With its tablet-menu ordering system and counter seating, this lively French brasserie is a cheerfully casual spot to drop in for a glass of wine or a full meal - a refreshing contrast to stuffy formal French restaurants. They serve a good range of bistro fare - well prepared and budget-friendly - along with a wide selection of wines from around the world.

The extensive food menu starts with promising appetizers like "sour cream, pancetta and onion tarte flambe", "beef offal stewed in red wine", and "scrambled eggs with French black truffles". Next come numerous salads, roast meats, grilled fish, fried fish, and several lobster dishes. Truffles are a common theme, including a truffle ice cream.

During a recent visit we enjoyed a very good braised lamb shoulder with cous cous, served with tasty root vegetables, spicy harissa and a sweet chutney. Our Salade Nicoise side dish featured very crisp green beans, just enough anchovies, and an herb-infused vinaigrette that brought it all to life. The creamy "salad greens" soup incorporated bacon and poached egg to good effect.

If you're in the mood for wine you can choose from a whopping 25 wines by the glass, all priced at under Y1,000. There are numerous after-dinner drinks as well - cognac, marc, grappa, Madeira and several dessert wines.

Like many popular restaurants, the noise level can be fairly high, though less so during off-peak hours. The restaurant is conveniently open all afternoon so there's no need to rush your lunch. They even boast that they're "great for daytime drinking"! (There is a two-hour time limit though, so not all-day drinking.)

Note that food descriptions on the tablet menu are in Japanese only (although you can change some of the button captions to English). Wine names are listed in their native languages.