Seafood & Grill Atlantic
Get on board the Atlantic for some seaside enchantment

Photos courtesy of Create Restaurant

Japan is definitely not known for its ocean views. The drab, uninspired beaches surrounding Tokyo don’t really put you in a shrimp cocktail kind of mood, so any attempt to have a fully satisfying Western-style seafood meal often seems like a lost cause. But that’s why Tokyoites have Yokohama.

Located on the tip of the fifth floor of Yokohama Bay Quarter, Seafood & Grill Atlantic takes full advantage of its oceanfront location, offering a sea breeze and an enchanting view of the Yokohama Bay Bridge and Minato Mirai nightscape. And the restaurant takes itself rather seriously as a foodie destination—a tier or two above the family-friendly cuisine found at the rest of the outdoor mall down below.

On a casual Sunday evening, we were greeted by Atlantic’s tux-outfitted manager at the door. With large floor-to-ceiling windows surrounding a dark wood interior with an ornate chandelier at its center, the restaurant reminded us of an elegant cruise ship.

A seat by the window, or even out on the terrace (there’s a heating system for chilly weather) is definitely recommended, but that night, sans reservations, we had to settle for a partial ocean view. Nevertheless, things got off to a promising start with the manager’s recommendation—the seafood platter (¥4,800) and a bottle of the house cabernet sauvignon (¥4,500), plus a glass of blood-orange juice for the non-drinker at the table. The seafood platter, a mountain of ice heartily decorated with oyster, king crab, queen crab, shrimp, marinated salmon and prawns, offered something for each member of our party. Though the plump oyster and the juicy shrimp were fantastic, the accompanying condiments—soy sauce, mayonnaise, butter, freshly ground pepper and salt, among others—made the dish a satisfying (if a little showy) affair.

The dinner course menu, at either ¥6,000 or ¥8,000 per person, would be the obvious choice for a date, but that night we chose to go à la carte. The grilled spiny lobster with herbs (¥4,500), with its rich, vibrant fragrance, caused us to rethink our usual no-frills lobster with melted butter. Next came two excellent risottos—one flavored with lobster (¥2,200) and the other with crab and leeks (¥2,000). Quite happily, we realized that Atlantic lacks the Japanese adherence to understatement found at so many other eateries. The restaurant is generous both in its portions and its flavors, as if emboldened by the grandness of the sea.

We finished the night off with coffee, crème de fromage (¥900) and raspberry gelato (¥700). Though Atlantic isn’t fussy with its seafood, the kitchen did show an admirable attention to detail and subtlety with the delicate cakes and soft gelatos.

For wary city dwellers, the open-air freshness of Yokohama is always a welcome change, and Atlantic is a stellar addition to the seaside city’s romantic setting. With a grand interior that matches the pristine blue stretching far below, this restaurant is the next best thing to a voyage on an exquisite cruise liner—complete with a cuisine fit for a seafaring and very hungry captain.

Yokohama Bay Quarter 5F, 1-10 Kinkocho, Kanagawa-ku. Tel: 045-450-7368. Open daily from 11am to 11pm (L.O. 10pm). Dinner menu in English and Japanese. www.create-restaurants.co.jp

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