Tokyo is a massive city and there are so many parts that I have yet to explore. One of the coolest areas, literally cool as the area is surrounded by canals, is Tennoz Isle. Until now I have only passed through on the monorail on my way to Haneda airport. Now I am kicking myself for not having come much earlier. What a great, quiet oasis in the city. It did not feel one bit like I was in Tokyo. The breeze coming off the water is welcomed in this heat and humidity. I went recently to meet a girlfriend who works in the area to eat at T.Y. Harbor.

T.Y. Harbor has been here since 1997 and is a rare microbrewery in the city. I have had the beer at some of the sister shops like Cicada in Aoyama, and its a great craft beer that is very food friendly. I was surprised at how big the restaurant is inside. The outdoor patio seating overlooking the canals is also spacious. We came early to beat the lunch rush, around 11:30 a.m. and already it was almost full on the deck. Service is friendly, the staff speak English, and the menu is filled with great salads, daily specials, and burgers. The daily specials are put online each week. The burger hits the spot for this American. It’s a big burger, meaty, and comes with a generous serving of fries. The brioche buns are made at the breadworks bakery which is located next door. My girlfriend got a big salad that was topped with beets, blue cheese, and chicken. The lunch meal also comes with a bottomless glass of iced tea or Nozy coffee, a rarity in Tokyo, the concept of a bottomless glass of tea.

The half-size Caesar salad with avocados is big enough for a meal and is generous with the Parmeggiano-Reggiano cheese. The vegetarian options beyond the salad include a hearty sandwich or a Chana saag spinach and garbanzo curry.

There were a handful of tables with small kids and parents and the staff were accommodating. The weekend brunch menu is filled with lots of comfort dishes like pizza, pasta, barbecue ribs, and the burgers. I can only imagine it is a very popular spot on the weekends.

T.Y. Harbor is worth the journey. Allow for some time to walk around the canals before or after your meal. A few times during our lunch I told my girlfriend that I felt like I was back in America. Citibank Japan’s office is nearby and there were a lot of workers from the office there. It was fun to be surrounded by so much English. Escape the madness of the city in this oasis near Shinagawa.

T.Y. Harbor

Shinagawa-ku, Higashi-Shinagawa 2-1-3

The weekly menu is posted online.