Hyperlocal Tokyo

The food was absolutely delicious, as you'd expect from a high-end establishment! While the main dishes tend to feature a lot of shrimp, it's not a problem if you're allergic or don't like shellfish. The restaurant is happy to modify the menu to suit your preferences and dietary needs, so you can relax and enjoy your meal. The atmosphere and service were also top-notch, making it a perfect choice for a date or a meal with friends. They offer seasonal menus featuring fresh, in-season ingredients, so I'm looking forward to trying their autumn menu next!

**Philippe Mill** is a French restaurant located in Roppongi Midtown, Tokyo. Named after a two-Michelin-starred chef from the Champagne region, this restaurant offers authentic French cuisine, adhering to traditional French culinary principles. I was treated to lunch here by my boyfriend for my birthday. The interior is spacious and dominated by white, creating a very clean and elegant atmosphere. It's a stark contrast to the bustling city of Tokyo, exuding a sense of solemnity. **Course Menu:** * Petit Sale * Amuse-bouche of the Day * Marbled French Foie Gras with Granny Smith Chutney from Nagasaki Prefecture and Ratafia Jelly * Slowly Roasted Iberico Pork with Lentil Risotto, Jus Sauce, and Herb Oil * Chef's Recommended Dessert * Coffee and Petit Fours **Petit Sale** This was a small, bite-sized dish with a hint of seaweed flavor, similar to a cracker, and another bite-sized dish with a distinct foie gras flavor. Both were meant to be eaten by hand. We enjoyed them while sipping our first drinks. **Amuse-bouche of the Day** This was a pumpkin soup. The rich sweetness of the pumpkin and the buttery aroma were simply irresistible. It was a high-quality soup with a lingering flavor. **Marbled French Foie Gras with Granny Smith Chutney from Nagasaki Prefecture and Ratafia Jelly** This was a pate-like dish. Small pieces of foie gras were topped with a refreshing jelly and fruit paste. The marbled foie gras was truly exceptional. Just a small bite released a wave of rich foie gras flavor in my mouth. The tangy paste was a perfect complement. **Slowly Roasted Iberico Pork with Lentil Risotto, Jus Sauce, and Herb Oil** The Iberico pork roast was incredibly tender. The refreshing aroma of the herb oil was delightful. Despite having no fat, the pork was surprisingly soft. It was incredibly sweet and delicious. **Recommended Dessert** Since I had made a reservation for my birthday, they brought out a beautiful cake. This cake was absolutely adorable! The presentation was very elegant, as expected from a high-end French restaurant. A pink cake was adorned with a chocolate butterfly. No girl could resist this cake. They cut it into bite-sized pieces for easy eating and served it with ice cream. The presentation after cutting was also beautiful, showcasing their meticulous attention to detail. **Coffee and Petit Fours** We were served a chocolate and cassis petit tart. It was a different flavor from the cake. I was completely satisfied. The drinks, food, and service were all excellent. The birthday cake was especially adorable and really boosted my mood. I highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion for girls. I encourage everyone to try it out.

A semi-luxury French restaurant in Roppongi Midtown. It's an excellent restaurant that I'm sure I'll revisit. I'd like to take a closer look at what kind of influence the Hiramatsu Group, which has been in turmoil for the past few years, has had on this restaurant. I wondered what direction the restaurant would take after being acquired by a pachinko company, but looking at the financial statements, it seems they've been doing well in terms of both sales and profits thanks to raising prices and holding attractive events! From a customer's perspective, it's safe to say that the quality of the ingredients and the price have definitely become less cost-effective than before. Therefore, unless something other than the quality of the food has improved compared to before, I think it's safe to conclude that we should avoid using Hiramatsu Group restaurants in the future, not just this one. Actually, I went there intending to give a scathing review, but in conclusion, it was a good restaurant. Regardless of Roppongi, all of Midtown is difficult to get to by car. The driveways and the paths from easy-to-park sidewalks to restaurants are all inconvenient. It's a large facility, so it's designed with people who come by public transportation as the main target, and it's unavoidable that the layout will be geared towards the general public. It's hard to enter from the Garden Terrace side, so it's best to simply enter from the Gaien Higashi side and move from one end of the facility to the other. Take the elevator or escalator to the 4th floor. There are only two restaurants on the 4th floor of the Garden Terrace, so you shouldn't get lost even if it's your first time. Until the reservation time, I waited on the chairs in the hallway. It's a bit lacking in tension to hear the staff chatting from the main dining room. The main dining room has a layout where you're likely to be dissatisfied if you're not seated by the window. If you're concerned about this, you should only visit if you have a window seat guaranteed when you make your reservation. When I'm seated in a bad spot, I make it a point to leave without spending much money. This time, I was seated by the window, so my wallet loosened up. It's a champagne-pushing restaurant, so I ordered a glass of champagne for a toast and a set of four glasses of champagne. The course was ¥24,200 including tax. It's around ¥30,000 for non-alcoholic drinks and around ¥40,000 if you drink alcohol by the glass. Five glasses of champagne is too carbonated for me, so I personally think it's better to mix in some still wine. Of course, it says on the menu that you can order this way. Also, when ordering a lot of champagne, it's better to have still water instead of sparkling water. We didn't think about it and ordered Perrier, and ended up in a carbonated hell. I didn't like the amuse-bouche. I wonder if this old-fashioned amuse-bouche system is even necessary in modern dining. The pumpkin soup was thick and lukewarm, somewhere between room temperature and body temperature. I don't understand what they were aiming for with this baby food-like consistency, but maybe this viscosity and temperature are the best way to bring out the sweetness of the ingredients? I lack knowledge about ingredients and couldn't fully grasp the chef's intentions. The shrimp tartare was ordinary, but I hear that the presentation is popular with women. Maybe this kind of plating is the reason? The halibut was delicious with a sauce I really liked. I was impressed by the mosaic and spots, wondering if they were also popular with women. The lobster was refined and well-made, the best I've had at a restaurant that insists on writing the ingredients as “blue.” Of course, restaurants that don't unnecessarily advertise their ingredients are tastier. I didn't like the beef or the squab for the meat course. The squab had a dry stuffing and wasn't well-made. It's still a difficult time for Western-style restaurants to handle Japanese beef well. The dessert had a vague flavor, like they weren't sure what they wanted to serve, but it wasn't bad. As is true for all of the high-priced Hiramatsu restaurants, the elderly male floor staff create a relaxed atmosphere in the restaurant. I think this is the most significant and positive difference from other French restaurants. In terms of not having any unpleasant experiences due to the restaurant's fault, it's one of the best restaurants for young people to experience French cuisine. Also, unless you have a companion who is extremely critical of the food, you can take anyone there without the host losing face. It's a valuable restaurant that occupies a unique position, so I rate it 4.5 stars as an excellent restaurant.

I finally got to try this place that I'd been wanting to visit for a while, for my birthday. The food was delicious, of course, but it was also beautifully presented, making each dish a delight to enjoy. The final cake was adorable and really brightened my mood! I'd love to come back for lunch next time.

I made a reservation and visited. I think it's a great place for a date or a proposal. **What I liked:** * Although there were some minor service hiccups, I had a comfortable experience. * The food was consistently good, which gave me a sense of reassurance. Every dish was rich (not in terms of flavor intensity, but in the sense of using abundant, high-quality ingredients), leading to a high level of satisfaction. I was too full to try the cheese, which is a bit of a regret, so I'd like to visit again.