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. [feedback]

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.

Unlike many sake-connoisseur pubs, the food here stands on its own, and would make Seigetsu worth a visit even if they only served tea. The charcoal-grilled chicken is especially outstanding, and the various Korean-influenced dishes are worth a try. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, with specially designated shochu consultants available should you need their services. The atmosphere is relaxed and cozy. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Kagurazaka 6-77-1. Open 5-11pm (LO) daily.

The hostess at Kado greets customers with a polite, "Douzo, agate kudasai." As when visiting any Japanese home, guests are requested to leave their shoes in the genkan. Located in a Showa-era house built in 1950 near Kagurazaka's Akagi Shrine, this quaint cafe and restaurant offers a glimpse of what life was like in pre-high rise Tokyo. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Akagi-Motomachi 1-32. Open 11:30am-11pm daily.

Delicious Breton-style crepes, both sweet and savory, along with hard cider make this a welcome addition to Tokyo's culinary landscape. [feedback]

Kagurazaka 4-2. Open 11:30am-10:30pm. Closed Mondays.

An African-themed restaurant with Afro-French fusion dishes and a selection of exotic meats. The wines are mostly from South Africa, and a full-course dinner for two plus a bottle of wine runs about Y10,000. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Wakamiyacho 10-7. Open 7pm-3am daily.

Tapas bars and restaurants are over Tokyo, but El Pulpo may be the only place that bills itself as a "marisqueria" - a Spanish restaurant specializing in seafood. The food here is fantastic, using fresh seafood that's delivered directly from Odawara in Kanagawa Prefecture. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Kagurazaka 4-3, Miyazaki Bldg 1F. Open 6pm-2am. Closed Sundays.

Often hidden backstreet bars like this - quiet, sophisticated, with tasteful but understated decor - specialize in expensive Scotch whisky or cocktails, so it's nice to find a place like this with a serious Belgian beer menu. Food includes freshly shaved Parmesan, pork rillettes and shepherd's pie, and prices are a bit higher than average (around Y1200-1500 for a typical bottle of Belgian). Located upstairs in a residential-looking building, the bar can be very hard to find, but that's part of its charm. [feedback]

Tsukudocho 1-14, Sun Heights Sakatabashi 203. (walk up Kagurazaka-dori and turn right at Gojuban Chinese steamed bun shop, it's on the right side after about 4 min.) Open 5pm-2am. Closed weekends.

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. [feedback]

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

(Formerly Vent d'Afric) The young owner/chef here has created an original menu that includes such variations on old standards as a chicken-wing-and-escargot coq au vin and an excellent Calvados-flavored creme brulee. The results are consistently impressive. Dinners are Y2500 and Y4000, or you can have three appetizers plus dessert for Y1500. [feedback]

Fujimi 2-6-9, Yuzankaku Bldg. 1F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-10pm. Closed weekends.

Very good, authentic Thai cuisine in an unpretentious setting. Full-course dinners start at Y2500, and there's an extensive a la carte menu. Terrace seating is available in summer. [feedback]

Iidabashi 3-10-9, i-Garden Terrace 2F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

Bistro-style food from Petit Bedon chef Philippe Batton (including perfect duck confit and world-class roast potatoes), plus an eye-opening selection of wines from southern France, with many choices available by the glass. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Kudan-Kita 1-10-2. Open 8am-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

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. [feedback]

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

We certainly can't complain about a conveniently located indoor-outdoor cafe-bar that's open all afternoon and serves great food and drink. The menu offers simple but tasty dishes like duck confit and mussels steamed in white wine, along with freshly baked pizzas and wines by the glass, all at very reasonable prices. Our only worry is that they'll be too popular to get into. [feedback]

Koraku 1-3-61, Tokyo Dome City Meets Port 3F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

Calling En an izakaya doesn't quite do them justice - the food and drink are both top-notch, the decor elegant and modern. Most of the dining spaces take full advantage of the wrap-around glass walls, looking out over the Tokyo Dome complex and Korakuen. The food is original seasonal small-plate dishes using only the best ingredients; budget around Y7000 for dinner with drinks. [See branch review] [feedback]

Koraku 1-3-61, Tokyo Dome City Meets Port 5F. Open 11am-3, 5-11:30pm daily.

A comfortable and spacious Belgian specialty bar with nearly 100 beers by the bottle that you can select and serve yourself from the big glass refrigerators. They also have unusual beers on draft (Witkap Pater) and a modest food menu. [feedback]

Nishi-Kanda 2-1-12, Umezawa Bldg 2F. Open 5:30pm-2am daily.

Yes, this is a theme restaurant based on a Tom Hanks movie, but the food's kind of interesting, and there's grilled fish and baby-back ribs in case you're not in the mood for shrimp. There's also an unusual cocktail list. [feedback]

Kasuga 1-1-1, Tokyo Dome LaQua 1F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

A Finnish cartoon-themed bakery and cafe, with some Finnish beers and Scandinavian-style pastries on the menu. [feedback]

Kasuga 1-1-1, Tokyo Dome LaQua 1F. Open 10am-11pm daily.

This restaurant owned by retired sumo wrestler Konishiki is divided into three sections, serving Hawaiian cuisine, sushi, and chanko-nabe (that stew that sumo wrestlers eat). [feedback]

Kasuga 1-1-1, Tokyo Dome LaQua 1F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

Moderately priced deli-style items, both Japanese and Western, in a lively setting. [feedback]

Kasuga 1-1-1, Tokyo Dome LaQua 2F. Open 10am-10pm (LO) daily.