A French Love Affair With L'Auberge de L'ill Tokyo...

Similar in name to its famed three-star sister restaurant in France, one cannot help but be captivated by the allure of this relatively new kid on the block. Housed in a colonial Georgian style bungalow, the interior of L'Auberge de L'ill is an abundance of opulent furnishings with a grand horseshoe-shaped stairway leading down to a dining area adorned with cornices, hanging chandeliers and portraits of haughty aristocrats.

A classic mini English upholstered seat was even offered to my arm candy:P

Our feast commenced with a trio of light appetisers comprising of a mini pizza, cod croquette and salmon mousse. Presented handsomely on a silver platter, these mini but potent morsels stoked our appetites for more to come. The mushroom mousse with almond flakes was next. An intriguing cross between a soup and a mousse, the essence of wild mushrooms came through beautifully. The prawn cannelloni with zucchini and beetroot chips was no pushover too. With every mouthful, the bisque was just gushing with the sweet aromatic flavours of the crustaceans.

For the main event, the pork which my other half insisted that I should partake, was sinfully delicious. The layer of accompanying fat was essential to create that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, sans the gooey sensation that is sometimes present in fatty meats. The meat was so incredibly tender that a spoon would suffice. As for me, I went with the cod. Given that my love affair with the fish at Aimée Vibert was still vivid in my mind, it was a grave mistake. However, having said that, it was still a commendable dish, notably the truffle atop the fish;)

Feeling indulgent, we decided to go for the cheese platter before the dessert course. A good assortment of dried fruits and honey was readily available to make it all the more enjoyable.

The forte in French kitchen, which has produced many renowned pattisiers, is in its pastries and sweets. And this restaurant affirms that theory. The yoghurt with red wine gelatin was definitely in a class of its own but the runaway hit was the cherry-filled crullers which came with a shot-glass of chocolate dip. The dollop of accompanying cherry sorbet gave it an uplifting tanginess.

In a city where majority of its restaurants shun youth, this upscale establishment offers private rooms at no extra charge for parents with little tots. So, to all the tai-tais with kids in tow, book early to avoid disappointment.

L'auberge De L'ill
Address: 1-6-4 Nishi-Azabu , Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: 03-5785-8880
Michelin: *