naghi

Located in Kaminoge, Setagaya, naghi serves Italian dishes built on meticulous preparation, from regional ingredient-led antipasti to handmade pastas and charcoal grills. The staple lunch course offers a generous spread: a platter of 5 assorted appetizers, a salad, homemade focaccia, and a choice of main dish, such as pasta or risotto curry. Moving from thoughtfully prepped starters and warm focaccia to fragrant pasta, it makes for an unhurried, satisfying midday meal.

Ocean Catches, Handcrafted Pastas, and the Depth of Charcoal-Grilled Meats

The evening à la carte menu features an array of starters that showcase seasonal vegetables and fresh fish from around Japan. Dishes are thoughtfully conceived to highlight texture and inherent sweetness, such as a tartare of Suruga Bay toro-ebi prawns paired with sweet, tender Amatoro negi onions, or crisp semolina-dusted mehikari (greeneyes) fritto finished with Sardinian bottarga. The pasta selection is equally distinctive. Options range from paccheri, the large tube pasta coated in the rich essence of Suruga Bay squat lobsters, to Tuscan pici rolled by hand 1 strand at a time and tossed in a spicy carrettiera tomato sauce. For the main course, robust charcoal-grilled meats pair naturally with wine, including tender, richly flavoured Aomori Tsugaru duck breast and thick-cut Wagyu liver slowly roasted over coals.

A Calm 2-Storey Space and Gracious Hospitality

naghi occupies a compact space spread across 2 floors, with counter and table seating on the 1st floor and additional quiet seating on the 2nd floor. Service is attentive and welcoming, with dishes explained clearly and family-friendly amenities such as child seats on hand. Because seating is limited, reservations are strongly recommended for both lunch and dinner. With wines by the glass, desserts, and coffee to linger over, it is the kind of neighbourhood restaurant that invites regular visits to discover each season's new creations.