A knowledgable friend of mine, Kathy from Brisbane recommended that I try Christon Cafe after I canvassed friends for unique Tokyo experiences. Started in Osaka in 2000, there are now 8 Christon cafes around Japan, each boasting incredibly detailed interiors decorated in a religious gothic theme. It speaks to the strong Lolita goth culture that exists in Tokyo. In the lobby there is a glass display of the Virgin Mary. Upstairs, Cafe Christon doesn’t disappoint. On the 8th and 9th floor of the Oriental Wave building, you’re struck by the fantastic interior decor the minute you step off the elevator.
We were greeted with 3 leather chairs with naked iron maidens on them the arms well worn and loved. We were then led into the inner sanctum which was awash with wrought iron, gothic and catholic imagery.
To our delight, we’re led towards a blood red curtained booth, private and completely gothic. I’m not a Catholic so the imagery doesn’t strike fear into my heart although I have heard that it can make anyone raised Catholic slightly uneasy. Indeed, there is an altar in the restaurant which we’re told is an authentic altar that was used in a European church.
The details are numerous and quite astounding including the painting on the ceiling.
Gargoyles
Gigantic chandelier
We’re shown the menu, an assortment of izakaya dishes (small dishes typically served with beer). We choose a Japanese beef carpaccio Y1380, Foie Gras sreak with baked risotto Y1800 and grilled salmon steak with mushroom cream sauce Y880.
Amuse Bouche Y300
We’re given an amuse bouche or a spinach tortilla and some sort of pressed meat like a mortadella (we learn we are later charged for this although we may have agreed to it, we just kept nodding yes). The spinach tortilla is delicious and full of spinach and cheese and the luncheon meat is actually delicious, much better than a mortadella.
Japanese beef carpaccio Y1380
The beef carpaccio arrives, spread thinly on around plate with a vase like pillar of lacy baked cheese filled with salad. The waitress lifts the tube and the salad tumbles out over the carpaccio. She then crushes the vase with the tongs and spreads this and the salad out and places the flower in the centre.
The carpaccio is gorgeous, soft and very thinly sliced with japanese dressing drizzled on top as well as dressing the salad. My husband finds the dressing too strong but I adore it and go through bottles of the stuff easily. It’s a surprisngly large serve given too and whilst perhaps there is a bit too much of the baked cheese, the presentation can’t be beat.
Grilled salmon steak with mushroom cream sauce Y880
The salmon dish arrives, not quite the steak as envisaged but two pieces of salmon. They’re slightly too overcooked although the skin is nice and crisped. The mushroom sauce, with cubes of bacon is creamy like a pasta sauce and goes surprisingly well. My husband adores this dish. I’d be a bigger fan if the fish was not as dry.
Foie Gras steak with baked risotto Y1800
The Foie Gras sreak with baked risotto cake arrives, looking wonderful. I know I will like this as I love risotto cakes. It doesn’t disappoint with the fried foie gras “steak” perched atop the crunchy edged risotto cake. There are pink peppercorns scattered about which my husband finds enhances it as he doesn’t really like foie gras very much. I prefer it without the pink peppercorns as I find this masks the flavour a bit too much. I pick up every piece of rice, if I can make one negative comment is that I would have loved more!
Cappucino gelato Y630
My husband is hankering for a dessert, after all it is hotter here than in Australia and he hasn’t had ice cream in a long time. So he opts for the Cappucino gelato which shows up with a white and milk chocolate stick in a tall glass. At the bottom are pieces of white chocolate wafer, still lovely and crunchy and on top, a milky Cappucino gelato, whipped cream and almonds. It’s nice enough but I’m not a big ice cream eater. My husband enjoys it but says that he probably wouldn’t order it again, preferring to try some of their other offerings.
We leave with our gothic Lolita urges satisfied. And I leave you with a panorama of Christon Cafe that my clever husband stitched together, around the restaurant and of the ceiling so you can see Christon Cafe as we did that enchanted evening (click on image for full sized view).
Christon Cafe
Levels 8 and 9
Oriental Wave building
Tel +81 (03) 5287 2426
5-17-13 Shinjuku Tokyo Japan
Open: Monday 5pm-11pm Tuesday to Saturday 5pm-4am (Yes 4am!)
