I found out that Mr. Kondo from Codali has started a wine bar called "Coucou!" on Facebook, so I decided to check it out right away. I hadn't seen him since the early days of Codali, although I've known Mr. Kondo since his time at Sofitel Tokyo, and he hasn't changed at all. What was most surprising was that he was operating the place by himself, cooking as well. I left the wine selection up to Mr. Kondo and enjoyed several delicious glasses. The prosciutto and carrot salad were also very tasty.

On the first Saturday, I worked in the morning, had an interview, and then wanted to enjoy some delicious wine! I invited my daughter, who was at home. (Coucou!) We toasted with champagne and white wine! When it's hot, the drinks go down easily. The crab-filled tomato tart was refreshing and delicious. I had been wanting to try the white wine I saw on Instagram. The egg with mayonnaise is a must-have that I always enjoy. I ordered more white wine. We also tried spring rolls with lamb. We ended with dessert! The crème brûlée was flavored with Earl Grey, paired with dessert wine! We also had Basque cheesecake with dessert wine. My daughter and I had a wonderful time.

I visited the restaurant in the late afternoon after making a reservation shortly before. **Points** - Continuous service from lunchtime - A rich lineup from natural to classic wines - The dishes are creatively crafted and delicious - **Operations:** One-person operation - **Customer Base:** Diverse - **Payment:** Card accepted - **Charge/Service Fee:** 500 yen - **Online Reservations:** Available, can book for one - **Lunch Service:** Available - **Solo Visit:** Possible - **Second Venue Suitability:** Not applicable - **Duration of Stay:** A little over an hour - **Google Rating:** 4.7 - **Tabelog Current Rating vs Reality:** 3.15, undervalued **Store Overview** This is a wine bar run by an owner sommelier. I remember having a variety of options from natural to classic wines. There’s a cellar at the back of the store with a large selection of wines. You can either choose to drink a bottle from there or have a glass of what’s available that day. The owner seems to have experience from the popular French restaurant "Codaire" in Ueno. The place opens continuously from noon, making it possible to enjoy daytime drinking. While online reservations are available, I noticed discrepancies between the actual situation in the store and online availability at times, so it’s wise to confirm right before visiting. It’s a bit of a walk from the station. **Atmosphere and Service** There are only counter seats, with an average spacing between them. The owner runs the operations single-handedly. During busy times, the food may take a bit longer to arrive, but drinks are served promptly, and the food is prepared efficiently. The owner shows you the bottles of wine as you order. **Ordered Items and Cost Performance** I ordered three glasses of wine along with the following dishes: - Appetizer: Shine Muscat grapes - Tomato stuffed with hairy crab - Ufo mayo - Soufflé omelet I found the prices to be reasonable. **Impression** All the dishes had a unique twist and were excellent. The stuffed tomato was filled with a generous amount of hairy crab, complemented by a fragrant basil and dill sauce. The Ufo mayo had a slightly sweet mayonnaise sauce. The yolk was a rich yellow, indicating high-quality eggs, and the half-cooked texture was just right, not too runny. The omelet is baked in a small pot in the oven, resulting in a fluffy texture with fillings inside. Every dish was delicious, and the wine selection was excellent, covering sparkling, red, white, rosé, and orange options. While it’s easy to overspend during daytime drinking, this restaurant offers a valuable experience for quality daytime dining.

I stopped by a place I had wanted to visit before my evening plans. The owner is a sommelier who previously ran a store called Caudalie on the opposite side of Ueno Station. The business hours are from 3:00 PM on weekdays and from 1:00 PM on weekends and holidays, making it a perfect spot for wine lovers. I arrived at 3:00 PM that day. Upon sitting down, the incredibly cool owner offered me water, noticing it was hot outside. This thoughtful gesture was already appreciated. The interior features a mix of concrete and wood, with simple lighting and decor that match my taste perfectly. The music played is jazz, creating an atmosphere that makes you want to swing along. Essentially, it's a place that really resonates with me. My order for the day was as follows: Champagne with a surprisingly seasonal appetizer of American cherries. Their mineral and rich flavors were delightful. The acidity and subtle sweetness of the cherries made a perfect pairing with Champagne, proving to be a compelling appetizer for the hot weather. Next, I had stuffed tomatoes with an Austrian white wine (mostly Riesling). These stuffed tomatoes were exquisite; the juicy fresh tomatoes were filled to the brim with crab salad, accompanied by a basil sauce flavored with dill and sudachi. The crisp texture inside, likely from cucumber, provided an excellent contrast. The overall harmony of flavors deserves to be called a masterpiece. It’s no wonder this dish has been beloved since the previous era of the owner's restaurant. The Austrian Riesling I was recommended had a floral aroma, with a distinctive apple-like acidity that I really enjoyed. I also tried octopus carpaccio with passion fruit sauce and a Jurançon Sec white wine. Instead of the usual vinegar, the acidity came from passion fruit. It wasn’t just tart, as it also carried some fruity sweetness and the fragrance of the seeds, adding an unexpected depth that deeply impressed me. This was akin to experiencing a museum exhibit. The Jurançon Sec white was selected to complement the acidity of the passion fruit, and it paired excellently. When I asked the owner how he prepared the octopus, he humbly mentioned that it's nothing special, but I truly found it delicious. Next, I had lamb spring rolls with an Alsace Pinot Noir. I took a big bite of the hot spring roll first, which was wrapped in a crispy skin and filled with lamb and cumin seeds, perfectly matching in aroma and flavor. Initially, I noticed a reductive smell in the Pinot Noir, but after chewing the spring roll, I no longer noticed it, indicating a great pairing. I had to cut my visit short due to other plans, but I was intrigued by what other customers were eating. I promised myself I would return again. For three snacks, four glasses of wine, and cover charge, my total came to 8,800 yen. With wine priced around 1,200 yen per glass, I found it to be a reasonable cost for the experience. The distance in service, the decor, music, food sensibility and flavor, the wine pairings, and price, all matched my preferences perfectly. The only downside is that I don't live or work nearby, making it difficult to just drop by, but I will definitely visit again!

