Le Petit Tonneau

• Review
• Tuesday, December 18, 2007

    After a full day of hitting the shops in Ginza, perhaps weighted down with those brand items from the sleek flagship stores like Prada, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, but still in the mood for a more European vibe then Le Petit Tounneau may be just what you’re looking for. Located in Kudanshita, this authentic Parisian-style bistro is a very popular restaurant with a straight up, hearty menu and an extensive wine list, better than many other restaurants in the city. Despite the intense competition between French restaurants in Tokyo, Le Petit Tounneau has maintained its solid reputation for years and is filled most nights. While many French restaurants in Tokyo have an overly formal feel, the atmosphere is here is cheery with very friendly waiters bantering with customers and offering knowledgeable advice about wine pairings and daily specials. You really feel that you can take it easy here and eat, drink and chat at a relaxed, unhurried pace. The award-winning head chef, Philippe Batton, has created a lovely menu, simple but meticulously prepared and the course sets provide the opportunity to sample different tasty dishes. The tartare steak and fresh tuna and bacon brochette are just two of examples from the menu that keeps patrons coming back. The wine selection is excellent with a concentration of wines from the south of France. Many wines are also available by the glass. On weekends, the restaurant has a relaxing afternoon bunch that is popular with the many French ex-pats living in the city. Le Petite Tounneau is located in Kudanshita on the Tozai, Hanzomon or Shinjuku subway lines, about 5 minutes from the station.