Order Management

I’ve come up with my own list of the best restaurants in Tokyo. I’m recommending it to everyone when you visit Tokyo.

1. Charleston Cafe – A neon sign lures you into this fun restaurant, but once inside, the colors are just as vibrant. Charleston Cafe’s walls are adorned with bright amber and ancient African artifacts. Sip on a Mango Margarita and indulge in a big bowl of curry noodles.

2. Fujimamas - A trendy Asian/American Fusion restaurant, Fujimamas serves some of the most innovative dishes in Tokyo. And, the restaurant’s Sunday Brunch is amazing – just make sure you check out the spicy sake bloody mary and the fully-loaded omeletes.

3. Kaiten-Zushi Shops – Sushi is on a roll here, literally. Fresh Nigiri, Sashimi and sushi rolls are sent around on a conveyer belt (how brilliant is that idea?!). At this place, just grab what you want (but fast cuz this is a widely popular spot around lunchtime.) In case you don’t get what you want, don’t despair – their sushi is prepared fresh every minute.

4. Orchid - This acclaimed restaurant serves European and Asian dishes in a unique way. The satellite bar sits in the middle of the floor where guests can stare in amazement as the experts create your perfect dish.

5. Casita - Everyone agrees that this romantic spot is so much more than a dining experience. The service at Casita excels all others and the food will leave you craving more. Indulge in Japanese beef in a Thai barbecue sauce before heading upstairs for an after dinner drink on the patio. Chilly up there? Don’t worry, the staff provides an electric blanket to keep you warm. Finish the night off in the massage chair and leave both relaxed and satisfied

6. New York Grill – Located on the 52^nd floor of the Park Hyatt Tokyo which has been labeled by Hotel Magazine as “One of the top 10 Great Hotels of the World”. New York Grill holds true to this hallmark and serves some of the freshest seafood and finest prime quality Japanese beef. With over 1,600 bottles of wine to choose from, make your life a little easier and ask the sommelier for the right wine to accompany your meal. To end your evening sip on a port, smoke a Cohiba cigar and enjoy the spectacular view of the Tokyo skyline.

7. Ukai Toriyama -Nestled in a quaint valley of Mount Takao, this refined restaurant will make you feel like you are sitting in resort in Seychelles. Straw huts make up the dining experience and kimono-clad waitresses entertain the crowd. Sip on sake and enjoy Robatayaki, a Japanese-style grilling of fish and meats.

8. Barbacoa - The Carnival spirit is alive and well at this cute Brazilian eatery. Any type of meat is available here and the sides accompany the dishes well. The baked pineapple is a great way to end the meal. The portions of food exceed the price and you really do feel that you got the best for your buck (or yen). Tonki – One of the most well known tonkatsu (deep fried pork) restaurants in Tokyo. Generous portions of Pork are shared by friends who gather for a fun night out. It is hard to keep your eyes off the Chefs, who scurry around the kitchen to perfect each dish. The lines are long, the price are low and the food is excellent. Make sure you try the hirekatsu (filet of lean pork).

9. Chez Matsuo – A two-story western-style house is the backdrop of this intimate spot. Dine by candlelight overlooking the beautiful garden and enjoy lavish dishes like the “Supreme”, a breast and wing of duck prepared in a rich sauce. This romantic spot is ideal for a first date! Don’t leave without tasting the impressive list of wines, which owner and sommelier Chef Matsuo will gladly guide you through.

Would you buy a toaster if there was a chance, it might not work properly when you got it home? Well, probably. After all, anyone could end up with a dud.

But what if the toaster’s maker- let’s call it toastersoft- denied any responsibility for the product’s problems, defects, or hazards, even if it knew they existed?

Suppose Toastersoft asked you to promise not to try to fix the toaster on your own, instead offering to sell you a advice at $35 a pop. Your contract also stipulated that once you bought it, the toaster could not be sold, lent, or given away to anyone, nor could you complain publicly about any problems. Plus, Toastersoft might have conveniently neglected to disclose these rules until after making sure you’d paid for- and couldn’t return- the item.

Would you do business with anyone under those terms? You probably already have; that’s the way many companies sell their software today. Although few software companies include all of these provisions in one end-user license agreement (EULA), each condition of sale or use has appeared in some kind of software license. Simply by installing a new piece of software, you could be agreeing to many of these stipulations. In the case of freeware and shareware, in particular, installing the program may mean installing a piece of adware or spyware- a compelling reason to read the EULA.

Granted, it’s unlikely that some software company is going to sue you tinkering with its code or griping to a co-worker about its product. But if installing the software obligates you not to do these things, don’t want to know about it? That’s why it’s important to understand what’s in those EULA’s we accept- and to let companies know if we don’t like their terms. All the while, a battle rages behind the scenes. The software industry is pushing legislation to freeze your rights, and consumers are fighting back to reform the license agreement situation.