Esquisse

Perched nine stories above the sophisticated streets of Ginza is one of Tokyo’s leading French restaurants. This 46-seat establishment is run by Lionel Beccat, who hails from the beautiful French island of Corsica. He was awarded France’s highest honor for service to agriculture in 2011, just one year before taking stewardship of the kitchen at Esquisse. His celebrity status on the Tokyo food scene leads to frequent jet-setting collaborations with famous restaurants in Japan and abroad, and brings droves of diners to his stylish restaurant throughout the week. His experience cooking in both France and Japan has given him a healthy respect for the traditions and ingredients of each nation, which he infuses into his ever-changing set menus. His dishes are constructed with a striking use of shape and color which makes his ingredients pop against the clean white plates. Notable examples include his outstanding terrine de fromages, and an amuse-bouche using tempura shrimp with coriander sauce.