Sometimes the best things happen to you when you are not looking for them. That is exactly how I felt after randomly stumbling across Montée in Nishi-waseda.
This French bistro is almost unnoticeable from the main street. It is quite upsetting to think that I walked by so many times without knowing it was right there.
Montée‘s interior is tiny, there are just about 12 seats. The décor is simple but it feels very warm and cozy. The walls are covered with French posters and you can spot Eiffel tower miniatures in pretty much every corner of the room. There are even some French songs playing on speakers.
I went to Montée a couple of times for lunch and still can’t believe how affordable the lunch menu is. For 1,265 yen you get a starter and a main. It is cheap for French food of this quality. An extra 550 yen will also get you a drink and a dessert. So overall for a little less than 2,000 yen (taxes included!) you can get a full course that won’t leave you hungry.
Porto Chicken Liver Pâté
My favorite starter at Montée is the Porto Chicken Liver Pâté. The helping is generous and it is accentuated with a dash of honey and some dried fruits. If you are into sweet and savory combinations, this is to die for!
Meat terrine (or shall I say Pâté de Campagne)
The Pâté de Campagne is another great starter. It is hearty and very authentic. It is a perfect way to start the meal! If you are not into sweets and savory combinations, I would recommend this starter.
Salmon and Onion Quiche
The Salmon and Onion Quiche is also a nice option. It is probably the best pick if you are not really into pâté or cold meat.
Chicken Poêlée with Butter and Herb Sauce
The piece of chicken was big and well cooked. I would have liked the meat a bit more tender, but I was still satisfied. The butter and herb sauce was absolutely amazing, but a few more veggies would have been appreciated.
Stewed Beef Belly with Couscous
The Stewed Beef Belly with Couscous was wonderful. The meat was tasty and cooked to perfection. The sauce was also divine; every bite was extremely satisfying. I will order it again on my next visit! But once more, the serving of vegetables was a bit small.
Tart of the day (Yonashi Pear Tart)
The Yonashi Pear Tart was good but it left me unimpressed. It was a nice dessert, but nothing exceptional.
Mont Blanc
On the other hand, the Mont Blanc was very good and satisfying. It was perfect to close the meal, but, unfortunately, it is a seasonal item.
Crème Caramel
You can rarely go wrong with a Crème Caramel. Montée did a great job with this French classic. It was very simple but well done.
If you get the dessert set, you will get coffee or tea. They actually serve espresso, cappuccino and café au lait as well as a selection of teas. It is a nice upgrade from the usual ice or hot black coffee.
Overall
All in all, Montée is an amazing lunch option that will provide you with quality food for less than 2,000 yen. I have not been there yet for dinner, but it is only a matter of time.
I have been praising L’Amitié, which is another wonderful and cheap authentic French bistro in Takadanobaba, but Montée is a great contender. Actually, it is much easier to get a seat at Montée (but I highly recommend you make a reservation beforehand) so I find it somewhat more convenient. If you are looking for affordable and casual French cuisine, Montée is definitely worth a try.
Montée
Opening hours:
Open from Monday to Saturday (closed the second Monday of the month) from 11:30 to 14:00 for lunch and from 18:00 to 21:00 for dinner (may be subject to change due to the Coronavirus)
Website (Japanese only): click here
Address: 2-chome-4-16 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0061
Telephone: 03-6380-2528
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