"Te" Quick Pasta and Herb Tea Restaurant


Te (Roppongi Hills) opened October 2005 and is a hidden gem in the midst of a wet market located on the corners of Gage Street and Cochrane Street. This is a Japanese franchise where young chefs prepare the al dente spaghetti mixed with a choice of 12 sauces. There are the usual pasta sauces such as: garlic and olive oil, Genovese (pesto), Carbonara (bacon & cream), Bolognese, Siciliana (eggplant & bacon), Pescatore (seafood) to name a few. Plus, two interesting Japanese sauces: Spaghetti Japonese (short neck clams & shimeiji mushrooms) and Mentaiko Spaghetti (fish egg cream sauce). Grab a stool and sit at the open kitchen area to watch these chefs cook your meal. Everything is prepared like clockwork in this very ultra white restaurant.

I came by Te quite by accident as I was wondering along Lyndhurst Terrance (near Cochrane Street) trying to decide where to eat. As I looked up, I noticed the words “Te” and some photo’s of pasta. Curious, I decided to see what this restaurant was all about. I was warmly greeted and asked to make my choice of pasta sauce from the 12 on the board. Te has a customer reward program.
For every purchase of 10 pasta dishes, the next one free. I sat in the front so that I could see my food being prepared. Before I knew it, my dish was being served (I think all of 5 minutes passed).
My choice was a piping hot spaghetti Sicilliana (HKD$58.00 or CAD$8.28). The pasta was al dente, just the way I like it and the sauce was just the right amount all served in an oversized white pasta bowl. Open daily from 12:00 to 22:00.

The Culinary Chase’s Rating: My experience with Te was great, however, I would recommend that they use real parmesan. For those in a hurry this is the place to go.