Manimani

Manimani in Tsukishima is a Japanese restaurant for a relaxed evening of carefully prepared small plates and drinks. A comfortable place to begin is the three-piece chef’s choice appetiser. The small dishes bring a sense of the season: fresh-tasting fruit shira-ae and cucumber pickled with mustard, a crisp, tangy bite that keeps the chopsticks moving. They make pleasing companions to a glass of something to sip.

The menu offers a range of dishes built around thoughtful combinations of ingredients. Some are light, pairing fruit with seafood, such as a salad of purple cabbage, persimmon and scallops. Others are warm and deeply savoury: beef tendon, chrysanthemum greens and daikon simmered with spices, or a miso meatloaf with hijiki seaweed. With beer and other alcoholic drinks available, the meal can unfold through a succession of small bites to enjoy alongside a drink.

To finish, consider the corn soboro rice, whose simple flavour is an appetising end to the meal. The calm interior can make dining alone feel comfortable. For dinner, booking a seat in advance is a reassuring choice.