) and a range of carpaccios (venison, chicken, and sea bream) can also be found on the extensive, six-page menu. Pastas (Y1380-) and other more substantial dishes are also available. [Show more] [Show less]

Marunouchi 2-2-3, Marunouchi Nakadori Bldg 1F. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO) daily.

This first Tokyo branch of one of Kyoto's best Italian restaurants occupies a small, minimal but elegant dining room facing the street. Dinner is either Y7500 or Y10,000 - chef's omakase menu only - with reasonably priced bottles and half-bottles of Italian wines. Lunch from Y2000.

Marunouchi 2-7-3, Tokyo Bldg Tokia 1F. Open 11am-2, 6-9pm (LO) daily.

The original branch in Shirogane is famous for their wood-burning pizza oven, which is duplicated here.

Marunouchi 2-4-1, Marunouchi Bldg. 5F. Open 11am-2, 5-11:30pm (LO) daily.

Lunch and dinner buffets of modern Italian cuisine in a beautiful open-atrium dining space. The weekday lunch buffet is Y2900; weekend lunch is Y4200, dinner is Y5000, and the weekend dessert buffet (3-5pm) is Y2700. They also offer a wine buffet to go with dinner.

Nihonbashi Muromachi 2-1-1, Mandarin Oriental Tokyo 2F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-9pm daily.

First-rate, creative Italian cooking in a small and unpretentious dining room. The menu is ever-changing, but some favorite dishes have included cauliflower panna cotta topped with sea urchin; crayfish terrine with caviar; souffle-style lobster and leek in a lobster bisque; foie gras and quail stuffed with porcini mushrooms; and pasta with wild-boar ragu. Budget around Y7000 for dinner; wines start at Y3000.

Tomihisacho 8-27. Open noon-2, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays.

Tasty, sometimes unusual pizzas and well-constructed pastas at this budget Italian cafe chain. Open all afternoon.

Gobancho 2. Open 7am-11:30pm (Sat, Sun 11am-) daily.

Excellent Italian cuisine in an intimate counter setting - the chef will plan a menu for you, matching each course with wines by the glass. Budget around Y10,000 for dinner, Y1500-3000 for prix-fixe lunch.

Nakamichi 22. Open 11:30am-2, 6-10pm. Closed Tuesdays.

The home base and launching pad of one of Tokyo's most famous Italian chefs.

Saikumachi 1-19. (on Ushigome Chuo-dori, just south of Okubo-dori) Open 11:30am-2, 6-9:30pm (LO) daily.

Creative Italian cooking from talented young chef Stefano Fastro, a veteran of the Carmine restaurant group. The menu focuses on the food of the Veneto region, inland from Venice. The five-course prix-fixe dinner is Y6000, but a la carte offers a wider choice; lunch starts at Y1200.

Kagurazaka 6-47, Terui Bldg. 1F. (on Kagurazaka-dori, about 1 min. from Kagurazaka station) Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-11pm (LO). Closed Mondays.

Cafes with scenic settings are a rarity in Tokyo, so this lovely spot looking out over the rowboats on the moat is worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood. After 5pm it's a proper restaurant, with surprisingly good upper-level Italian fare, including a nice assortment of small appetizers and lots of good-value wines. Budget around Y6000-9000 for dinner. There's also a separate self-service section of the cafe next to the boat docks; they're open for coffee a little later in the evening.

Kagurazaka 1-9. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays.

Pizzas, pastas and grilled meats along with reasonably priced Italian wines; budget around Y4000 for dinner.

Higashi-Gotanda 2-2-1. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily.

Tasty, sometimes unusual pizzas and well-constructed pastas at this budget Italian cafe chain.

Higashi-Gotanda 3-18-9. Open 11am-11pm daily.

Inexpensive pizzas and pastas in a very casual setting around big central tables. The attached NYK Cafe serves up coffee and drinks, including several French wines by the glass.

Konan 2-18-1, Atre Shinagawa 2F. Open 7am-10:30pm (LO) daily.

In keeping with the New York theme of Shinagawa Atre, this budget Italian restaurant is fashioned after a restaurant in New York's Little Italy. The menu features reasonably priced pastas, some grilled meats and fish, and a lunchtime buffet.

Konan 2-18-1, Atre Shinagawa 4F. Open 11am-11pm (LO) daily.

Tasty, sometimes unusual pizzas and well-constructed pastas at this budget Italian cafe chain. Open all afternoon.

Daiba 1-7-1, Aqua City 5F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

The pizza makers here trained in Naples, and they use a wood-burning pizza oven. Some thirty varieties of fantastic thin-crusted pizzas are ready to eat in or take out.

Higashi-Nakano 3-8-3. Open 11:30am-3, 5:30-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Splendid cooking by a great Italian chef. Lunch Y1000-1800; dinner Y3500 and Y5000.

Nakano 4-7-2. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily.

Authentic Italian fare prepared by an Italian-trained chef

Nakano-ku, Chuo 5-46-5. Open 11:30am-2, 5-9:30pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.

A fancy neighborhood joint with good pastas and starters and an impressive Italian wine list, but probably not worth a special trip. Budget around Y5000 plus drinks. Reservations recommended.

