Sabado Sabadete, Shirokane サバドサバデテ、白金台

I’ve rarely made the effort to sample the Spanish cuisine that Tokyo has to offer, although on several occasions I have noticed charming looking restaurants here there. Most of the time I assume, wrongly perhaps, that they’ll not compare to the real thing, and so pass them by.

So it was that when Tokyo’s Resident Foodie suggested a visit to Shirokane’s Sabado Sabadete, I couldn’t help wondering if I might be in for a disappointment. Thankfully, my fears were not realised.

Were it not for the glowing street level sign that marks the restaurant’s location, tucked away in what looks like a normal apartment building at the bottom of Platina Dori, I’m not sure I would have found the place. Despite the less the welcoming aspect of the building, once inside we were greeted by quite a cosy place, of modest proportions, furnished with rustic looking, dark wood tables and chairs, simple red and white table cloths, wine bottles and jars of olive oil. Classic “Spanish style” you may groan, but truth be told the look and feel of the place was not far removed from many of the more down to earth restaurants and tapas bars I’ve enjoyed when in Spain.

An old Japanese lady, polite with a warm smile, took out orders of beer and brought our attention to the menu. Immediately dozens of classic Spanish dishes, tapas and otherwise, leapt off the page. My fears already subsiding, and my expectation once again beginning to quiver, we promptly ordered a bottle of the Torres (complete with the usual little plastic bull) and a selection of tasty sounding dishes to start off our meal.

I was delighted to be served with a basket of bread accompanied by a fairly generous dollop of Ali Oli. Can’t get enough of the garlicky stuff, and it had been a while since I last had the chance to put on a few pounds with its help. As my dining partner was not doing bread that evening, he decided to add sparkle to the already delicious frittata, which was light and yet firm enough to be filling.

To be honest, on the evening of our visit, Sabado Sabadete was pretty quiet. Ourselves, and behind a group of young lovelies. The only other action was the old lady doing the serving, and the sounds of cooking coming from the semi-open kitchen, in which a stocky looking, white bearded Spanish gentleman was doing his stuff.

Not that we minded much, the wine went down very easily, as did the rest of meal. Some cheese, good enough but slices a little on the slim side, delicious mushrooms in garlic infused olive oil, and a salad, seemingly plain but close to that often served in Spain, consisting of lettuce, pickled asparagus, olives, tomatoes and fluffy scrambled egg, were all fresh, tasty and served in a timely manner.

The grilled squid was excellent, not over cooked and so not too chewy. I’m sure, positive in fact, that we had a few other dishes, but the wine, beer and conversation got in the way of my camera wielding antics, and as such no record of the remainder of the meal is in my possession. From what I recall one dish involved stuffed red peppers...

Things did liven up later on, and not just on our table, as the bearded proprietor arrived upon the floor bearing a curious glass vessel (which I am relaibly informed is called a "porro," a vessel of Catalan origin. George Orwell hated them, apparently) filled with beer, and proceeded to tilt his head back and pour the amber liquid down his throat from on high. How we clapped, how we cheered. Then it was out turn. We held our own (not literally…) and much to the amusement of the nearby ladies I succeeded in half choking while simultaneously pouring half the drink down my neck rather than down my throat. Still, glorious fun, glorious company and good, honest Spanish cooking.

With all and sundry now well lubricated, the old master of the house visited our table and told something of his story. Seems he arrived in Tokyo in the 1970s, and has been here, cooking and downing vases of beer ever since. I’m sure he could have told us more, but as he only speaks Spanish and Japanese my ability to pry was somewhat curtailed.

All things considered, a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Intend to return.

Tel: 03-3445-9353

Comments

[Edgar]

Hi there, very interesting post. The name of the restaurant sabado sabadete comes from the Spanish expression "Sabado sabadete, camisa nueva y polvete", something like Saturday saturday, new shirts and sex :)

The curious glass vessel its a "porró" a tipical catalan way to drink red wine, just like the hat he is wearing which is called "barretina" from this I asume that the spanish man came from somewhere in catalunya :)

[Dave]

Thanks for the explanation!
Love that phrase!
A new shirt every Saturday in order to get sex? Must become costly...