This October 2012, John and Yoko Cosmopolitan Japanese Restaurant will be celebrating its 5th year of operations. To show appreciation to all of its guests and supporters, they are presenting a new menu that would be enjoyed the entire family. They are also opening a new restaurant for people from the South. The second John and Yoko Restaurant is located at the ground floor of Alabang Town Center. Tagged as the “Greatest Hits”, this branch offers the finest of John and Yoko’s selections, serving only the best fusions from the east and from the west.

For your appetizer, you should try the Big Star Salad (greens with grilled prawns, cherry tomatoes, mango, walnuts with teriyaki sauce and miso dressing) for only P368. This is actually my favorite. Another good salad to try is the Sunset Prawn Salad (greens with fruit salad topped with fried prawns) for only P358.

they also have pizza that you will love, one of which is the Chicken Teriyaki and Mango Pizza for only P309. Another appetizing pizza is the Shrimp Enoki Pizza for only P368. They revamped the shabu-shabu items (All-Meat for only P389 and Seafood for only P499) giving diners their choice of black miso, brown miso, or kimchi base. They will not fail to serve the well-loved Crunchy Kani Roll (fried crabstick with cucumber and Japanese mayo) for only P278. Smoked Salmon and Tuna Roll, a new name in the sushi list, is a must-try for all John and Yoko followers for only P239.

It was a simultaneous launch both in Greenbelt and ATC branches, of the hottest twist on traditional Japanese donburi titled “Bowl it or Sizzle it!” which gives customers a choice between the customary donburi (Gyudon, Katsudon, Tonkatsu Torikatsu Curry, etc.) served in rice bowls, or served in sizzling plates. The proposal is indeed irresistible and how can anyone miss the opportunity to try it?

Lastly, one must not fail to miss John and Yoko’s signature dish, the Japaella (sauteed Japanese rice with Spanish chorizo, onions, molinera, garlic, bell peppers, topped with chicken and shrimp) for only P589, the perfect combination of rice, seafood and meat.

Gloriously finish the wonderful dining experience with these divine drinks, Choco Godzilla for only P168, and Flavored Yakults (orange, mango, strawberry of green apple) for only P108.

The interior of the restaurant is a splendid feast in the eyes. While taking pleasure from every bite of the dishes, one will fall short of putting behind the majestic monochromatic tree branches’ and birds’ silhouette designs partnered with red velvet on the walls; plus the fancy chairs with animal skin designs (giraffe, snake, tiger and leopard skins) added the Tim Burton-ish animalistic and fairytale kind of vibe and ambience, as accented even more by the dim lights and illuminated round modules of reds and purples. They also feature bookshelves displaying collections of old books and novels, small vintage suitcases and lamps, and antique frames containing photos of Japanese characters and individuals, a mix exhibiting a familiar scene of a time-traveler’s bookshelf. To put in a little more entertainment, classic Japanese films are being projected on the wide red velvet wall to give viewers more amusing spectacles.

John and Yoko promises to make more diners embrace the cosmopolitan Japanese concept it offers. The people behind it guarantee to bestow further from what it had provided already, more than what is only perceived by the eyes – unmatched value for first-rate Japanese dishes by internationally-trained chefs, and exceptional service by dynamic and compassionate dining team.

Featured items:
1. Sizzling Tonkatsu Torikatsu Curry – P328
2. Sizzling Katsudon – P268
3. Sizzling Gyudon – P348
4. Big Star Salad – P368
5. Sunset Prawn Salad – P358
6. Seafood Shabu-Shabu Black Miso Base – P499
7. All-Meat Shabu-Shabu Kimchi Base – P389
8. Chicken Teriyaki and Mango Pizza – P309
9. Shrimp Enoki Pizza – P368
10. Smoked Salmon and Tuna Roll – P239
11. Crunchy Kani Roll – P278
12. Japaella – P589

Beverage:
1. Flavored Yakult – P108
2. Choco Godzilla – P168

THE CHEFS:

Chef Christine Nicole Nicolas
A very familiar name in the list of today’s new breed of restaurateurs, she graduated from the Center of Culinary Arts in Manila, and continued her studies at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, U.S.A. Her first work was with her family business, the renowned Red Crab Seafood and Steaks. At present, she is the corporate chef and part-owner of SumoSam Group of Restaurants (SumoSam Steaks Seafood and Sushi, John and Yoko Cosmopolitan Japanese, Marciano’s Pizza Pasta and Steaks, Mr. Kurosawa Euro-Japanese). She is capable of managing multiple restaurants, and at the same time, she manages all the food cost, labor cost, and profitability of the company. She is in command of the research and development, menu innovation and food styling. It is the best of her interest to travel around the world, to attend food tours and to continue benchmarking outside the country.

Chef Benjamin Gonzales
The executive chef of the SumoSam Group of Restaurants (SumoSam, John and Yoko, Marciano’s, Mr. Kurosawa), he has gone a very long way in the restaurant business. From his humble beginnings working as a kitchen helper at Ray Mariz Catering Services from 1978 to 1982, he further acquired more exposure in the industry by joining the famous Furusato Japanese Restaurant as a server and eventually as a cook, from 1985 up to 1993. In those years, he became the head chef taking charge over the branches at Roxas Boulevard and Glorietta. Concurrently, he managed to take the same position as head chef at the Zen Restaurant. In 2005, he became part of the SumoSam family, continuing to explore and extend the boundaries of Japanese cuisine, passing on the knowledge and expertise to subsequent generation of aspiring chefs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
GREENBELT BRANCH
John and Yoko Cosmopolitan Japanese is located at the 2nd Level, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City.
Operating hours:
Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Friday to Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
For inquiries and reservation kindly call (02) 729-8698.

ALABANG TOWN CENTER BRANCH
John and Yoko Cosmopolitan Japanese is located at the Lower Ground Floor, New Wing, Alabang Town Center.
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday to Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
For inquiries and reservation kindly call (02) 478-7917.