I’ve been asked why I haven’t written any review of this
Bistro a Vin La Patate’s strength lies in the hands of the wonderful Chef Sejima. He runs this friendly and warm little bistro together with his lovely wife. At different times, both the Chef and his wife lived in France, about 6 years each. But then they met in Tokyo working at the same restaurant, this restaurant (formerly known as A.O.C. Yoyogi).
They got married and bought off A.O.C. Yoyogi and began La Patate.
Rustic, warm, very very French. Even Chef Sejima and the wife speaks French to each other. Their English is also pretty good. So, when you have any culinary related problems, you can ask them and they will answer.
So, putting the personality aside, we need to talk about the food. As a Muslim, I have food restrictions and it’s notably hard in Japan to find places that do not use pork products in their cooking, especially for Western cuisines. Every time I venture a new restaurant, I have to be very specific about what I want, sounding like a freaky hypochondriac, I had to go through the painful process of explaining how I cannot have any of those products mixed in any way or cooked together in the same big fryer. Some restaurants could be snobbish and just put me off to a bowlful of salad, and some can be accommodative. Chef Sejima is the latter.
After a few visits to this restaurant, Chef Sejima has come up with what he calls “Bun-chan’s menu”. Bun-chan is his nickname for me. And by Bun-chan’s menu, he meant something that he makes up when I show up at the restaurant during his pork-week. This is precisely why I go every week. I am curious what animal or how many kinds of veggies he’d like to test on me before putting it up on his restaurant menu. Upon seeing my face at the door he’ll usually say, “Irasshai!!! Yoshi! Buntari ga kitta, Bun-chan menu tesuto da!” (Welcome! Alright now that you’re here, we can try another Bun-chan menu!”
Here are my favorites:
Duck terrine
Beef cooked in red wine
Lamb cooked in red wine
Grilled fish
Carrot pottage soup
Roast duck
Roast chicken
Roast lamb
Pan seared scallop
Seafood quiche
Last but not least: the bread. Do not forget to eat the little round bread that Chef Sejima makes with love. It’s so fresh, it’s so chewy, it’s simply wonderful.
Restaurant Information
Bistro a Vin La Patate
Metro Building 1st Floor
1-43-2 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo
Tel: 03-5333-5150
Open hours:
Mon - Sat: 11:30～15:00 (L.O.14:00) and 18:00～24:00 (L.O. 21:00)
Sun, Hols: 11:30～17:00
The place is cozy small, seats 50 maximum. For small parties (up to 4 people), walk in on the day is fine.
Rating
food quality *****
food taste *****
service ****
value to money ****
coziness, comfort *****
Course menu is 3,700 yen for foods only. With drinks, depending on your alcohol intake the bill usually range around 5,000 ~ 7,000 yen pax.
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