For my first proper post from Japan, let me start with something decidedly un-Japanese - Lunch at Brasserie Paul Bocuse Le Musée.
Brasserie Paul Bocuse Le Musée
3rd Fl., The National Art Center Tokyo
7-22-2 Roppongi
Minato-ku, Tokyo
JAPAN
Website
This Brasserie, Bocuse's first overseas branch, is located in The National Art Center of Tokyo, a short walk from Roppongi station in the trendy district of the same name. I was recommended to this restaurant by a good friend of mine, who ate there whilst was living in Tokyo earlier in the year. They have a fantastic lunch special - 3 courses for ¥2,500, which translates to a bargainous $28. They also have a ¥1,800 lunch set, where the 2 courses are chosen for you. On this day, the set was roast beef with potatoes, followed by crème brûlée. A fabulous choice if you are not hungry or want to save a few hundred yen.
Brasserie Paul Bocuse Le Musée
3rd Fl., The National Art Center Tokyo
7-22-2 Roppongi
Minato-ku, Tokyo
JAPAN
Website
This Brasserie, Bocuse's first overseas branch, is located in The National Art Center of Tokyo, a short walk from Roppongi station in the trendy district of the same name. I was recommended to this restaurant by a good friend of mine, who ate there whilst was living in Tokyo earlier in the year. They have a fantastic lunch special - 3 courses for ¥2,500, which translates to a bargainous $28. They also have a ¥1,800 lunch set, where the 2 courses are chosen for you. On this day, the set was roast beef with potatoes, followed by crème brûlée. A fabulous choice if you are not hungry or want to save a few hundred yen.
I went there on my second last day in Tokyo. I was alone in the city, with Sandra having left for Germany a couple of days ahead of me, and needed to kill time. One of the great things about dining in Japan is that you can walk into any restaurant, ask for a table for one, and have it be considered completely normal. Whether it be at a cheap noodle joint with a communal bar, or a swanky European restaurant in Ginza, solo-diners in Japan are numerous and well catered-for.
Now, back to this particular restaurant. The Brasserie does not accept lunch reservations, and as such, there is always a massive queue. The wait can be minimised if you arrive early (11am is recommended), and if you don't mind sharing a table. Now, I thought this meant sitting on a long communal table, or at a bar, but when I was ushered to my seat, it turned out that I was sandwiched between 2 Japanese couples (older, wealthier, definitely classier), on a small round table. Eek! Thank goodness, they didn't try to make conversation with me, and just politely let me enjoy my lunch. What did I tell you about solo diners in Japan? Normal! Not weird or pitiable at all.
The diners at my table didn't even bat an eyelid when I started taking photos of my food.
Pommery champagne. ¥1,300.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQItCCEYR4aW9plM2em-0SETbY9hIc3ICTlFe0qmdBkp-a9JroQkkC6IOhtty5xGdr2AnrLjzVdjarn7HCjcToiA7_lpEwgfsryjL7r3_CCPVBvvb02GIQrQDhAASuDvEVqmvU4w/s400/IMG_2266.jpg)
Cauliflower Soup. Richly flavoured and very creamy.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WIFkIZxNG_HqOad6U0KrN-jgXGNMRZGVni4DdeFH8LSz78_b8u0M_QTE-G87WWNWWgyaaYrYC5KOokhlK95WklPTv1ulukXKVZ2FlCooylqnAMbT35lvTn86-bVU63V7fO7Zig/s400/IMG_2267.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cekW2HjvConSKJCFCQ_7yh8PR6P61SXA67q4YPAh-1HIFvWiWugekfiAW9dzbegdfq52fyDcqrqzwRlXGtZ1kvZvbW9TGu7b-FFWa7sbFsUpi48w3bQWJY8rb2Cc2W_fb8pULg/s400/IMG_2268.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTCUo6FEO3PnChCkYeQPJfMoocfdDPHLv0t6s4CNE8aIVO-gN1W6GGC8-2UKE93ZjSvy-x3pEJq6XrXG76N1eJLilD1R00U6lc-G3BMx0trDn9Fg0b8dnFU4A0yW47oS97IoU7w/s400/IMG_2269.jpg)
For dessert, I couldn't go past the crème brûlée.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijm1L4B2mF_U8YDhplVfWj6NvBn5E5OXVhFsURaXgbModtPp7mfQi4TLMJ_BqYqTv753krMrPOOd1VHclGM6NYdgl-1hZZpeIr600A1eHO5f6oRxRtxi33LT8bv3e8YhmgaWznCQ/s400/IMG_2270.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRhMz7mtRenPY2_aRMV5S8SGuKXZ_5_i8h036IynrMEZMQ5KbK7A43A6COjP4ZRTPBh1SFTYzvDQV6k9gc65rckkap0PnDGBIOPegA5xhBJ8HZVlFQ2giTjwUznT0DBAO6qejYQ/s400/IMG_2273.jpg)
Sinking into the velvety depths, completely contented after a perfect lunch...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVavHfr5d1Gj-zYUeGd5FCWuoaBflY1aNfjyab0vXlHJJCK-A33EreK3PSYkVgPZqVh7aSqRiKqu4oFrFF7OZ0FZQsUZGLVhX_V_Qk-vpsaswezqbqPomLCHY5nPAV3vnoMh1gQA/s400/IMG_2274.jpg)
Thank-you to Markii for the brilliant recommendation! For those of you who make it out there, I'll pass on your thanks to him too.
5 comments
Mmmmmmm -- looks like a perfect meal.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy that you liked the place! And how amazing is the architecture in the National Centre?! I was very impressed. Pretty weird spot for his first venture outside of France, non?
ReplyDeleteI'd love to eat there again!
That's what I call creme brulee. How many Michelin stars have you now left to eat in Tokyo?
ReplyDeleteHi guys!
ReplyDeleteMark - the building was gorgeous! I loved the setting of the brasserie too, right on top of that cone thing. (Yes, that's the technical term). It was so light and airy and spacious!
Ed - that was my only big expensive meal in Tokyo (apart from a Kaiseki in Nikko, but I lost the photos for that one!!) Everything else was $5 noodles, convenience stores, cheap and nasty restaurants and the occasional fancy cake in a department store. Next time!
I suppose your photos of Kaiseki in Nikko would've looked something like this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/markii187/1682451026/in/set-72157602594442260/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markii187/1681596457/in/set-72157602594442260/
This was taken at the Green Hotel in Nikko also! :D