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Atre Shinagawa
One nice thing about the Atre shopping malls at major JR stations is that they aren't all the same - the railroad company has made an effort to give each one a distinctive look and atmosphere. But they've gone further than usual with the new Shinagawa Atre, which opened on March 3 - it's practically a mini theme park, with "New York City" as the theme.
It's deliberately a tourist's-eye-view of the city - the restaurant floor was created "in the image of an airport lounge or a hotel lobby," for some reason, and it includes a mock subway car right next to a mock newsstand displaying real copies of the NY Times. Disappointingly, there are no hot-dog carts or ice cream vendors, but there are more than a few places to grab a bite or a quick drink. Here's the rundown.
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Ruby Cafe
If Shinagawa Atre were a hotel this would be the "lobby lounge," with candle-lit tables looking onto the main traffic corridor - definitely not the place for a discreet rendezvous. They're worth noting for their big wine selection - two dozen different choices at Y500/glass, thanks to a high-tech wine dispenser system. The food menu promises "the dish which enjoys wine", and there are plenty of original light dishes to nibble on, including tasty smoked salmon sushi rolls and an excellent free-range chicken salad.
(03-6717-0928)
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The Zen
A bright and cheerful gourmet shochu bar, with shelves of stylishly backlit shochu bottles lining the wall behind the bar. Non shochu drinkers can enjoy sake or beer, and there's a seafood-centered nibbling menu - raw and grilled seasonal fish, shellfish and even whale meat. Nighttime snack items start at around Y600; full-course lunches are Y1300-2500.
(03-6717-0925)
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Transfer
This coffee shop features a recreated subway car (it's an A train, by the way), although fortunately the inside of the train is furnished with regular tables and chairs rather than plastic-molded subway seats. The menu offers original sandwiches (such as walnuts and camembert - Y900), pastas and burgers as well as coffee and desserts.
(03-6717-0927)
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Tsubame Kitchen
"Since 1930 Ginza" claims the sign, and they still offer the same nostalgic "Western" yoshoku specialties like hamburg steaks, cabbage rolls and scallop cream croquettes, for an inexpensive trip down memory lane.
(03-6717-0926)
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Bobos by Queen Alice
This has a plush interior, with sofa-furnished lounge-y areas and very tasteful art objects scattered carefully throughout. Queen Alice's famous chef has created a "healthy lifestyle" menu featuring lots of grilled items - Y4000 and Y5500 for full-course dinners; no a la carte.
(03-6717-0931)
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Manhattan Grill
The "NY Fusion cuisine" menu features items like grilled lamb with tamarind and chili coconut sauce (Y1600) and many other Southeast-Asian-influenced combinations. In the afternoon there's a buffet till 4pm - Y2000 gets you a meat or fish main course plus your fill of salads, starters and desserts.
(03-6717-0922)
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Grand Central Oyster Bar
From the same management as Hard Rock Cafe and Tony Roma's restaurants in Japan, this is a branch of the famous New York landmark. Although they're not our favorite oyster bar in Tokyo, Grand Central does offer an impressively big selection of oysters from all over. There's also a large, varied wine list (heavy on the whites, naturally), with lots of choices by the glass, in case you feel like just dropping in for a drink at the bar.
(03-6717-0932)
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NY Grand Kitchen
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.
(03-6717-0919)
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Dean & Deluca
A large branch of the New York deli, with a small cafe section at one side.
(03-6717-0935)
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Tribeca
A jazz bar with live music every night.
(03-6717-0933)
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