Meet OUT, Tokyo's Australian-Run Restaurant Showcasing One Dish, One Wine and One Artist

As most visitors to the city will notice, Tokyo is home to many unique and wonderful quirks, from specialised bars to subcultures within subcultures. Tokyo's food scene is no different; however one of the city's most interesting dining experiences actually comes from Australia.

Meet OUT, the concept restaurant that was conceived in Australia, inspired by Italy and executed in Japan. Built with the aim to create a carefully curated moment of complete gastronomic and sensory satisfaction, OUT is a truffle and pasta bar that serves one dish of buttery truffle covered pasta, one type of red wine and plays music by one artist, Led Zeppelin.

This full-body culinary experience was created by Melbourne restaurateur David Mackintosh, entrepreneur Tom Crago and Tokyo-based gastronomic consultant Sarah Crago. "The idea started as a joke during a boozy dinner party back in Melbourne," says Sarah, who decided to take the gag one step further. Now, just a few years later, she finds herself running the popular Tokyo dining spot.

Why choose Tokyo out of every city in the world? Given the sheer ubiquity of high-quality eating establishments already scattered throughout the city, it seems like a competitive scene. "We could only do something like this in Tokyo," Sarah explains. "Tokyo is all about pursuing true craftsmanship and perfecting technique."

Opening in Shibuya in June this year, and seating 13, the restaurant has already welcomed a wide range clientele interested in trying the OUT experience. "We get all different people in," says Sarah, "but we do have regulars." As the seasonal ingredients change, many of them notice the subtle differences. "Some of them even noticed when we changed the shape of our pasta."

"I moved to Japan two and a half years ago to start the project and it's been hard," Sarah shares. "Because we're completely independent, we don't have any Japanese companies propping us up, so everything has been a lot more difficult." That hard work has paid off, and lucky patrons can now find the eatery up and running six nights a week until late. If you find yourself in Tokyo, it's a fascinating way to dine.

Find OUT at 〒150-0002 Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Shibuya, 2 Chome−7−14, Vort Aoyama 103, Japan or visit www.out.restaurant.