Chez Mortier

Set on the 1st floor of Hiroo Garden, Chez Mortier offers a classic French dining room framed by large windows looking out onto an inner garden courtyard. Crisp tablecloths and a grand piano set an unhurried, measured tone, making it an easy place to step away from daily bustle for a leisurely meal.

A longstanding à la carte favorite is the crab and shrimp pilaf served with sauce américaine. The savory rice, sweet crab, and bite of small shrimp come together neatly, lifted by the rich, shellfish depth of the accompanying sauce poured over the top. The broader menu leans proudly into Japan’s classic yoshoku heritage, featuring hearty braises and meats alongside aromatic curries, such as bone-in Nanbu chicken curry from Iwate and Kuroge Wagyu braised in red wine Burgundy-style, prepared following time-honored methods passed down from Chuotei.

Lunch courses bring in seasonal vegetable potages, fresh fish plates, and meat courses, well suited to a quiet afternoon glass of wine. Lingering afterward over mille-feuille, cake, or organic coffee while watching the courtyard greenery is very much part of the ritual here.