Anniversary Dinner in Ginza: How to Ask for a Surprise
When you book a private room for an anniversary, the thing to get right is not the room but what you tell the restaurant. What you say, and when, decides the shape of the evening. Chura Shabu-tei has a fully private room with a door for 2 to 6 guests, and if you call in advance a cake can be prepared (at extra cost) or you may bring your own.
Anniversary dinners usually go wrong because nothing was said
When you hear about an anniversary dinner that did not go well, the cause is rarely the quality of the restaurant. Something that should have been mentioned was not, or was mentioned but never got through. It comes down to that.
A restaurant prepares using only the information in the booking. If all it says is “2 guests, 19:00, private room requested,” the restaurant will do no more than that. Announce on the night that “actually, it’s our anniversary” and there is only so much that can be done on the spot.
Share your purpose and your wishes at the time of booking, on the other hand, and the restaurant can work to them. Think of it this way: preparing for an anniversary begins the moment you pick up the phone.
What to say, and when
Here is the timing broken into three stages.
| Timing | What to say | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| When you book | That it is an anniversary, your party size, that you want a private room, your arrival time | Secure the room and the plan for the night |
| Between booking and the day before | The cake, whether you may bring your own, when to bring it out | Settle anything that needs preparation |
| On arrival | Your signal, and any seating preference | Get in step with the staff on the night |
The second stage matters most. Anything that needs preparing, a cake above all, cannot be arranged if you ask on the night. At Chura Shabu-tei, calling in advance means a cake can be prepared (at extra cost) or brought in by you. One phone call ahead of time widens your options.
Wording you can use as it is
When you book by phone
“I’d like a table for 2 at 19:00 on the 00th – do you have a private room free? It’s our wedding anniversary, so somewhere quiet would be wonderful.”
The trick is to mention the anniversary first. Add it later and the restaurant has to redo the seating it has already assigned.
When you ask for a cake
“Could we have a cake after dessert? It would be lovely if the plate could say ‘To 00.’ I’ll catch your eye when we’re ready.”
When you give the wording for the plate over the phone, confirming the spelling as well is the safe move. A cake is prepared at extra cost, so check the price when you book.
When you want to bring one in
“I’d like to bring a cake – is that possible? We’re arriving at 19:00, so could I hand it over a little before that?”
Bringing your own needs to be discussed in advance. Settling when you will hand it over means your partner never notices.
When you agree on the signal for a surprise
“Please bring it when she leaves the table.” “Please bring it after I order my second drink.” The point is to give a condition the staff can act on. “At a good moment” leaves them with nothing to work with.
Three reasons a private room works for an anniversary
1. Nobody else sees the big moment
When a cake arrives at a table in the main dining room, every eye in the room turns at once. Some people love that; many find it uncomfortable. In a room with a door, the moment belongs to the two of you.
2. The conversation is never cut short
An anniversary is also a day for saying things you do not normally say. At a table with people around you, your voice drops just where it matters. With the door closed, you can finish the sentence.
3. You do not have to watch the clock
Chura Shabu-tei is open from 17:00 to 23:30, with last order at 22:30 for food and 23:00 for drinks. Gatherings of two and a half hours or more can be accommodated, so a conversation that runs long will not leave you rushing.
Points to watch when you set the date
Anniversary dates usually cannot be moved, which is exactly why you should check the opening days first.
- The restaurant is closed on Sundays and public holidays
- Saturdays are by reservation only. It can sometimes be arranged if you call at least 3 days ahead
- Opening hours are 17:00-23:30 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and on the days before and after public holidays
If your anniversary lands on a Sunday, shifting to a weekday just before or after it is an option. What stays in the memory is the time you spent together, not the date itself.
Building the anniversary table around Okinawa
Chura Shabu-tei specializes in Okinawan brand pork shabu-shabu and Okinawan cooking. An anniversary meal gets its meaning from being different from the usual. Breed names such as Yanbaru Agu pork, pineapple pork, Kibimaru pork, Beni Agu pork and Shimakuru black pork are an opening for conversation all by themselves. The recommended 3-pork tasting platter creates time for the two of you to trade impressions.
Courses are available from 2 guests. If you want the evening to run smoothly, building it around a course is the reliable way.
| Course | Price (tax included) | How it works on an anniversary |
|---|---|---|
| Okinawan Appetizer Course | ¥6,600 | A lighter night with the conversation in the lead |
| Selected 3-Pork Shabu-Shabu Course | ¥9,350 | The anniversary standard, built on the tasting comparison |
| Selected 3-Pork Shabu-Shabu Course with 150-min all-you-can-drink | ¥13,750 | A night you want to take your time over |
To drink there is Orion Beer, awamori (Okinawan spirit) including Zanpa, Kikunotsuyu VIP Gold and Ryukyu Ohcho, sake such as Hakkaisan, Urakasumi and Kikuhime, whisky including Yamazaki and Hakushu, and California wine from Napa. Deciding in advance what you will raise for the toast is part of the fun of an anniversary. VISA, Master, JCB, AMEX and Diners cards are accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we request a cake for an anniversary?
Call in advance (03-3573-5529) and a cake can be prepared (at extra cost). You may also bring your own.
Can you help with a surprise?
Celebrations and surprises can be accommodated. Tell us your signal and the timing when you book.
Can two of us use the private room?
It is a fully private room with a door, taking 2 to 6 guests. It works for an anniversary for two.
Our anniversary falls on a Sunday.
The restaurant is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Saturdays are by reservation only, and can sometimes be arranged if you call at least 3 days ahead.
How far in advance should we book?
Private rooms are limited in number, and preparing a cake takes time. Please get in touch as soon as your date is set.
Reservations
Nine-tenths of an anniversary is decided before the day itself. Reservations are taken through the official website (https://churashabu.com/) or by phone (03-3573-5529). Tell us what you are celebrating and what you would like, and we will be waiting in a room with the door closed.
