美味しくサービスもいいフレンチレストラン : Quietude

Recently, I visited the Miracle Escher Exhibition, though I'm still unsure why it's so popular. On a weekend at the Ueno Forest Museum, I encountered a wait time of over two hours (laughs). I decided to pass that day and took a weekday off to visit instead. Even then, I had to wait 40 minutes. Maurits Cornelis Escher is a Dutch artist known for his woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints. I'm quite fond of lithography, so I wanted to see his work at least once. However, just like the previous scary art exhibition, it felt like it was all about the title; many attendees didn’t seem particularly interested in the paintings. Also, I often feel that the Ueno Forest Museum has a structurally compact design that makes it prone to crowding...

That aside, I made a reservation by phone and came here for lunch at "Quietude". It's just a 2-3 minute walk from Inaricho Station and about a 6-7 minute walk from Ueno Station. This is a French restaurant. The name "Quietude" apparently means "peace of mind" in French. What a lovely name.

Chef Araki, who opened this place independently, has worked at Hiramatsu in Paris, which is featured in the Michelin Guide, and also at the super-popular two-star Michelin French restaurant "Esquisse" in Ginza. Naturally, I have yet to visit Esquisse myself, but I follow over ten reviewers who have been, and I dream of visiting this French restaurant someday. The only experience I have is at "Esquisse Sank", located in Tokyu Plaza Ginza, where I had their desserts (laughs).

I digress, but Chef Araki's French restaurant has been open for about three years. It might be due to its location, but it doesn’t seem to have too many reviews. However, it often gets fully booked for lunch on weekends, so it might not be the type of place you can easily just walk into. If you want to guarantee a spot for a date, I recommend making a reservation. I could have ventured in casually, but given the distance from the museum and the heat outside, I didn’t want to risk being turned away after walking there, so I secured a reservation by phone.

For lunch, there are two course options:

• Menu A - JPY 1500
Marinated hamachi with Kamakura vegetables salad
Roast chicken with homemade spices
Butter rice
Petit dessert
Coffee or tea

• Menu B - JPY 3000
Fried corn and pistachios
Marinated hamachi with Kamakura vegetables salad
Salmon, snow crab, and turnip
Roasted beef outside skirt with special red wine sauce
Bread
Freshly baked chocolate tart with raspberry sauce
Coffee or tea

Menu A looked relatively light with somewhat less French elements, so without hesitation, I chose

Menu B - JPY 3000.

Drinking a favorite white wine during lunch on a weekday feels indulgent but heavenly. While looking at the wine list, I selected

Stratum Sauvignon Blanc Glass - JPY 780.

Now, the staff brought the Stratum bottle, showed me the label, and opened it. After pouring the wine, they left the bottle on the counter for a while. Personally, I appreciate this service. I've mentioned before in a review, perhaps about "Salt by Luke Mangan" in Marunouchi, how much I appreciate when staff show the wine label to customers before pouring.

By the way, the Stratum Sauvignon Blanc 2016 is a New Zealand wine sold online for around JPY 2000 per bottle. The winery, Sherwood Estate in Marlborough, New Zealand, is certified as a sustainable wine-growing establishment. I’m still figuring out what that means (laughs). Flavor-wise, it had a somewhat spicy yet fruity profile, easy to drink even categorized as dry, and I found it quite pleasant. I thought it would be a good choice to buy for home as well.

While enjoying my drink, the first dish arrived:
Fried Corn and Pistachio.
Instead of being placed in the center of the plate, it was served on the left edge. As an art lover, I found this intriguing and appealing.
The staff explained that the seasoning includes black pepper and cardamom. Simple yet crisp, I could truly taste the flavors of the corn and pistachios in the fritter. It was delicious.

Next was the Marinated Hamachi and Kamakura Vegetables Salad, an elaborate dish that I rarely have a chance to enjoy during busy times. The hamachi came in about three pieces, and all the Kamakura vegetables were fresh, crunchy, and bursting with flavor. I appreciate restaurants where the vegetables taste good. The dressing had a thousand island style but was perfectly tangy and refreshing for the summer.

Bread arrived around the same time as the appetizers, warm and pleasant to eat.

Then came the Salmon, Snow Crab, and Turnip. The French specialty "foam" made its appearance (laughs). I still don’t entirely grasp the concept of this French foam, but I always find it interesting.
This foam, according to the staff, is made from clam broth. I could indeed taste the clam flavor in the foam! Amazing. The turnip on the right was cooked but retained a nice crunch, while the salmon in the middle was cooked