久しぶりにランチで再訪 : Osteria Giardino

September 2022 - Return Visit I visited after a very long time. (Has it been about 8 years?) Every time I passed by the restaurant, I checked to make sure it was still there. I'm glad it is! I used to think it was super affordable (imagine eating for under JPY 1000), but with the current times, prices have gone up a bit. Still, I think it remains a great value. They offered some fantastic lunch sets, but I really wanted pasta this time, so I went for the Zuwai Crab in Tomato Cream Sauce (JPY 1050), which was written on the blackboard. The pasta comes with either a salad or a drink after the meal, and for an extra 50 yen, I opted for both. I even had room for dessert, so I enjoyed a Crème Brûlée (JPY 400) afterwards. Given the price, I didn’t expect a ton of Zuwai crab, but the sauce was absolutely delicious, and the pasta was cooked perfectly! Oh, and the salad was nicely portioned too. Enjoying dessert on top of that for JPY 1500 truly feels like a good deal. (And it was delicious!) That's right, I remembered how good the lasagna was, so I might come back soon. It was a great meal.

«November 2014, Revisit» I visited again after about a year. I was planning to have lunch with my younger son and called Tsujijin nearby, but they were fully booked. Not wanting to search for another restaurant, we decided to go to this place instead. Surprisingly, there were only two other parties ahead of us, so we were seated right away. (Afterward, two more groups came in and it filled up...) I ordered the lasagna lunch set for JPY 920, while my son had the pizza lunch for JPY 890. In the past, the salad was just regular greens, but this time we were served something more like an appetizer. The lasagna was as delicious as ever! (Though my son ended up eating more than half of it.) However, the pizza was surprisingly small and lacked that homemade feel. I think even a woman might not find it sufficient. Feeling a bit hungry, we ordered dessert separately. I feel like it used to be JPY 300 extra, but now it’s JPY 400. I had the creme brulee, and my son had the seasonal tart (maybe sweet potato?). Delicious, but... I feel JPY 400 is a little steep. The appetizers improved, but overall, it felt less of a bargain than before. It used to be one of my favorites... Thank you for the meal. 《Pre-Visit Rating 3.06》 «September 2013, Revisit» I revisited for dinner after a long time. Since the kids wanted Italian, I made a reservation just to be safe and came over. As it was still early, we had the whole place to ourselves for a bit. The dinner menu offers a "Pasta Course" for JPY 1890, a "Today's Recommended Course" for JPY 3000, a "Prefix Course" for JPY 3900, and a "Sharing-Friendly Course" (for one person) at JPY 2000. It’s really reasonable, isn’t it? I had the sharing-friendly course with my younger son, while my husband and older son enjoyed the recommended course. I was concerned because it seemed like the kitchen was run by just one person, but I think everything was served without a long wait. The food tasted pretty good, and there was a good volume, making it just the right place for a family meal. (Not sure if it would be great for a date though?!) Thank you for the meal. «December 2012, Revisit» I had an errand nearby and chose this restaurant for lunch at just the right time. I have been here several times. I usually order the pasta lunch for JPY 860, but on this day I tried the pasta course for the first time. It consists of soup, an assorted appetizer, pasta, bread, dessert, and a drink for JPY 1890. As it mentions on the menu, this course takes about 90 minutes to prepare, so it’s better to order when you have time. (On this day, it was fully booked, so it really did take 90 minutes.) I chose the "Sea Urchin Cream Pasta," which made the total JPY 2180 after a JPY 300 increase, so in terms of cost performance, I didn’t find it as appealing. Ordering the salad, pasta, and drink lunch for JPY 860 might give you a better feeling of value. (You can also add dessert for JPY 300.) Thank you for the meal. I’ll be back for the pasta lunch! «March 2012, Revisit» I’ve been here several times. I stopped by after my appointment at a nearby hospital. As usual, I ordered the "Pasta Lunch" for JPY 860. The choices were sakura shrimp in tomato sauce, chicken in cream sauce, or lasagna. I chose the tomato sauce pasta. Considering this price with a salad and drink, I think it’s great value. The portion might not be huge, so it may not be suitable for those with a big appetite... Since I hadn’t eaten anything the day before, I also ordered a cake afterward. Thinking it was just JPY 300 extra, I couldn’t help but order. On this day, it was a "Chocolate Cake with a Taste of Raw Chocolate." It was quite a big slice! Indeed, it felt like eating raw chocolate—a rich cake. (It was a bit overwhelming at times!) Thank you for the meal. «November 2010, Revisit» I had lunch here around 11:30, but since all the tables were already full, I was seated at the counter. As usual, it remains incredibly popular. I always enjoy their reasonably priced pasta lunch, but on this day, I went for the seasonal pasta on the blackboard (JPY 980). It was either "Cream Pasta with Oysters" or "Tomato Cream Pasta with Snow Crabs," so I went with the crab option. (Unfortunately, I’m allergic to oysters...) In the past, for the pasta lunch, you could choose two items from "soup, salad, or drink," but today’s menu showed that all lunches now come with salad and drink included. As for the pasta, it had a good amount, cooked to the right firmness, making it delicious. There was plenty of snow crab, and the sauce was rich and tasty!! Of course, I also added dessert for an extra JPY 300. That was a "Fruit Tart." I initially thought the fruit on top was canned, but it turned out to be fresh. It even came with ice cream, making it a great value. I enjoyed it alongside my coffee after the meal. Thank you for the meal. «November 2009, Visit» When I used to work nearby, a colleague told me, "There’s a really great Italian restaurant," and I've been a fan since I first visited around five years ago. I’ve only been for lunch, but the cost performance is superb!! The lunch menu includes: - Pasta Lunch (with lunch set) - JPY 860 (Choose 2 from soup, salad, or drink) - Pizza Lunch (with lunch set) - JPY 860 (Choose 2 from soup, salad, or drink) - Pasta Course - JPY 1890 (Includes appetizer, soup, pasta, bread, dessert, drink) - Main Course - JPY 2400 (Includes appetizer, soup, main dish, bread, dessert, drink) - Recommended Course - JPY 3100 (Includes appetizer, pasta, main dish, bread, dessert, drink) I always choose the pasta lunch with the selection of salad & drink. You can pick from three varieties of pasta and pizza, but I recommend the lasagna. The meat sauce is rich and creamy but is not overwhelming, making you want to have it again. Just be cautious of the heat, as it comes out sizzling hot! (laughs) And you can’t miss the homemade desserts by the chef’s wife. These can be added for JPY 300 (or maybe JPY 400?). On this visit, it was apple baked cheesecake. All of them are simple, with a charming homemade feel that I really enjoy. Since the restaurant is located on the first floor of a hotel that has already closed, it has a somewhat difficult-to-enter atmosphere, but it’s always fully booked. I think it’s a hidden gem of an Italian place that only those in the know would appreciate.