| Bar Review |
By Steve Trautlein
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Thunderbolt
Lightning strikes at this offbeat Naka-Meguro bar
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| Photos Courtesy of Synchro Food |
The most difficult thing about a visit TO
Thunderbolt is resisting the temptation to stop in all the other bars and restaurants on the same street. This Naka-Meguro neighborhood has dozens of invitingly lit izakaya, genuine pizzerias and smoky yakitori stalls, all beckoning for your nightlife dollar. If you do manage to make it to Thunderbolt, though, you’re in for an only-in-Tokyo drinking experience.
The bar’s zany proprietor offers a welcome reminder that not all Japanese men are staid office workers or tech-crazed otaku. From his finger-stuck-in-a-light-socket hairdo to his boisterous manner, Mr. Lupin K. Hayama is a true original. And his bar follows suit. Designed by Zokei Syudan, the interior gurus behind such stunning restaurants as Shimbashi’s So-An and Maisui, the interior is free-form and funky. Diaphanous washi disks mounted on slender rods, trippy paint swirls, and drawings of thunderbolts and dragons create an anarchic mood. Seating is on rough-hewn benches in front a gorgeous wood counter, with a single semi-private table toward the rear. The tiny, narrow space is offbeat and inviting, especially when the gregarious Hayama mans the bar.
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| Photos Courtesy of Synchro Food |
Looking over the food and drink menu while sipping a Bass draft (¥700), we ordered an intriguing-looking “special cocktail” that was called, appropriately enough, Thunderbolt (¥900). Hayama asked whether we preferred it weak or strong, telling us to choose on a scale of one to five. Being veteran drinkers, we of course went for five, but Hayama cautioned us back down to a three. We were glad he did. Bitingly strong, sour and delicious, the cocktail was a mix of not-easily-identifiable liquors that were, like the bar itself, strangely appealing.
We decided to mellow things out with some sake (¥800), which came in a gorgeous ceramic tokkuri, while grounding our stomachs with food. Unlike the extensive menus at many bars in Tokyo, Thunderbolt offers barely a dozen food dishes. The reason is no doubt lack of space; Hayama whips up his creations behind the counter using a microwave and a tiny shelf. But the results are nicely inflected versions of Japanese finger food—mostly vegetables, fish and curry—all of which cost ¥1,000 or less.
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| Photos Courtesy of Synchro Food |
During our visit, Thunderbolt’s staff and clientele consisted of local Meguro denizens, and their easy familiarity with the proprietor lent the space a friendly vibe. We got the feeling, though, that merely one visit wasn’t enough to experience the pub’s quirky charm. Though small in space, Thunderbolt is a bar that towers over its neighbors.
1-3-9 Kami-Meguro, Meguro-ku. Tel: 03-6666-6773. Open Tues-Sun 7pm-late, closed Mon. Nearest stn: Naka-Meguro. www.3derbolt.com
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Have you heard? Monday, August 4 is Beer Hall Day at The Dubliners’ Irish Pub. What is Beer Hall Day, you might ask? For one day only, pints of draft beer will be sold for just ¥500. At which branch? All six of ’em! And if you can’t wait until then, stop by any of the locations (in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akasaka, Shinagawa, Toranomon or Ikebukuro) between July 28 and August 3, and for every pint you drink, receive a ¥100 discount ticket redeemable on or after August 5.
It’s easy to grow tired of visiting the same Roppongi watering holes week after week. Opened last month, Zero Bar (1F Roppongi 410 Bldg, 4-10-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 03-5775-0100; www.zerobar.jp) promises something fresh—and refreshing. This new champagne bar just steps from the Tokyo Midtown complex offers a selection of over 100 bottles of bubby and wine. The small-ish space is dimly lit, with a wood counter and comfy low-back bar stools and the drinks illuminated under red lights. To find it, look for the number “0” in the bar’s ground-level window.
Up for some live jazz, pops, bossa nova, samba or chanson from leading Japanese musicians? At Boston Dreams (B1 Roppongi Five Bldg, 5-18-20 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 03-3583-3988), just off Gaien-Higashi Dori, you can enjoy three sets of live music (7:40-11pm) six days a week. Stop by during happy hour (5:30-7:30pm) and pay ¥1,000 for two drinks and popcorn, with additional drinks just ¥500. Entry starts at just ¥3,000, but mention Metropolis and get in for half-price. BJM
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