At Shinjuku San Chome station, use exit E2 then turn right and right again. Look up and you’ll see a big lit sign of the side of the building for it.
http://foodscope.com/restaurants/christoncafe/index.html
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17 Comments | Add your own
hehe at first i thought the pillar on the Japanese beef carpaccio was a really tall cupcake!!
Looks good though!
great review! i went to the Christon Cafe in Osaka when i was in Japan in May. i’d heard about it beforehand, but my husband and i found it completely by accident while wandering the arcades in Osaka. we absolutely loved it! i thought the food was fantastic quality and really reasonably priced… not to mention the huge novelty factor.
That looks so totally cool. And the food looks lovely, and not as expensive as you’d expect. Admittedly they don’t seem to be huge sizes but considering the ingredients the prices are pretty good. You’ve chosen a good time (exchange rate wise) to go, too, Lorraine.
God I’m so jealous right now I could turn green and explode.
Hi Lorraine,
The Japanese seem to love their plastic swords!
I immediately noticed two things (ie. they stood out to me). First was the Foie Gras steak with baked risotto cake!! It just looked SO delicious! And also the Panorama photo! A *great* photo.
I won’t comment on the restaurant theme too much because I strongly dislike all things gothic.
I found the dinner theatrics funny re: the removal of the ‘vase’ and the salad tumbling onto the plate and the flower being centred in the middle of the plate. Again, I can’t help think what Gordon would say.. “WTF? What donuts!”(Or replace the word donuts with ‘donkey’s’)… Lol !
I’d probably like to eat my cheesy vase the way I want to eat it.. and if it’s meant to be served a certain way, then do it that way from the beginning and spare me the ’show’.. honestly, I’d probably laugh if that happened to me.
Could me taking things too seriously be because I’m just about finished ‘Playing with Fire’ and I’m getting a steady diet of Gordon on the telly (The ‘F’ word started last night)? The man is moulding how I feel about things!! lol
I’d be with you re: Salmon overcooked. I like it barely cooked without a hint of toughness.. and I’m not a big icecream eater either. What did the carpaccio dressing taste like? Those chocolate sticks look like they could pick up Foxtel.. OK, OK.. time to finish up.. I’m channelling too much Gordon…
Lol!!
Thank you for sharing lovely lady!
that seems like a slightly creepy environment, but i do believe the food would be worth it. that spinach tortilla looks especially yummy.
Hi Carolyn-Hehe when I first saw it, I thought it was a candle!
Hi lindsey clare-What a serendipitous find! I was also glad that the food was good, sometimes I worry about theme places having rubbish food but they did the food well
Hi SydneyGal – Yes Tokyo prices are very reasonable given the exchange rate now
as for Paris, that’s not so good! So Chanel makeup is actually cheaper in Tokyo than it is in Paris 
Yes I was surprised at the quality and size given the price!
Hi Maria-Yes I should get a packet of the swords should I wish to make a pirate themed cupcake
Thanks, my husband will be chuffed to hear that as he put that together 
Haha I think gordon would be horrified at theme restaurants in general although I think he would have to admit that the food is tasty and they don’t seem to need any help so the formula is working! The carpaccio dressing was a light oil but then the Japanese wafu dressing on the salad added more flavour (you can get this at Japanese grocery stores in australia, it’s fantastic). My husband did think it was too strong though but not me
Thankyou!
Hi grace-Hehe wait til you see my story coming up the day after tomorrow. That’s definitely creepy, this was more scary in the same way that the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland is scary
those gargoyles and that chandelier are amazing…you really look like you are having such an amazing trip! such great places you’re visiting!
Hi the airy fairy-The detail to this place is incredible really. We are having a wonderful trip, because of cool places like this!
Hi NQN, great review! I must go there soon and try them myself.
Just a bit of spelling check… (hope you don’t mind), it’s supposed to say “izakaya” and not “ikzaya”.
Luv you!
Hi Taiko-Thanks for letting me know! I totally missed it-ooops!
I’m not Christian and usually pretty accepting. But was at the Osaka Christon last weekend and found it grotesque. The images and artefacts there are holy to many people and to ridicule them like this shows the lack of respect for other people and cultures that Japanese are so famous for. In most countries this kind of religious or racial insult would be illegal.
Cant wait to go to Tokyo and try this restaurant. The food looks good and the ambiance so different.
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