Concombre, Shibuya: The Bistro Everyone Loves, Lunch and Dinner

Hello, it's Foodie Yoko, who can never resist a bistro.

I first heard about Concombre a few years ago, and I called and called, but it was always full and I was turned down more times than I can count.

When I called again on a whim, I got a table, so off I went!

Concombre (Shibuya / Bistro)

The name Concombre means "cucumber."

It's a restaurant with a cute name, lol.

It had only just opened, but the place was already full.

About 90% of the guests were women. You can tell how popular it is!

There were three set courses, but I wanted to order freely, so I ordered a variety of dishes à la carte.

Both staff members spoke French, so I chatted with them a little in French.

I rarely get to speak French in Japan, so that made me happy!

But the food didn't come, lol. They'd forgotten our appetizers and we waited about an hour, lol.

When I reminded them, the waiter brought it out looking sheepish: an assortment of five appetizers.

Quiche, marinated herring, carrot rapée, cabbage salad, chicken liver pâté and pork rillettes.

There are no unusual ingredients or distinctive twists, but everything is made with such care and it's delicious!

The french fries are simply seasoned with salt, but they're crispy, and I love how thin they are.

The onion gratin soup is even better than the one I had in Paris, lol. It's full of sweet, melting sautéed onions. I want the recipe, lol.

The escargots are fluffy and tender. (It was so good that I snapped a photo when it was already half eaten.)

The roast beef is moist and juicy, too. They grind the pepper at your table as a little show.

It's great as is, but a tiny drop of their spicy house-made seasoning, "Picante Brandy," makes it taste fresh and light!

And I'm still eating. Lamb and couscous. You don't get many chances to eat it even in Tokyo, but it's one of my personal favorites.

Maybe I'll make it at home next time... You change the flavor with harissa, a hot chili paste!

Couscous is so versatile that I think it should catch on in Japan, but it hasn't quite crossed the chasm yet!

For dessert, an apricot tart. So comforting.

Chocolate mousse. Silky smooth.

Raspberry soup with lemon sorbet. It has lemon peel in it.

Everything is really simple, but maybe because the chef's love goes into it, every dish is delicious.

With wine and a vin mousseux (sparkling wine) too, the total was ¥7,000. In Paris, you could easily spend that on lunch alone.

This quality, with all you can eat, is truly impressive. I'd love for French people to come. It's a bistro that, without exaggeration, surpasses the real thing!

I have to come for lunch next time!

Concombre
Shibuya Building 1F, 707, 1-12-24 Shibuya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0002
Hours: 11:30–15:30, 18:00–22:30
Open every day
Phone: 03-5467-3320