Le Bouchon

I think there are two patterns of good customer service: one is a calm atmosphere and polite language, not too close or too far away from the customer…. The other is to treat first-time customers in a friendly manner, making them feel as if they are friends. I think this is a natural talent rather than a technique of customer service. I think it’s more of a natural talent…

The restaurant I am going to introduce here has an atmosphere where it is difficult for a man to enter alone, especially during dinner time, but when I entered the restaurant, I was surprised at how welcoming the atmosphere was to everyone! …

Le Bouchon｜Bistro on Teramachi Dori where you can easily enjoy French cuisine by yourself

Contrary to the massive atmosphere of the storefront, the bright lighting and red gingham-check tablecloths inside the restaurant make you feel relaxed even if you are alone, without feeling the high standards of French cuisine. To begin with, the restaurant’s name “Le Bouchon” seems to mean a popular restaurant serving local cuisine in Lyon, the second largest city in France, located in southeastern France (or is it a city like Osaka in Japan?). ). So you don’t have to worry about such details as “Do I have to wear proper clothes even at lunch time…?

The restaurant has enough space to accommodate… about 30 customers, and the nearly 10 tables are almost always occupied whenever I pass by. As I looked around the restaurant, I saw many different types of customers, such as families with children and French-speaking foreigners. The floor staff who engage in friendly conversation with customers of various backgrounds, and the chef who comes out of the kitchen to wave “bye-bye! When you see the chefs waving bye-bye to the family as they leave, you will be reassured that you are in good hands no matter what state you are in. We are sure that you will feel at ease using our restaurant for your vacations, birthdays, and other anniversaries.

Le Bouchon offers an extensive a la carte menu, but the course menu is considerably more economical!

Le Bouchon offers two course menus for dinner at two prices: appetizer + main dish + dessert for 2880 yen and appetizer + fish + meat + dessert for 4010 yen (the lunch menu is even more economical). In both cases, you can choose one dish of your choice from a menu of about 15 different dishes (there is an additional charge for some menus), plus complimentary French bread, tapenade (black olive pesto), and olives. You can order one dish a la carte, but if you plan to eat a good amount of food, it is definitely more economical to order a course.

Le Bouchon’s a la carte menu of appetizers (all except foie gras terrine for 1,140 yen)

• Gazpacho
• Cured ham
• Nice Salad
• Lyon Style Salad
• Mushroom and Prosciutto Salad
• Sea Bream Carpaccio with Basil Salad
• Marinated Salmon
• Salad of Andives with Roquefort Cheese
• Lobster terrine
• Foie Gras Terrine ¥1,850
• Pate de Campagne
• Pate en croute (pie wrapped pâté cold with foie gras)
• Burgundy-style cassolet of escargot and shimeji mushrooms
• Warm Sausage with Lentils
• Sauteed beef stomach Lyon style

Le Bouchon’s a la carte menu of main dishes (all items without price are priced at 1,650 yen)

• Poirette of sea bass with soup de poisson
• Quenelle au gratin Lyon style
• Poiret of Salmon Grenoble Style
• Poiret of Quail Poached in a Single Piece with Risotto of Save Mushrooms
• Chicken breast stuffed with foie gras and mustard sauce
• Gruyere of beef tenderloin with shallot sauce
• Brochette of shoulder of lamb with rosemary
• Gruyere of pork loin with Kyoto specialty Poku
• Beef braised in Burgundy style red wine
• Braised Lamb with Potatoes
• Lamb Couscous
• Sauteed andouillette (large intestine stuffed with rectum)
• Baked chicken, pork and foie gras in a pie shell ¥2,470 (+¥500 for course menu)
• Beef Back Steak with Black Pepper ¥2,470 (+¥900 for course menu)
• Horse meat tartar 3000 yen (+1400 yen for course menu)

This time, I decided to order “Sea Bream Carpaccio with Basil Salad” and “Grieved Beef Jalami with Shallot Sauce” from the menu.

First, the Carpaccio of Sea Bream was brought in front of me…

A lettuce salad served on a white plate. I thought, “Where’s the snapper? I wondered, but when I proceeded to eat the lettuce, I found the carpaccio spread all over the plate.

Although not apparent, the lettuce is covered with a vinegar-flavored dressing. The light acidity stimulates the tongue and brain and builds up the appetite for the main dish. On the other hand, the sea bream carpaccio is covered with a sauce made from basil paste in a blender. The crispy snapper fillet and the basil aroma deliver a refreshing flavor.

Next is the main dish, gruyere of beef halami. Image here…

A large piece of jalami meat and French fries that take up about half of the plate. The jalami is generously covered with a red wine-flavored, lightly acidic shallot sauce.

The jalami meat is well heated all the way through. It is well-done when it comes to the degree of grilling. It is different from rare meat, and you can feel the firm texture of the beef. The volume of the dish is large enough to satisfy even an adult male.

Le Bouchon’s course menu also offers a wide variety of desserts…take your pick!

After you finish your main course, the hall staff will clear away the dishes and bring you the dessert menu. You can choose one dessert of your choice from nearly 10 varieties, including chocolates. On this particular day, I was kind of in the mood for pudding, so I decided to go with the “creme caramel” after much deliberation…

The square-shaped pudding is topped with a generous amount of caramel sauce, once again stimulating the appetite that has already been satisfied. The pudding is rich and dense, packed with eggs, and its elegant sweetness makes you feel happy. The caramel, on the other hand, is bitter and mature. Be careful when ordering for children.

For those of you who want to enjoy French cuisine in a more casual setting… Bouchon is a 5-minute walk from the nearest station, Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Line.

P.S. If you are looking for delicious French restaurant in Kyoto, please stop by this article below…