Quattro Valli

This is my second review, but this is still my all time favorite Italian restaurant in Shinjuku-ku. The food is excellent--even my Italian friends say so. Mr. Sakai, the owner-chef, is courteous and efficient. He has an instinct for good staff and he is an excellent trainer and boss. He never raises... his voice, but he instills alacrity and a sense of courtesy and hospitality among the staff. He has trained at least 3-4 young people as chefs, and unfortunately for him, become good enough in several years to fly from the nest and advance their careers. A couple of summers ago, he took his entire staff of 5 to Italy for a vacation-training. I have to say, although the food is excellent, what brings me back here time and again is Mr. Sakai and the staff. As I stated earlier, I love their vegetarian risotto, caprese, and sea urchin spaghetti, as well as their porcini mushrooms or other type pan fried in garlic and olive oil, pepperoncino style--and sop up your foccacia bread in the oil! Try the white asparagus--cooked two ways: 1) with cheese and toasted breadcrumbs, and 2) cream, cheese and egg sauce. The pasta lunch is extremely reasonable, from 1,000 to 1,500 yen, which includes pasta, salad, great beverages (real cappuccino, fresh peppermint tea, mango juice, etc.) A vegetarian friend and I eat lunch there at least 3-4 times a month, and I bring all my out of town guests there for dinner.

Visited April 2017

In this tiny osteria you will find the tastiest Italian food you might find in Tokyo for decent prices. Do not come here for quantity but if you want quality, this the place. I much liked the Risotto with 4 vegetables and the Tiramisu was delicious. The caprese was made with very fine mozzarella. Ev...erything is presented in a beautiful way too. The personnel was very friendly and kind. Even though is is very small (6 tables for 2 and some places at the counter) they where not rushing you by any means. Due to the size making an advance reservation is recommended although we just went in without reservation and were seated at the counter. Amazing place and did I tell you there is just one lady doing the cooking? But a very good one that is. It is on the third floor of the building. Which for the sign on the building walls en take the elevator.

Visited April 2015

I am hooked on their spaghetti lunch! The owner chef is courteous, polite and modest. There is a great Ladies Set set for 1,000 yen that includes salad, dessert and a variety of drinks to choose from (including cafe latte, cappuccino, peach tea and mango juice, and that's just the beginning). I am a... patron--I go at least 4 times a month. The regular spaghetti lunch, which goes for 1,000 to 1,200 yen, does not include the dessert, but what the hey, it's only 200 yen more and they are also delicious! Vegetarians, you can eat here. They have a lovely mozzarella and fresh tomato/basil penne for lunch, as well as a vegetarian spaghetti. If you like uni (sea urchin), they have the best cream of sea urchin spaghetti I've ever had. It is absolutely out of this world. Dinners are also wonderful--the chef is conscientious about the ingredients and if you ever go in autumn, you MUST order the porcini mushroom cooked in olive oil and garlic. Don't waste the garlic/olive oil--sop up your foccacia bread in it--soooooo delicious! It may not be on the menu, but you've gotta try the vegetable Parmesian risotto--to die for. They created it for a vegetarian friend of mine, and I ALWAYS close with it at dinner. I'm a bit allergic to some kinds of wines and am no connoisseur, but they have a small electric "wine cellar" with many nice wines. If you want to eat lunch there on a weekday, you've gotta make a reservation. Oh, yeah--Italians also say it's one of the best Italian food they've had outside Italy. Good luck, and good eating!

Visited May 2013

They have pretty good value "ladies lunch sets" and that's probably why the place is almost always full during lunch hours on weekdays. Most lunch sets features small salad, a plate of pasta and a soft drink, but you can add deserts if you like. Salads and deserts that come with lunch sets are small...ish, but you'll have the satisfaction of getting different things at a reasonable price. They can increase the amount of pasta at small extra cost. Getting after work drinks or having dinner here is also quite nice. The place is tiny, but good for group of less than 10. They also accept reservation during lunch hours and that is quite helpful.

Visited September 2012