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sanji
Sat Mar 24, 2007 3:40 am

Re: Takadanobaba - European food
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Cotton Club - European food & Bar ****

Address - 東京都新宿区高田馬場1-17-14 (about 4 minutes from Takadanobaba JR station)
Opening Hours - 18:00 to 5:00, every day
Telephone - 03-3207-3369
Menu - In Japanese with pictures
Credit Cards - Yes

There are not a lot of really good cafés in Tokyo, so I was really pleased to find this place. Cotton Club is a 2-stories restaurant & bar with a large attrium, as the second floor opens on the first one. Adding to the glass ceiling and veranda, this could be one of the most relaxing place for dinner I have visited in Tokyo.

Customers can sit at tables in the veranda, on the sofa of the second floor or enjoying a more intimate private box. Service was prompt and effective.

The food menu is an interesting mix of European dishes with some japanese touch, with an emphasis on pizza and pasta. But there are also lots of brasserie-type food, including french fries (a huge portion for 840 yens, served with garlic and deep-fried herbs), sausages and salads. The eggplant and tomato with cheese pan (777 yens) was also perfect. With a menu filling more than 10 pages, you are sure to find something you will enjoy - and might not get on daily basis in Japan.

But Cotton Club is also a bar. Single malts are not to be missed: about 20 whiskey from Scotland are offered for a very reasonable price - all less than 1000 yens. During my last visit, I was accompanied by cocktail's specialists, who were however disappointed by the quality for those drinks, so apart from the settings, it might not be the bast place to enjoy a cocktail... (they all cost between 700-900 yens). 

A very recommendable place, both for dinner and for a later drink. Reservations are usually not needed.

Internet - www.momenya.jp/~cotton

[UPDATED September 2007]