KM - One of Daikanyama's finest French

Here's another restaurant a few friends took me for my birthday. Cuisine Francais KM.

KM (pronounced Kah-Em) is a fairly traditional French restaurant by Kiyoshi Miyashiro in the upscale Daikanyama area. It's been a local favorite since 1987. The interior is refined; the crisp white tablecloths and chairs contrast well with the dark oak floors and furnishings. Similar to MONNA LISA in Ebisu, KM is very prim and proper. 

The presentation of the dishes were also beautiful - not as adventurous and daring like MONNA LISA, but more authentic and maybe just a little bit old-fashioned. The flavors at KM are a lot more robust and defined, I found. The French dishes here are heavier, like a full-body red wine, whereas MONNA LISA's dishes are simpler and more delicate, like a nice sparkling. We had eel, quail, foie gras, lamb... typical French yet delicious, and definitely a little heavy on the stomach. It really depends on preference, I suppose, but I prefer the lighter MONNA LISA taste. 

Everything from the appetizers to the entrees were in fact delicious, but the staff service doesn't match the level of food - the only unfortunate point for this place. Some of the waiters had difficulty explaining the food and wine and had to keep going back to the kitchen to confirm. So we ended up confused about a few items on the plate. There is a difference between discovering new flavors and trying to figure them out. I guess if you're paying over 70 bucks per head, you want to be certain about everything. The dessert plate is definitely more toned down at KM. Good, but not super exciting in terms of variation or color. 

KM is a great place for a quiet anniversary dinner with a girlfriend or a refined meal with your parents, but it's also definitely a nice place for a posh girls night out. (Photosource: gnavi.jp)

Cuisine Francais KM

Shibuya-ku, Ebisu Nishi 1-30-14-102 Echo Daikanyama

Open 12:00-15:00, 18:00-23:00. Closed Mondays

Tel: 03.5784.5883

http://premium.gnavi.co.jp/g959000/

Monna Lisa Smile

For that special occasion with that special someone, MONNA LISA is the place to go. It’s a wonderful French restaurant in Ebisu (with another location in Marunouchi). My best friend took me here for my birthday 2 years ago and I absolutely loved it! It is definitely one of the higher-end restaurants in Tokyo but I think for the ambiance, food, and location, the visit is worth every penny (yen). Like the patrons who are all very composed and well-dressed, the dishes here are works of art. In terms of food presentation, this place ranks in the highest echelons. Some of the plates are just too pretty that you feel bad devouring it all up with your fork.

I had the 10,000 yen B course menu when I went, which included an amuse, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees (fish and meat), a cheese plate, a huge dessert plate, and caffe to finish. It was devine. But let me just say that the 6,800 yen A course will be PLENTY. I thought I was going to explode having the B course. Just so you know, there is also a 13,000 yen C menu as well as a Degustation (tasting) menu for 15,000. I think you'd have to be a starving athlete to finish them. Here is their current lineup for Course B:

Menu B
*Small size Appetizer
*Tartare of baked eggplant and seafood
*Galette of calamari and marinated vegetables, cappuccino style
*Risotto of grilled “Ayu” with summer truffle flavor
*Sauteed spiced veal and asparagus
Or　
*Langoustine-stuffed pintade, red pepper sauce
*Assorted cheese or Fruit soup
*Today's special dessert
*Coffee or Tea, Herb tea + sweets

The dessert plate is by far the best I have ever had. Maybe it was because it was my birthday? I dunno, but I had 8 petit gateaux on my plate. It was like a dream come true. (Photo source: Monna Lisa)


MONNA LISA EBISU
Shibuya-ku, Ebisu 1-14-4
Tel: 03.5458.1887
Open 11:30-14:00, 17:30-21:30 daily
http://www.monnalisa.co.jp/index.html