Power Of Branding...

Tokyo is a hotbed of chi-chi restaurants occupying pride of place in every designer stamped building from Ginza to Omotesando. With its imposing 56 metre high facade, the Bvlgari building on Ginza is its largest store in the world, never mind that I will probably always be relegated to window shopper status here...sigh...

The course menu

With Chanel's Beige more hype than quality, I was skeptical with my other half's enthusiasm to Il Ristorante at Bvlgari. Judging on aesthetics alone, the restaurant with it's Bvlgari candelabra and silverware is as elegant as its namesake. The rooftop terrace featuring an Italian-style garden adds to its appeal, which I am sure will be a hit with tourists and locals alike come summer. The menu though pricey, did have a few standout moments, like its foie gras and risotto dishes.

With the overall focus on artistry on the plate rather than palate, these high profile restaurants are the stuff of every designer worshipper's wet dreams rather than a gourmand's.

Il Ristorante
Address: 2-7-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, 104-0061 Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: 03-6362-0555
Michelin: None