Department stores are rarely my first choice when I want to dine out, but I happened to be shopping in Shibuya Scramble Square so I decided to check out their restaurant floors. When I got there, Carvaan Tokyo immediately caught my attention. I love Arabian cuisine but the opportunity to enjoy it is quite scarce in Tokyo, so I jumped on the occasion!
The Atmosphere
If you are planning to go to Carvaan Tokyo, I would recommend you make a reservation. My boyfriend and I went on a Saturday night and the place was fully booked so we were offered a bar table with high stools. The table was too small for an enjoyable meal and — even with some good Tetris skills — it could barely fit our plates and drinks.
We ate on one of the high tables with stools
The decor was not authentic or very exotic, but some elements such as wall decorations and cutlery added a nice touch to the overall interior. The staff was polite, but our waitress could have used more training — she was clearly confused when I asked a simple question about one of their recommended dishes. To be fair, we went there when it had just opened, but that was still not the best first impression.
The Food
The biggest disappointment I had with Carvaan Tokyo was its menu. It is advertised as an Arabian restaurant so I expected North African and/or Middle-Eastern dishes. A quick look at the menu made me realize that they were all over the place. They also offer a few Greek dishes — which I can understand to some extent since all Mediterranean countries share a common heritage — but kale salad, burgers and potato fries… Really? They tried to add an exotic twist to these dishes by throwing in some spices here and there, but it felt ill-thought out.
3 Arabian Dips Assortment – From top to bottom: Muhammara, Hummus, Bessara
We started off with the 3 Arabian Dips Assortment featuring some Bessara (Egyptian fava bean past), Hummus and Muhammara (Syrian paprika and walnut paste). Honestly, it was bland and the bread was a bit too thick to properly taste each dip. Visually it was pretty colorful, so I wished it was as flavorful as it looked.
Merguez (spicy lamb sausages) with Peas and Harissa (North African chili pepper paste)
The Merguez had a nice flavor, but the chili pepper paste that came with it was really too mild.
Moussaka (Eggplant casserole)
The Moussaka was good. The eggplants were well cooked, but I also found the flavors of this dish too subtle.
Lamb Tajine (Moroccan slow-cooked stew)
I enjoyed the Lamb Tajine. The meat was rather tender and the stew came with some nuts, figs and herbs. It would have been great if they had been more generous with the amount of each ingredient.
Moroccan Grill Chicken
The Moroccan Grill Chicken was nice and juicy. It came with an onion sauce, which definitely gave some pep to the dish.
The Drinks
For drinks, Caravaan Tokyo offers a wide range of Mediterranean wines starting from 900 yen a glass. They have wines from Georgia, Lebanon, and even Tunisia. I had a glass of the Greek red wine Lyrarakis Kotsifali (2015). I found this medium-bodied red wine rather sweet and light, but it was still pleasant. It was refreshing to see wines from countries usually not listed on the mainstream wine lists.
Overall
The food was fine. Not exceptional or mind-blowing, but on the good side. I found that most of the flavors and spices were toned down — maybe to suit the Japanese palate?
If you are looking for authentic Arabian cuisine, this is not the right place. They are trying to please everybody and anybody, so the menu lacks consistency. However, one good point is that they have several vegan, vegetarian and halal dishes.
In total, we paid slightly over 13,000 yen for all the food mentioned above and a total of 3 drinks. I felt it was expensive for the amount we got, but at the same time, this is not unusual in Japan. Even if the cost was not outrageous, this money could definitely have been better spent elsewhere.
Carvaan Tokyo
Opening hours: open everyday from 11:30 to 15:30 and from or 17:30 to 22:00 or 23:00 depending on the day
Website: click here
Address: Scramble Square 12F, 2 Chome−24−12, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-6112
Telephone: 03-6451-1772
