Ever since its first Japan outpost opened at Kamakura's Shichirigahama in 2008, breakfast boss Bill Granger's restaurant realm has been supplying Tokyoites with tried-and-tested Bills staples like ricotta pancakes, organic scrambled eggs and flat white coffee.
Now also operating restaurants in Harajuku, Futako-Tamagawa, Odaiba and Yokohama, the Australian celebrity chef’s empire shows no signs of slowing down: its newest addition just started business on the top floor of new Ginza landmark Okura House, making an impressive foray into fine dining and landing with a measure of success.
The Bills Ginza dinner set (¥6,500 per person) is a five-act affair, kicking off with bite-sized raw tuna pizzettes, truffled arancini and melt-in-the-mouth, warm taleggio sandwiches, paired with hazelnuts and a slice of caramelised pear.
The fruity notes are reiterated in the main starter, which consists of a milky burrata salad coupled with roast pumpkin, radicchio and pomegranate. Continuing in the Italian vein, a delectably al dente lobster linguine leads into the main dish, for which you can choose between fish and meat.
The fillet steak, well-marbled and cooked to juicy perfection, comes swathed in porcini relish and accompanied by lightly fried onion rings. The grilled snapper is the lighter option, complemented by a zesty smattering of chana dal with hints of coriander and lemon. To finish off is a wonderfully airy and crunchy brown sugar pavlova topped with rhubarb and rosewater cream.
We recommend trying the creative concoctions featured in their cocktail menu, including the limoncello spritzer (¥1,200), rose, sake and cucumber martini (¥1,200) and lapsang souchong-infused old fashioned (¥1,300), which are best enjoyed while leaning over the sleek marble bar counter.
Bills Ginza also offers an afternoon tea menu (¥7,000 for two), replete with a selection of sandwiches, cakes and rare blends; a glass of bubbly sets you back a cool ¥1,600.
See the full details for Bills Ginza here
Photos by Mari Hiratsuka