It's a Friday night when you feel like it would be a shame to go straight home. At times like these, it's nice to have a place that makes you think, "Oh, I'll try that place." It has a wide selection of alcohol, serves delicious light snacks, has a stylish atmosphere, and is reasonably priced...Bicoque, located in Kagurazaka, a district chock-full of famous French restaurants, is a bistro and wine bar that meets all of these criteria. There's no need to worry about wine or French food. Just drop in by yourself!

Bicoque is a restaurant where you can enjoy organic wine and cuisine prepared by French chef François. There are always around six bottles of organic red and white wine lined up at the counter on the first floor, so you can choose from them. Don't worry if you don't know much about wine. Just tell sommelier Saito your preferences and he'll prepare the perfect glass (starting at 900 yen). For those who don't drink much alcohol, try cider or soft drinks like grape juice.


Once you've decided on your drink, it's time for the food. The menu is written on a chalkboard, but François says, "The menu changes daily, so it's not like there's a menu (laughs). For customers who arrive early or regulars, we sometimes customize the menu as they like." While the bistro menu is full of classics like pate de campagne, olives, cheese platters, and mussels steamed in white wine, one dish you definitely want to try when you visit Bicoque is the "Tarte Flambée." Tarte flambée is a thin, pizza-like dish made with an extremely thin crust topped with vegetables, cheese, ham, and more. It's not as heavy as pizza and is easy to snack on, making it the perfect dish for solo drinking or a second stop at a bar. You can choose the size (half size/from 800 yen) and the type of toppings (usually around four types), so you'll want to try a variety of flavors. The "Summer Vegetable Tarte Flambée" (full size/1,800 yen) is a dish made with fragrant rye crust topped with summer vegetables like corn and zucchini, and plenty of homemade bacon.






I was intrigued by the seasonal and daily changing dishes, but the desserts were also tempting! There are also secret menu sweets made by François himself, such as "Apple and Cinnamon Tarte Flambée" (half size/from 800 yen), "Venezuelan Chocolate Mousse", and "Walnut Pound Cake". It's hard to decide whether to finish off with a sweet wine or a dessert.

The second floor has comfortable sofas and table seating, so it's also recommended for groups. The comfortable intimacy of a private bistro and wine bar means you'll want to return again tonight.



【Store Information】
Bicoque
Address: 19-9 Iwatocho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-6280-8260
Hours: 7:00 PM - 3:00 AM (Tuesday - Saturday), 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Sunday)
Closed: Mondays