A16 (03) 3212-5215

Pizza and pasta in peace and quiet

The Japan Times, Friday, March 5, 2010

Spring may not be here for real just yet, but it's never too early to celebrate the first al fresco lunch of the year. So when last week's unseasonably warm spell arrived we knew exactly where to go — into the heart of the city, to grab an outside table at A16.

We had two compelling reasons for this choice. The casual Californian-Italian cooking at this San Francisco transplant hits exactly the right note for a light, leisurely meal at any time of day. And the location is about as good as it gets in central Tokyo.

A16 takes its name from the autostrada that cuts across southern Italy from Naples to Puglia. Just as at the parent restaurant in San Francisco, the idea is to showcase the hearty, healthy cooking of that region, especially the province of Campania. That means plenty of good antipasti, pasta and wine, all presented in easygoing U.S. West Coast style.

Since the inspiration is Naples, there has to be pizza. And sure enough, dominating the dining room you see the twin pizza ovens with their flickering flames and handsome brickwork chimneys. Although safety regulations here require them to be gas-fired rather than wood-burning, everything else about them is true to the original spirit, channeling those authentic Neapolitan flavors.

But it wasn't just the pizza we were there for; it was the piazza outside. A16 occupies a prime position inside the remarkable Brick Square, a pedestrian -only space almost entirely closed off from the surrounding streets. With the traffic out of sight and virtually out of earshot, it's hard to believe you're in the center of Marunouchi, just a minute's walk from Tokyo Station.

Since it opened last autumn, this little plaza has given the city something it has sorely lacked — a public area that's not a mall or slotted in as an afterthought between skyscrapers. The small garden boasts trees and shrubs (though not yet in leaf), a sward of lawn, benches where you can read or people-watch, and up above, a proper view of the open sky.
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A16 Location: Marunouchi Brick Square 1F, 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku (03) 3212-5215; www.giraud.co.jp/a16 Open: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (Sunday & holidays 11 a.m.-10 p.m.) Nearest station: Tokyo (JR & Marunouchi Line) How to get there: From Tokyo JR Station (Marunouchi South Exit), cross to the Marunouchi Building, turn left and walk in the direction of Yurakucho. Just after the next lights, you will see the entrance to Brick Square. The entrance to A16 is on the inside plaza. What works: Outside tables with views of greenery and brickwork — and no traffic What doesn't: There's not a great selection of entrees. Number of seats: 92 plus 30 outside Smoking: No restrictions Price per head: Pizza from ¥1,300; pasta from ¥1,200; main dishes from ¥2,000 Drinks: Beer from ¥630; wine from ¥600/glass, ¥3,300/bottle Cards: Major cards accepted Language: Japanese/English menu; English spoken Reservations: Recommended