Tokyo Diner

Tokyo Diner is a Japanese restaurant on the corner of Newport Place and Lisle Street in the "Chinatown" area of the West End of London. The company was formed in January 1990, [citation | title = Company Details | publisher = Companies House| url = http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/e472650af1ee8d51ad3c6d5fb30ca6b1/compdetails | accessdate = 2007-10-16] and the restaurant opened in December 1992.citation | title = Company Info | publisher = Tokyo Diner website | url = http://www.tokyodiner.com/CompanyInfo.htm| accessdate = 2007-10-18]

Policy of not serving Tuna

Unusually for a Japanese restaurant, Tokyo Diner does not serve tuna. This is because it has a policy of avoiding any supplies which do not come from sources that are sustainable in the long term.citation | title = Why No Tuna? | publisher = Tokyo Diner website| url = http://www.tokyodiner.com/WhyNoTuna.htm | accessdate = 2007-10-16] With the rapid growth of the popularity of sushi and sashimi (raw fish dishes) amongst non-Japanese consumers, there has been a dramatic decline in stocks of tuna. [citation | title = One-Minute World News | publisher = BBC News| date = 2006-7-5 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5150446.stm| accessdate = 2007-10-16] According to Greenpeace, breeding stocks of bluefin tuna are now believed to be only 14-17% of their level in 1975. [citation | title = Where have all the tuna gone? (page 12) | publisher = Greenpeace International | date = 2006-5-24 | url = http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/where-have-all-the-tuna-gone.pdf | accessdate = 2007-10-16]

Tokyo Diner has been responsible for bringing cheap [citation | title = Britain's 10 best value restaurants | publisher = Times Online | date = 2007-9-12 | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article2440451.ece | accessdate = 2007-10-16] [citation | title = Cheap Eats in London Guide 2007 | publisher = Time Out | url = http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/reviews/878.html | accessdate = 2007-10-16] Japanese cuisine to London, so it must accept part of the blame for the explosion in the demand for raw fish. According to its website, this is the reason that Tokyo Diner does not serve any tuna and is now trying to extend awareness of the need to reduce its consumption.

The majority of Tokyo Diner’s menu consists of hot food.citation | title = Sample menu from Tokyo Diner | publisher = Tokyo Diner website| url = http://www.tokyodiner.com/FilesFromOffice/menu.htm| accessdate = 2007-10-16]

Policy of not accepting Tips

Another policy that is unusual for a restaurant in London, is that Tokyo Diner does not accept tips.

According to its menu, tipping is not part of the culture in Japan, where paying extra for service is a foreign concept. It states that tips have never been expected or accepted at Tokyo Diner.

It suggests that the most sincere way for customers to thank both the waiters and the chefs is to "please come again, and bring your friends".

References

External links

* [http://www.tokyodiner.com Official website (mainly in Japanese) & webcam]
*Some sample restaurant reviews
** [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-183384-details/Tokyo+Diner/restaurantReview.do Charles Campion in the Evening Standard ]
** [http://www.london-eating.co.uk/2058.htm london-eating (candid comments from real customers) ]
** [http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Restaurant/Tokyo_Diner/391e/ LondonTown.com (visitors’ guide to London) ]