5/06/2009

Champagne lunch at Chinois Shibuya

If you are interested in wine restaurants of Tokyo, you might take a look at http://www.chinois.jp/

Chinois is well-known of Tokyoite wine lovers with high reputation. It has two wine restaurants in Ginza and Shibuya. They serve dinners with luxurious wines. Usually, open hours are 18:00PM-2:00AM or 0:00AM. Chinois Shibuya, in addition, has a special lunch menu named “Champagne lunch” only on Saturday, Sunday, and National holidays, where open hours are 12:00-16:30 .The lunch costs JPY5,500 (USD58 or so), including sale tax, and it offers appetizer, main dish, dessert, coffee, starting Champagne, and unlimited wines. It seems that that is for promotion, by which the restaurant is attracting potential dinner customers with affordable wines and good foods.It is a best buy in Tokyo wine restaurants, I think. I visited Chinois Shibuya on May 5th around noon. 65-70 seats became full at 1:00PM. In case of your visit, thus, reservation is strongly recommended.
Wines are not pricy (affordable :) ) though, the variation was well-designed from light to heavy, from thin to thick, and from fruity to dry. The glasses vary from white wine glasses, Burgundy glass, Bordeaux glass and so on. If my memory is correct, the order was as follows.

  • Champagne: Jose Michel et Fils, Rose Brut
  • 1st white: Gatão Vinho Verde (Portuguese light and thin)
  • 2nd white: Sileni Sauvignon Blanc (NewZealander’s fruity one)
  • 3rd white: VINUS Chardonnay Vin de Pays d’Oc (Yummy Chardonnay)
  • 1st red: De Bortoli Windy Peak Pinot Noir 2007 (Auzee’s gift, served as well-chilled)
  • 2nd red: Recorba Duero Cosecha 2006 (from Spain)
  • 3rd red: TERRASSES DE GUILHEM CABERNET-SAUVIGNON (from Languedoc)

I asked several extra glasses of the above wines.

One thing noteworthy is that the food was also marvelous. The selection of appetizer and main dishes is very flexible. I’ll recommend “foie gras rice served in a bowl” for main dish.



It's a perfect day, isn't it?