Roti Roppongi is much less a craft beer bar than an upscale restaurant on a quiet Roppongi backstreet, though there is a small bar set off from the main dining area with several pints of primarily American craft beer. If you’re planning a visit to Roti, you should definitely do so for the excellent lunches, dinners and brunches. Make craft beer a side attraction to the dining experience.
Executive chef Ian Tozer is well-known in Tokyo and beyond for his excellent cuisine. Although British, Ian specializes in regional American cuisine that’s simple but elegant, extremely flavorful but not heavy. Popular items from his dinner menu include his Rotisserie chickens, the spicy Cajun swordfish burger (among other burgers) and classics from the grill, like the Striploin steak. All main dishes are under ¥3000—most are under ¥2000. Before digging in, you may want to consider some of the “nibbles” like Truffle Fries or Artichoke Spinach Dip. More extravagant appetizers suitable for sharing including the NYC Atomic Chicken Wings, Crab Cakes, or the BBQ Baby Back Rib Teaser. Various salads fill out the menu. The weekend brunch menu will help cure a hangover. Though there is some overlap with the dinner menu, expect to find the standards like Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros and Pancakes. It’s tough to find a brunch restaurant in Tokyo as good as this! Weekday lunches are naturally the most affordable times to eat, with burgers and sandwiches (like the NYC Reuben) ranging between ¥1000 and ¥1400. Take out is possible. Best of all, beer or wine is 25% the regular price!
Roti is admittedly better known for its wide array of boutique wines. They have 60 varieties on their menu, from North America, Australia and New Zealand. Wine by the glass starts from ¥1000. But flavorful meals go best with flavorful beers, don’t they? Luckily Roti has some of the best, even if they are running only five to six taps. Expect bold varieties from the US, and sometimes a Japanese selection. Taster glasses are ¥400, regular glasses are ¥700, while pints are ¥1200. During happy hour (5pm to 7pm), pints are only ¥900.
Roti’s interior is stylishly modern and elegant, with tables and half booths in a single, fairly intimate room. Dates will be impressed. Business dinners? Perfect. Families are welcome, too; there’s a kids menu, but it doesn’t include beer.
Japanese translation coming soon.