ジュリアス・スージー
A bistro with a good staff that is seriously committed is a great thing. No, in this case, it might be more appropriate to call it a Neo-Bistro. My usual female friend recommended this restaurant (attracted by high ratings on Tabelog), and I agreed with her opinion, so we made a reservation for this restaurant for the first time. Le Clos Montmartre. Behind the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, known as the "sacred heart of Paris," on the Montmartre hill closely associated with modern French art, there is a small vineyard that suddenly appears. It is actually a historic vineyard dating back to ancient Roman times. Le Clos Montmartre, indeed, seems to be a branding created by a sommelier. Both of us chose the lunch course for 3,300 yen. The service is slightly elegant, the wine is clear and refreshing, and each dish is delicious with a touch of creativity. The knife and fork are replaced with each dish. We were delighted by the flavorful blood sausage, and I, who rarely eat sweet things, never expected to be so impressed by the "Figs stuffed with cream, served with raspberry sorbet". Indeed, the Neo-Bistro concept has become firmly established in this restaurant, and its charm has blossomed beautifully. It is truly a renowned restaurant celebrating its 25th anniversary in the alleys of Kagurazaka. Let's go through it step by step. [Aperitif] Two glasses of white wine. A refreshing and fruity taste. [Appetizer] - Palm heart and carrot salad. - Zucchini and bacon quiche with cheese flavor. They set the stage nicely and build anticipation. [Main Course] - Pan-fried sea bass and red snapper with butter sauce with tomatoes and green beans. (The delicate contrast between the two fish is elegant. Both are cooked plump and glamorous, with a cute twist on the butter sauce.) - Blood sausage, served with apple compote and mashed potatoes. (The Bordeaux-style red wine-infused blood sausage is known for using pork blood, fat, meat, and offal, each chef adding their own twist and shaping it into a sausage. Here, it is served in terrine form. It is warm, flavorful, very deep, and the portion is satisfying.) [Dessert] You can choose one dessert from about seven options. - Figs stuffed with cream, served with raspberry sorbet. (Amazing!!! An exquisite composition of multiple flavors! Creativity!) - Rhubarb tart filled with pistachio paste. Served with pure white whipped cream and caramel ice cream. (The composition is skillful and the humor of this tart is delightful!) - Coffee (rich aroma, deep flavor with bitterness, perfect for after the meal). Each dish showcases high cooking skills, cool composition, and a touch of creativity. It's great! Le Clos Montmartre seems to have the typical appearance of a bistro, but in fact, it is truly a Neo-Bistro, and you can feel their pride. One small request I have is to add more affordable bottles to the already impressive wine list and offer carafes of house wine at reasonable prices. Why? Because I want this Neo-Bistro to be friendly to wine drinkers. However, such a thing is just a minor flaw in this wonderful Neo-Bistro. Looking back, restaurants and bistros are changing with the times. In the past, bistros and restaurants were separate worlds. The interiors were different. The service was different. The culinary views were different. The facade of the bistro had a red shade, the tables were covered with red gingham check vinyl cloths, and the knives and forks were in a wicker basket. The white walls had Toulouse-Lautrec posters, and the music playing was (in Japan) chansons from the time of Damia. Restaurants with 30 seats or less were run by one or two servers. The restaurant did not particularly assert a dress code for customers.