Yayoicho 1-4-6, Abitashon 1F. (from Nishi-Shinjuku 5-chome station, exit A2, walk to Yamate-dori and turn right) Open noon-10pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.

Savory and sweet buckwheat pancakes are the specialty at this cheery bistrot-style spot, with toppings like shrimp and avocado, smoked salmon and sour cream, and gorgonzola and honey. The pancakes are thicker than Bretagne-style galettes - more like American breakfast pancakes. You'll also find various starters, pastas, and excellent Roman-style thin-crust pizzas, all at reasonable prices.

Uehara 1-36-14. Open 11:45am-2, 5:30-9:30pm (LO) daily.

An upscale Italian venture from the diverse Jackpot chain, with excellent food and more spacious seating arrangements than average.

Kitazawa 2-19-13. Open noon-2, 5:30-10:30pm daily.

A casual Italian-themed cafe-restaurant with a big outdoor terrace. They also run a wine shop just next door (03-3425-1136), so the wine selection is bigger than average.

Kyodo 2-1-33, Kyodo Corty 4F. Open 11am-10pm daily.

Tasty, sometimes unusual pizzas and well-constructed pastas at this budget Italian cafe chain. Open all afternoon.

Tamagawa 3-17-1, Takashimaya Honkan 6F. Open 11am-10pm daily.

The camouflage net-covered, cast-iron exterior of Seirinkan (formerly acclaimed pizzeria Savoy) strikes an imposing figure, but inside atmosphere is lively and fun. Although they serve only two kinds of pizza here - marinara and margherita - taciturn owner Susumu Kakinuma bakes both to perfection in the wood-fired oven downstairs. The camouflage net-covered, cast iron exterior of Seirinkan (formerly acclaimed pizzeria Savoy) strikes an imposing figure, but inside atmosphere is lively and fun. The Japanese menu is written in a style that resembles the square Cyrilic characters of Soviet propaganda posters, while Uncle Sam points at you from unexpected places.

Although they serve only two kinds of pizza here - marinara and margherita - taciturn owner Susumu Kakinuma bakes both to perfection in the wood-fired oven downstairs. The menu features other tempting items like fresh mozzarella salad, sauteed baby octopus, and giant prawns. Budget Y3500-4000 for dinner and a few drinks. [Show more] [Show less]

Kami-Meguro 2-6-4. Open 11:30am-2, 6-9:30pm (LO) daily.

Great pizzas from a wood-burning oven and only the finest mozzerellas from this small, very casual pizzeria.

Jiyugaoka 2-14-2. Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays.

Looking to share a sociable drink before a departing flight at Haneda Airport, we didn't expect to find anything as fancy as Belgian beers, but this Italian-themed cafe in the Terminal 2 food court area surprised us. They offer three different brews - Orval, Duvel and Vedett - along with simple Italian cafe fare such as pastas and fried chicken. The best seats are outside the shop on the "dining terrace" overlooking the departures concourse.

Ota-ku, Haneda Kuko 3-4-2, Terminal 2, 3F. Open 6:30am-8:30pm (LO) daily.

Reliable upscale Italian cuisine from this Ginza-based group. Prix-fixe dinners are Y5,000-8,500, or you can order a la carte; lunch from Y1300.

Ogawacho 4-1, La Cittadella 3F. Open 11am-3, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily.

This "osteria tipica Napoletana" offers full-course dinners priced Y3500-5500, along with pizzas, pastas and grilled meats a la carte. Lunch sets from Y1100.

Ogawacho 4-1, Maggiore 2F. Open 11am-2, 6-11pm daily.

From French celeb chef Alain Ducasse, a Mediterranean restaurant covering the cuisines of Italy, Spain, North Africa and Greece. The dining room is comfortable and attractively laid out, with nice views of Aoyama-dori, Shibuya and Shinjuku. Service is professional without being stiff. The wine list has some nice choices for under Y9000, and wine by the glass is fairly reasonable. Prix-fixe dinners from Y8,000, lunches from Y4500.

Jingumae 5-51-8, La Porte Aoyama 10F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily.

A pleasant "Mediterranean Rim" restaurant with a very casual cafe area up front (including outdoor seating) and a more formal dining room in back. The food is serviceable but not spectacular, and includes Spanish, French and Italian main dishes and starters, pizzas, paellas and pastas. There's also an extensive (and not very expensive) wine selection.

Ebisu-Minami 3-1-24, City Square Ebisu 1F. (on Komazawa-dori) Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily.

Produced by the Tokyo Dome Hotel, this inexpensive Spanish-Italian restaurant offers typical tapas dishes like shrimp in garlic oil, stewed tripe and chickpeas, plus paella, pastas, and heirloom pork dishes. Wines start at Y2625/bottle.

Koraku 1-3-61, Tokyo Dome City Meets Port 2F. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Fresh organic produce is the pride of this casual, stylish dining bar. The simple menu complements the nice selection of organic and biodynamic wines. Bruschetta, baby shrimp and tomatoes sauteed in garlic oil, and other tapas-style dishes are available on the first floor, while more substantial fare such as Australian lamb and veal can be ordered upstairs, with full-course dinners from Y2800. The smoke-free environment is a plus.

Kami-Meguro 1-1-55. Open noon-3pm, 6pm-midnight. Closed Mondays.