Esquisse
Tokyo
At a glance
Esquisse, located in the stylish district of Ginza in Tokyo, is an elegant dining destination where diners can explore a sophisticated and innovative approach to cuisine. Positioned on the 9th floor of the Royal Crystal Ginza, Esquisse offers a serene and contemporary atmosphere where guests are invited to delve into a world of culinary artistry.
The restaurant is well-regarded for its thoughtful and creative menus, blending modern interpretations with classic influences. Built on a foundation of high-quality, often locally-sourced ingredients, each dish is presented with precision and care, embodying a philosophy that balances innovation with respect for traditional techniques.
Esquisse brings together an exceptional team, who not only understand the nuances of taste and texture but also weave stories behind every dish, creating an engaging dining experience. This establishment is ideal for those who appreciate meticulous craftsmanship and wish to experience an evening of refined culinary exploration.
Set within the bustling urban environment of Tokyo, Esquisse offers an escape into a unique culinary realm. Whether for a special occasion or a treat to explore contemporary cuisine, it promises a memorable environment that caters to those seeking both intimacy and sophistication.
Reviews
I absolutely loved almost everything, but a few standouts for me: - the dish "glimmer", especially in combination with the wine - just beautiful! - the dish "tumult". Great combination, and stunning to look at - the dish "pleasure". Wonderfully presented the way the shapes look against the white plate and of course delicious. I smiled when I looked at the plate. The dishes meantioned above are my pictures. I do have to mention the wine pairings/the sommelier especially. I am by no means an expert, but I try to eat at 2-5 michelin starred restaurants per year and this is by far the best pairing I have had. Also had 2 of my "bucketlist-wines" (the Latife and Chateau D'yquem). But even with these 2 on the menu, the white pairings with the first dishes all knocked my socks of! My only (small) opinion regarding the food that could maybe be better was putting the abalone and octopus after one another. If you have some trouble with the "chewy" texture (as I do) I would have preferred them maybe separated with something else in between. Both were delicious though! The venue was beautiful, but I would maybe have appreciated seeing a bit more of the view, there was some frosting/texturing of the windows that I found unneccessary, but that is probably a mattetal of taste. In all, a fantastic experience and I appreciate them hosting me as a solo diner.
Like how the chef uses Japanese and French techniques and ingredients. The meal was very nicely done. The service was great overall, however, for a 2 stars we were not a fan of how they didn’t serve the dish at the same time. Understand that there maybe something not anticipated, such as guest getting up to the restroom and so on. However, serving a dish to an empty chair is not what I would expect from this level. Having said that, the states were very accommodating and professional so may not be fair to judge them on just one incident: the food itself was greatly curated. And beautifully served.
Find yourself a special occasion and book this magical culinary experience. The chef and restaurant manager delivered a spectacular lunch that we would happily fly nine hours for again in the future. The carefully crafted flavors, immaculate service and incredibly delicate presentation make this a meal to remember.
I finally had the chance to visit ESqUISSE, the two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Tokyo, for lunch. In all honesty, the experience might be a bit beyond my palate and understanding. The wine pairing consisted of solid mid-range selections, but nothing particularly memorable. While the cooking techniques were generally impressive, I felt that several dishes were let down by ingredients that didn’t seem at their absolute peak freshness on the day of my visit. For example, the White Asparagus with Surf Clam — as someone who loves clams, I was disappointed that the bold flavour of the white asparagus completely overpowered the delicate umami of the surf clam. Similarly, the Scallops and fresh Mushrooms dish was visually stunning, and the scallop itself was perfectly cooked with a beautiful sear. However, both the scallop lacked that vibrant, fresh umami depth I had hoped for. That said, my clear favourite of the meal was the Tachiuo (beltfish). The skin was masterfully crisped and well-seasoned, while the flesh had a wonderfully tender texture — far better than the usual tachiuo dishes I’ve tried. It was the standout moment of the lunch.
Esquisse is worthy of their michelin rating. Each dish unique and the wine pairing was impeccable. So hard to pick a favorite, but the duck and scallop dishes were among the best. Many of the ingredients are locally sourced in Japan and we were happy to finally eat at a French restaurant that didn’t drench everything in truffles. Would definitely want to dine here when we visit Tokyo again.
