Foodle

Celebrating a Friend's Birthday at Chez Inno, a Long-Established French Restaurant in KyobashiOn May 28, 2026, I was thrilled to finally visit a proper French restaurant after a long time. My friend, Ukki-chan, had her birthday in April, and her only request for a gift was, "Treat me to something delicious." You got it!I had seen on social media a while back that the taste and service here exceeded expectations for the price, and I decided it was finally time to visit this place (I know, dramatic!).Chez Inno is located on the first floor of the Meiji Kyobashi Building. I used to visit this building frequently when it was the Meiji Seika Building for work. After I retired from my job, I went to say goodbye to someone who was transferring, and when I mentioned how nice it would be to eat here, I was told, "That’s a bit too much to ask!" This has been a dream restaurant for me ever since.The interior has high ceilings and beautiful decor, making it feel like I had stepped into another country. I found myself looking around in awe. A single white rose adorned our table.Now, for the drinks. It’s a celebration, after all! I ordered R.H. COUTIER AAMBONNAY GRAND CRU CUVÉE for JPY 2,420. I left the selection to the staff. The unique fermentation aroma of the champagne was subtle, and I felt the flavor of the grapes was rich. This made the subsequent dishes shine, and it was truly delicious.Next came the amuse-bouche: marinated Fukui salmon. I was surprised to see just a thin slice of salmon, but the flavor was intense. Even though it was called marinated, it tasted more like sashimi. The sauce accompanying it was delightful, but I forgot what it was. Then came the bread. It was delicious, but I limited myself to just a little, knowing I didn’t want to fill up on bread.For the appetizer, I had the lobster: Lobster Gateau Style, Côte d'Or. When I previewed the menu, I thought this was the only option for the appetizer. I forgot to ask what "Côte d'Or style" meant. The vibrant green sauce, orange sauce, and cream-colored sauce each had different flavors, and I enjoyed the variations along with the lobster. The crab garnish on top was also incredibly tasty.For the fish course, I could choose from three options: Sea Bass with Basil, Sole Braisée with Royal Sauce, or Kinmedai with Saffron. I chose the sole. When it comes to French fish dishes, sole is a classic. Even the character from "Tensai Bakabon" said that sole is the epitome of French cuisine.Oh, the sauce was magnificent! It had a flavor reminiscent of Japanese cuisine, with the essence of fish and vegetables (mushrooms?) coming through. I believe it could easily be served in a kaiseki restaurant. This dish transformed the thin fish into a beautifully rich plate. I was completely satisfied.For the main course, I was recommended a wine to pair with my dish. The sommelier said, "I would usually recommend a robust Bordeaux, but since you prefer something lighter, I suggest a Burgundy Pinot Noir: René Lequin-Colin Santenay Vieilles Vignes 2021 for JPY 1,980." It had a unique flavor that complemented the impactful main dish.The main course was a lamb pie baked in the style of Maria Callas. For an additional JPY 3,300 on the lunch course menu, I could upgrade to this specialty of Chez Inno. It was beautiful... I could say I chose this restaurant just to eat this dish. Lamb, foie gras, and truffle. As a child, I watched the cooking show "Cooking Paradise" and saw Ryuko enjoying French cuisine. I felt like I was watching a fantasy movie.Half a century later, I was finally enjoying such exquisite dishes as an adult. It was a moving experience, and I felt so lucky to be able to eat such delicious food. I know, it sounds exaggerated (laughs). I had mentioned during the reservation that we were celebrating a friend's birthday, and they prepared a lovely birthday plate for us.Then came the dessert cart, where they carefully cut and plated the desserts. I ended up with almost everything, but I thought they could have been a bit thicker, especially the two in front of me. They could have been three times as thick!While enjoying our meal and chatting, other customers left, and the restaurant was cleared out, leaving just us. The restroom was also lovely.Unfortunately, I had some trouble hearing, and the staff's enunciation wasn’t very clear, making it hard to catch the explanations of the dishes. If they had spoken a bit more clearly, I could have asked more detailed questions about the dishes.However, the casual and friendly service from the president, who came to greet us, was delightful. He took many photos, and some of them turned out surprisingly well, making for great memories.The food was outstanding, the atmosphere was wonderful, and the service was very attentive, maintaining a comfortable distance (though a bit more clarity in communication would have been perfect). The total for the lunch course was JPY 15,950, with the glass of wine at the price mentioned above, and a service charge of 13%, bringing the total to just over JPY 50,000. The satisfaction exceeded the price.It’s not too far, so I definitely want to come back for another meal.It was a great meal! Less