We visited for the first time with three friends. We started with a refreshing champagne toast, followed by dishes like egg with mayonnaise, stuffed tomatoes, octopus with passion fruit, and spring rolls with lamb. Everything was delicious. There were more menu items that caught our interest. We would love to visit this place again with our friends.

This is a wine bistro with all counter seating, located near Ueno Station, which opens at 3 PM on weekdays and at 1 PM on weekends. I visited this time for a pre-dinner drink (0th party). The atmosphere is incredibly pleasant, with a sense of warmth that comes from the owner's love for people and wine. They offer a wide variety of glass wines, but what’s truly impressive is their generosity in opening bottles for you to enjoy by the glass, perfectly paired with the dishes. It's clear that they want to provide an enjoyable experience, and that love definitely comes through. Ah, I see why so many people return here as repeat customers. Although I thought I would keep it light since it was just a pre-dinner drink, I ended up starting with champagne and then enjoyed both white and red wines, totaling five glasses, before wrapping up my visit. I can't wait to return just to try the “spring rolls with lamb,” which could be considered a signature dish. The place is charming, and since it operates with just one person (which actually works very well here!), and they take the time to select and open bottles for each group, I highly recommend it for those who enjoy a leisurely experience. Since it can get fully booked, reservations are essential.

Hello everyone. Today, I’d like to introduce a hidden bar spot in Ueno. When it comes to drinking in Ueno during the day, many people probably go around the Ameyoko area, but this place is located on the back side. It's a street-level shop run solo by the owner. I casually stopped by to check if it was open, and it was! There were quite a few customers who were there alone as well. The seating is just at the counter, and the atmosphere is fantastic. Since it’s a wine bar, I decided to try the owner’s recommended red wine, and it was absolutely delicious. Regarding the food, I didn't have high expectations, but it turned out to be tasty. I was surprised at how different even simple dishes like fries could taste when made by a talented cook. Haha. I think this place is great for solo visits, and it’s also a lovely spot for couples. If you’re in Ueno, why not try a different way of drinking? I definitely recommend checking it out!

What’s surprising is the level of food served at this one-person-operated wine bar. The owner sommelier from the French restaurant Caudalie, which used to be around Shinobazu Pond, closed the restaurant to open this place following his independent venture. His cooking talent is impressive. I enjoyed a glass of white wine, and that day I also tasted Domaine Takahiko Nanatsumori by the glass. I had a Merlot from Stellenbosch, South Africa, while my partner had a Pinot from the Baden region of Germany. Even though Domaine Takahiko 2021 is expected to mature further, it already shows remarkable skill even now. Truly impressive.

I visited this restaurant for the first time, wanting to enjoy wine and delicious food. To cut to the chase, it was amazing! Here, if you express your wine preferences, they'll recommend a dish that pairs well with it. This time, I ordered a full-bodied Cabernet and a fruity Merlot. Each dish was meticulously prepared. The highlight was the pork confit with bamboo shoot from the ask menu—it was exquisite. The pork was perfectly cooked, with a crispy exterior and juicy interior, and paired excellently with the wine. The bamboo shoot was also outstanding, possessing a sweetness comparable to corn. I had an absolutely blissful time.

After enjoying a meal at a nearby French restaurant, I happened to stop by this place. I didn't even know there was a shop here! They have a wide selection of glass wines that are very delicious, and I had a wonderful time. On my way out, I found out that the sommelier used to work at Caudalie! I'm grateful that they have opened a wine shop here in Ueno. I will definitely visit again.

A unique and sophisticated wine bar for adults in Higashi-Ueno. When you share your preferences or mood, the owner will suggest a few recommended wines that fit your image. Depending on the wine, a glass costs around 1,000 yen. Many customers come alone, making it easy to visit by yourself. It's a charming place you'll want to frequent.

There’s a lovely new wine bar that just opened in my neighborhood, and since I hadn’t had dinner yet, I hoped they had some food options. I was grateful they had something to eat! I started with some sparkling wine—my absolute favorite! Although I can only remember wines by taste, I was excited after my first sip. For my food accompaniments, I ordered: - Ufo mayo - Potato fritters - Tuna tartare - Braised beef cheek in red wine - Baguette You can really tell they value high-quality ingredients, and most of them are sourced from Hokkaido. The potato fritters were incredibly delicious—I could eat them forever! The bread was also fantastic! They mentioned it would take about 8 minutes to prepare, but freshly baked bread is unbeatable... Everything I tried was surprisingly delicious. Originally, the chef had worked in French cuisine for about 16 years in the area across from Ueno Station, near the pond. It’s amazing that a sommelier can provide such delicious food! I’m so glad to have found another special place to cherish!

All the recommended wines were so delicious that I ended up drinking a lot.

The food was very delicious. I would like to try more unique wines in the future.

It's a very stylish wine bar! It's a lively place with many regular customers. The wine selection is spot on, and the food we had to accompany it was absolutely delicious. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I was amazed by the harmony of the superb wine and the excellent cheese plate.

I think this is a great place for wine lovers. The food is also carefully crafted, and you can feel the sense of style.