01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Set before an array of small plates billed as Western-style obanzai, choosing a glass to match is half the pleasure at bistro UPPER CORNER. Perched on the 2nd floor of a building near the Yushima Tenjin-shita intersection, the dining room is comfortably arranged with counter and table seating, welcoming solo drop-ins as naturally as quiet, full-length dinners.
From Seasonal Vegetable Bites to Fragrant Hot Plates
The menu is lined with handmade à la carte options tailored for a glass of wine. Dishes highlight the natural sweetness and texture of their ingredients, from crisp-grilled taro dipped in a special plum-meat mayonnaise to caramelized sautéed cabbage dressed with anchovy cream sauce and whitebait, or Hokkaido Snow Cherry Valley duck gizzards confit roasted with lotus root and balsamic vinegar. Smooth Gorgonzola mousse and an assorted platter of Jamón Serrano and salami round out an equally thoughtful spread of cold appetizers.
Characterful Mains and a Versatile Choice of Pasta
For an appetite that calls for more substance, the warm starters and meat courses deliver. Layered baked shiitake with house-made salsiccia and thin-crusted tarte flambée pizza appear alongside mains such as Daisen chicken thigh steak from Tottori and bone-in Hokkaido Snow Cherry Valley duck confit. The meal can conclude with a pasta selection that includes a spicy Italian-style mapo—adaptable into a pasta dish—or a rich porcini and button mushroom cream sauce.
An Expansive Wine Shelf and a Late-Night Retreat
The cellar stocks a wide international range of red, white, and sparkling wines, with notable representation from France and the United States. Cocktails, authentic shochu curated by the owner, and non-alcoholic Alain Milliat grape juices ensure an equally rewarding visit on alcohol-free evenings. Operating late into the night, the venue functions just as gracefully for an evening dinner course as it does as a second stop for a light bite and a nightcap.
