Kamome Italian

Stunningly good Italian hidden away near Shinjuku Gyoen. We stumbled across this place and were very pleasantly surprised to find excellent food, friendly service and convivial atmosphere. Lunch special stars at very reasonable 1200 yen.

UPDATE (01/23/24): I just went to the restaurant they kicked me out. They said, in Japanese, I said something bad to them and now they don't want to serve me. I said ok, no problem, however I asked for the name of the owner so I can lodge a complaint. The staff's reply was a rude: NO, we will not do that.

I cannot believe this level of horrible, racist service. By the way the staff member is a liar, he said the bar counter seats (2-3 which were open) are all reserved as I went to sit. I waited outside the restaurant for 10-15 minutes, walked down, no one in the seats. Liar!

UPDATE: Commenting on their review, they mentioned that a staff member may have not spoken English. However, I speak Japanese and only spoke with them in Japanese. I’ve been there more than 10 times and I’ve spoken with both front of house staff many times in fluent Japanese with no issues.

The full story is that when my foreign friend and I came in, one of the front of house staff was outside and as we were walking down the stairs, he stopped us and said we did not have a reservation. I told him, in Japanese, that I did and I made it with the other staff member when I came in myself a few days prior.

I proceeded to walk down and speak to the grey beard staff and who checks and says they do not have my reservation.

The restaurant is nearly empty and a group of Japanese people come in without reservation and are seated with no issue. I say in Japanese to the staff, “well there are plenty of tables why can’t we sit” - the staff says they are reserved and when I said what about the counter, which was totally empty, he didn’t seat us.

Shocked, I left.

A few minutes later I called the restaurant and I said what about the counter again. The staff mentioned that a group of three just came and sat on the counter and that it was full. I told him that we will wait, and he said it is not possible. This, again, was all in Japanese.

Their comment is irrelevant since I only spoke in Japanese, I’ve gone there often, and I went myself to make a reservation (to the grey beard staff).

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Somehow they had my last review deleted after I gave it one star!

They pretended not to have my reservation even though I went to myself and personally made the reservation a week before.

The food is good but the two front of house staff are horrible. The male staff with a gray beard pretended to look in the reservation book aimlessly while letting Japanese people without reservations sit without any issue.

They lied on the phone too!

AVOID !

The staff is really friendly and professional. The dinner menu is on the expensive side but it tastes like real Italian food. Every two months, they organise a regional Italian wine dinner. A lot of great wine and a cool chance to talk and make friends. And how can I forget the great -real- salad that comes with the lunch menu. One of my favourite!

Really great find. 5 stars all the way.

Great place.
Home bread is so delicious.
Service is excellent.
Highly recommended.