Alter Ego

Our favorite meal in two weeks of eating extremely well in Japan. Every dish was perfect, but the combination of pear and mozzarella and prosciutto stood out. It was the staff, however, which elevated this meal from great to truly memorable. Tokihiro, the manager and sommelier, was particularly wonderful at explaining every dish and drink. To visit Tokyo and miss out on a meal at Alter Ego would be a huge mistake. We’ll be back.

Amazing dining experience and would for sure come back. Made booking via TableCheck for 8pm but the restaurant was able to accommodate our early arrival. First floor is all counter-seat and we sat in a private room on the second floor. We did a la carte for food and wine pairing (¥14,000 per person) for six glass of wines. It was well worth it and would highly recommend. Wines are mainly from Italy. Loved the wine pairing for Prosciutto and Pear & Mozzarella. Essentially, every dish is nicely done with something to remember.

We had the course meal 15,000¥ pp and the food and service was amazing (not all pictures are featured below). We sat at the counter so the chefs were right in front of us however we did not get a view of the actual cooking. For the wagyu they let us choose our knife which was a lovely touch. They also had 5 options for dessert. It was a shame that they ran out of beer however it was an enjoyable night.

I have been there a few years ago and really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. This time, I came with a total group of four people, but the experience was a huge letdown. The staff had a hard time with English, which caused some serious mix-ups with our order. We got four appetizers, one pasta, and one main dish, thinking the appetizers were portioned for two people each, and the pasta and main were for one. At the end of our order, the waiter asked if we wanted to add more dishes, saying it might not be enough. We didn’t, and I’m glad we held off. Each appetizer came out on separate plates for every person. By the fourth one, i realized the portions were way too big. Turns out, they have doubled the portion of each appetizer. This was frustrating since we would’ve preferred smaller portions to try more dishes. Because of this, we were too full to order another main like we’d planned. The worst part was the final appetizer. The English menu listed it as “mushroom wrapped in omelettes,” so we expected something with eggs. Instead, it was just mushrooms. When we asked, the waiter said it was a menu typo. They didn’t offer any apology or try to make up for this mistake—it felt like they didn’t care. Not sure we’ll be back.

Delish meal with soup pairing. Friendly staff and nice ambience. Meal isn’t too long, just the right pace. Most of the dishes I enjoyed. I was not a huge fan of the bonet but this is prob just personal preference.

One of the best Italian places in Tokyo, especially when you want to enjoy Italian wine and liquor. Very knowledgeable and friendly sommelier who can serve you your desired wine. Food is above average. Definitely recommended.

Great meal. Easily a top highlight of Italian cuisine. Must visit. Great wine list pricing also

FANTASTIC! The Wagyu without a doubt was the best I have ever tasted and the desert. The white wine matched perfectly.

This place is very hidden, like in between in an alley way! I wouldn't expect a restaurant to be there! In the US it would seem so sketchy but in Japan, it's safe and legit! The outside looks like a house entrance until you walk in and see the inside. Very modern and nice decoration and there's only about 8 seats downstairs and I believe there's an upstairs as well? That I'm not too sure, but the sommelier there was really good! I honestly don't know if that's his title but he knows his drinks really well and can give you a suggestion for a good pairing to what you are eating. We got the omakase set for the both of us and everything was sooooo delicious!!!! Like things I've never had before with the amazing ginger "beer" from Hokkaido!!! The chai and cinnamon spice was sooooo good!! Cannot find that anywhere else!! Anyways if you haven't tried this place in Japan, I would definitely recommend. It's more on the higher end side but it is so worth it!! Also you can make reservations on google too! Just fyi to do that in advance before you leave to go to Japan though cuz they do get filled up quickly!