Lina Stores has opened in Omotesando, Tokyo Photo: Mai Shoji
restaurant review

Iconic Lina Stores brings Italian fresh pasta and cuteness overload from London to Tokyo

5 Comments
By Mai Shoji

Famed London-based restaurant Lina Stores has opened its first overseas flagship store in a side street in Omotesando, Tokyo. Lina Stores was established in 1944 by a founder named Lina, who originated from Genova. The restaurant/delicatessen sells and serves authentic Italian produce and fresh pasta as well as paninis which are all handmade every day.

“About 98% of our customers so far are ladies and we have about 11,000 Instagram followers,” says Anthony Stettler, Business Development Director Asia. One glance around the restaurant bears that out: Most customers this night were women, many of whom were excitedly taking photos of the instagrammable dishes.

The menu is wide-ranging with adored fresh pasta, a selection of antipasti, cheese, secondi, desserts, as well as wine and cocktails. Portions are just right to share a few dishes with your party, so I highly recommend that you try all kinds of fresh pasta.

“Italian restaurants in Japan provide pasta, pizza, risotto, and more, but we are a fresh pasta restaurant -- all pasta is made from Italian flour, a different amount of flour for each type,” Stettler explains.

The pasta factory designated for fresh pasta is located next to the theater-like kitchen, where you'll see molding devices in different shapes.

“This room is constantly set around the same temperature, so it gets very cold under the AC. Our chefs wear sweaters in there during summer,” says Kazuaki Nakatani, Corporate Strategy Department Manager at RT Corporation, a partner company that supervises Fauchon Le Cafe and eateries in Takashimaya department stores.

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Polpette di Melanzane - Aubergine Polpette, Tomato Photo: Mai Shoji

Our dinner tonight starts with Polpette di Melanzane - Aubergine Polpette, Tomato (¥850) which comes as a pair hot on a plate. The croquette is crispy and the eggplant inside is naturally sweet and rich; it goes well with the slightly sour tomato sauce, accompanied by a glass of Moretti draft beer.

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Fegato di Pollo alla Grigilia - Grilled Chicken Livers, Onion Agrodolce, Sage Photo: Mai Shoji

Our second dish was Fegato di Pollo alla Grigilia - Grilled Chicken Livers, Onion Agrodolce, Sage (¥900). It may seem a little at odds with the mint green chocolate-box ambience, but it’s a superb plate that illustrates the culinary excellence of Lina Stores.

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Tonno Tonnato - Tuna Carpaccio, Caperberries, Salsa Verde Photo: Mai Shoji

We tried the Tonno Tonnato - Tuna Carpaccio, Caperberries, Salsa Verde (¥1,600), coated with original olive oil squeezed from massive amounts of pure Sicilian olives. One bite and you can imagine yourself among the olive groves beneath the sun in Sicily. Original items are available for purchase at the delicatessen.

Then it was time for the Girasole con Zucca - Girasole, Pumpkin, Grana Padano, Ricotta, Hazelnuts, Sage (¥1,500), ravioli-type pasta shaped like a sunflower. While most dishes use ingredients sent from Italy, this one uses Japanese pumpkin that adds sweetness. It’s a new menu item that was added on Oct 1.

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Pici alla Norcina - Pici, Pork, Porcini Mushroom, Parmigiano Reggiano Photo: Mai Shoji

Next up was Pici alla Norcina - Pici, Pork, Porcini Mushroom, Parmigiano Reggiano (¥1,500), which is almost like udon noodles, because it doesn’t use eggs. As many would say, no Italian experience is complete without traditional wines.

Try this dish with the distinctive aroma of J. Hofstätter Meczan Blauburgunder Pinot Nero.

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Tagliolini al Tartufo e Parmigiano - Tagliolini (3 mm), Seasonal Truffle, Parmigiano Reggiano Photo: Mai Shoji

Our final pasta dish warrants some serious attention. Tagliolini al Tartufo e Parmigiano - Tagliolini (3 mm), Seasonal Truffle, Parmigiano Reggiano (¥2,000) is the best seller at Lina Stores in London, and soon I am sure it will be the same in Tokyo too. The fresh Tagliolini immerses the truffle sauce topped with generous shavings of European truffles. Even a glass of spicy Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso is round on your palate because the pasta sauce is creamy and dense -- a rapturous marriage.

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Panna Cotta al Vin Santo - Vin Santo Panna Cotta, hazelnut Biscotti, Cherries, and Brownie Photo: Mai Shoji

The curtain went down with Panna Cotta al Vin Santo - Vin Santo Panna Cotta, hazelnut Biscotti, Cherries (¥800), which is Lina Stores’ most popular dessert. The red wine sauce goes extremely well with the not-too-sweet Panna Cotta. Combined with a glass of Florio Morsi Di Luce, dessert wine from Terre Siciliane, it makes a perfect after-taste and the climax of an excellent evening.

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The Delicatessen offers panini takeaways and pasta kits. Photo: Mai Shoji

Takeaways of paninis are popular for office workers in the neighborhood. Pasta kits are very reasonable at about half the price of eating at the restaurant. Amatrice from Lazio Region and Bigoli is ¥1,600 for a two-person portion.

As we finish our culinary adventure, both Stettler and Nakatani tell me the story of their long and meticulous journey of bringing Lina Stores to Japan during the pandemic. “The pistachio green color and each furniture item as well as every single detail were precisely ordered by the management in London, remotely. So you can imagine how difficult it was.” Even the color of the plates is important to Stettler who knows which pasta must go with which colored plates.

Under current circumstances, it’s nice to feel the vibes of London and taste authentic Italian food, without having to travel abroad. Lina Stores make you feel happy, like you’re almost in an entertainment facility, but with the finest quality food.

A children’s menu can be served upon request. The commodious open terrace seats are dog-friendly. A private room is available for an extra 10% of the total price.

Location: 3-10-5, Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Tel: 03-6427-3758

Opening hours: For now, the restaurant is open 11:00 to 21:00 (LO 20:00) and Delicatessen from 11:00 to 20:00.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

5 Comments
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Lina in Soho is excellent. This looks good too. Time to celebrate end of SOE

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If I wanted authentic Italian food, I would go to an Italian restaurant that was established in Rome, not London.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I love Italian food in Italy by the way.

Finding Italian food fabulous originating out of London is like finding Sushi and Japanese home cuisine originating out of London. Sorry, but no can do. Still trying to find any one of the photos that has a glimpse to it of real Italian Gourmet food. Perhaps the plates. Yes the plates although lacking authentic Italian designs to compliment the dishes served.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Gaijinjland said;

"If I wanted authentic Italian food, I would go to an Italian restaurant that was established in Rome, not London."

It might surprise you to know that the late Anthony Bourdain said, "...some of the best French chefs in the US are Mexicans," That being said I wouldn't rule out an Italian restaurant just because it originated in London.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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