Aonisai

Whether you fancy a small taste of sake or want to linger over a favourite bottle, Aonisai lets you choose both the label and the serving size. Sample menu prices are 3 shaku (54 ml) for 390 yen, 5 shaku (90 ml) for 540 yen, and 8 shaku (144 ml) for 840 yen. The smallest pour makes it easy to try several varieties; the 5-shaku serving is described as the house standard, while the largest is for taking your time with a sake you have chosen. Some diners say they have asked the staff for advice after finding it hard to choose. Even if you are new to sake, describing the kind of flavour you enjoy may help you find a place to start.

The food ranges from small plates for grazing between sips to more substantial dishes. The house-made kazunoko cream cheese, listed on the menu, has been praised by diners for its pairing of the roe’s pop and the cream cheese’s richness. Other dishes with a creative touch include brûléed chicken white-liver pâté and shiitake nanban served with iburigakko tartar sauce. There is also a personal-sized pizza with garland chrysanthemum, mushrooms and whitebait, as well as kamatama truffle yakisoba to finish. That leaves room either to build a meal from small plates or to order something more filling at the end.

For those keen to sample different sakes, Aonisai also offers “Sake Houdai”, an all-you-can-drink option covering around 30 drinks on the menu for 90 minutes. It is available to groups of 2 or more and is listed at 2,750 yen. You can choose individual pour sizes as you explore the sake list, or try several varieties through the all-you-can-drink plan. Either way, the appeal is pairing the drinks with a few dishes and finding your own pace.