Although American-style oyster bars have had plenty of fans in Tokyo ever since the bubbly 1980s, they've managed to extend their popularity to new audiences in the past few years, adapting to economic necessity by cutting down on luxury and focusing squarely on the quality of the offerings. Cave De Oyster, the crown jewel of the General Oyster Group that operates a legion of seafood eateries all across town, adheres to that same winning concept.
Found in a corner of the Yaesu Chikagai underground mall right by Tokyo Station, it's somewhat more impressively decorated than its Oyster Group cousins, sure, with dark wooden tables, a lengthy bar counter and champagne bottles lined up like contemporary art in a museum, but keeps things squarely down to earth in all other matters. A standing bar caters to customers looking to slurp down a few slimy ones before catching the shinkansen, while sit-down diners can buy a prepaid pass for the self-service wine dispenser and have fun sipping their way through a selection of 48 varieties.
Taking the prize, however, is the all-you-can-eat oyster deal available only on Mondays (Tuesday in case of a public holiday). Pay ¥4,800 for an hour of access to all the raw, grilled and deep-fried oysters you can fit – our visit saw tasty fare from Iwate and Mie prefectures – but note that everything else, except water and condiments, costs extra. Perfect for those looking to really make the most of the oyster season and don't need carbs on the side to get through their meal. Make sure to call ahead for a reservation, as the deal is only available to ten diners per Monday.