クレモンティーヌ・ビス

We arrived at 6:30 pm on a Friday with the place all to ourselves. The restaurant is located 5 minutes walk away from the Yutenji subway stop. It has been operating here since 2002. We had some minor difficulties with the Japanese/French menu but nothing that Google Translate can’t deal with. The... chef came right over after staff informed him of the same and he brought out an older English menu for us to look at. I opted for a 4 course prix fixe dinner while my wife ordered a duck breast. The chef came over and showed us the duck that he said was organically raised. More importantly, he inquired whether my wife wanted the whole portion or just one half of the breast, which was a great option to have. After a few cocktails our amuse bouche came: From left to right: blueberry waffle; some version of a pissaladière; slice of baguette with meat. All three were soft and crisp and tasty. Next came my 1st course of yellowtail with minced vegey with a green crisp on top. The taste was top notch. Next was a white flesh fish expertly grilled with a light sauce. The chef could’ve easily cheated via some cream sauce but the subtlety of the sauce paired with the fish. My next dish was puff pastry with a very tender beef . The reduction of the sauce again was a stand out. Overall, I found the seasoning to be done with a lighter touch, in lieu of the heavy hand that occurs with over seasoning by some chefs. Prices were not high for the quality of the food and service. Attention to details: other restaurants in Asia would unlikely to inquire if we had allergies. They asked. Also the rolls were nicely warmed up. Gave us evoo and salt to accompany the same. There was a finger bowl for the duck drumsticks and wings using fingers to eat. With our end of meal tea came a lil stick of sesame cookie. In the restaurant website the chef lists their philosophy of local sourcing, crediting the chef’s father for catching some of the fish used. Overall, this was an excellent reprieve during one’s holiday in Tokyo, experiencing how French trained Japanese chefs interpret French cooking. The restaurant even took great pains to overhaul the interior to provide a feel for a truer bistro feel. Anyone that needs a little break in dining will find this to be a great option. We went back on a Wednesday evening and found the place to be more crowded...go figure.

January 2020に訪問

If you happen to be in the Yutenji neighborhood of Tokyo, I highly recommend this place. It's the real thing - the French food is authentic and delicious. The setting is charming and the service warm and friendly.

January 2020に訪問

Clementine Bis is a delicious, charming French bistro owned and run by a friendly, warm husband and wife. It is our 'go to' French restaurant in Tokyo, and we find ourselves coming back, sometimes just ourselves and other times with friends and extended family, every few months even though there are... so many other, fancier, more expensive French restaurants in every nook and cranny in town. Yamagishi-san, the owner-chef, has impeccable training in France, Luxembourg and Japan - the man can flat out cook. Mrs. Yamagishi, the sommelier, has put together an impressive list of French wines at reasonable prices and presides over the dining area with a sense of serenity and pride. Yamagishi-san uses locally sourced meats and fish, and home grown vegetables and fruits, and lovingly and creatively prepares them. There are ample choices on the ala carte menu, but we typically opt for one of the set courses and simply ask Mrs. Yamagishi to recommend appropriate wine pairings. The food here is tasty, the ambience and atmosphere warm and inviting, and the service is Japanese 'omotenashi' (kindness/hospitality) at its best. We highly recommend this place, which is well worth searching out (hint: it is just a 4-5 minute walk from Yutenji Station, which itself is one of the first stops of the Toyoko Line out of Shibuya).

May 2017に訪問