Thanks, I've done the research as well but I wonder how much of Obana's rating and hype has to do with its Michelin star.

The one downside (apart from the queues) is that it's pretty out of the way in Arakawa, which could either be a hassle and inconvenience or an interesting trip to the 'burbs, depending on our plans... I wonder if it might also be a nice place to see sakura in bloom.