01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Set close to Umegaoka Station in Setagaya, PAPER MOON is an intimate Italian and Western-style izakaya fitted with counter seating and a handful of tables. The day's offerings are chalked up on the interior blackboards, making the meal begin with the simple pleasure of looking up from your seat to compose a lineup of dishes.
Among the tempting starters, the warm vegetable salad with gorgonzola sauce—bringing together diverse vegetables such as broccoli and asparagus under a rich cheese sauce—pairs naturally with tender roast beef. Meat options that complement an evening drink include spicy fried Kirishima chicken gizzards and fragrant grilled chicken thigh diavola. Pouring an approachable glass or bottle of wine or house sangria brings out the layered seasonings in each small plate.
When it comes time to close with pasta, the selection caters to whatever mood strikes, from aromatic basilico spaghetti brightened with Japanese shiso and parsley to rich penne gorgonzola and nostalgic ketchup-based Neapolitan spaghetti. Whether you are leaning over the counter with a quiet glass on your own or sharing a spread around a table, it is a comfortable local dining room.
