Tomate Farcie and More: 7 Gorgeous Lunch Plates at Bistro Quatre Avril in Tokyo

A cozy lunch at my favorite neighborhood gem, Bistro Quatre Avril in Fudomae. Loving their hearty, authentic French home cooking. Let the main dishes speak for themselves through these photos!

❶ June 5, 2025

🍅Tomate farcie à la provençale avec riz pilaf 

トマトファルシ（ひき肉詰め）プロヴァンス風 ピラフ添え

Provencal meat-stuffed tomato (tomate farcie) served with a side of pilaf rice. Simple, rustic, and absolutely delicious.

❷ June 28, 2025

Surpreme de volaille sauté sauce creme d'estragon moutarde avec riz pilaf

鶏ムネ肉のソテー クリームエストラゴンソース ピラフ添え

Sautéed chicken breast with a creamy estragon (tarragon) sauce, served with a side of pilaf rice. So tender, flavorful, and comforting. 

❸ July 5, 2025

Poulet des Caraibes façon des mamans Antillaises avec riz pilaf

鶏肉のカリブ仕立て 現地のママスタイル ピラフ添え

Caribbean-style chicken "local mom style," served with a side of pilaf rice. Wonderfully bright, zesty, and delicious!

❹ August 21, 2025

Steak haché aux deux fromages sauce provençale avec riz pilaf

ハンバーグステーキ 2種のチーズ乗せ プロヴァンスソース ピラフ添え

Hamburg steak topped with two types of melted cheese and Provencal sauce, served with a side of pilaf rice. Thick, incredibly tender, savory, and so satisfying.

❺ September 2, 2025

Bouchée à la reine au blanc de poulet et sa purée de pomme

👑ブッシェ ア ラ レンヌ（女王様の一口）マッシュポテト添え

Bouchée à la reine (puff pastry case filled with cream sauce) over a bed of smooth mashed potatoes. Flaky, creamy, and beautifully elegant. 

❻ September 6, 2025

Boulette de viande à la mediterrantéenne avec riz pilaf

肉団子の地中海風（トマトソース）ピラフ添え

Mediterranean-style meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, served with a side of pilaf rice. Juicy, big, and comforting.

❼ September 28, 2025

Cuisse de volaille sautée, pomme boulangere et legumes

鳥モモ肉のソテー ジャガイモと野菜のソテー添え

Sautéed chicken thigh with pillowy potatoes and veggies. Generous, tender, and beautifully sweet.

✧ ･ ﾟ : *    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    ✧ ･ ﾟ : * : ･ ﾟ ✧    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    * : ﾟ ･ ✧

What do you think? Each of these hearty, delicious, and healthy dishes is thoughtfully crafted by the friendly chef from Southern France. I hope the photos of main dishes and desserts that I've shared on this blog as a lunch diary series bring a little joy to your daily life—or perhaps inspire your next dining adventure in Tokyo!

And if you’re in the mood for something sweet, feel free to check out my previous post on the beautifully sweet yellow peach tart, too: 

Tokyo’s Hidden Gem: A Delightful Lunch & Yellow Peach Tart at Bistro Quatre Avril

Wishing you many happy moments✨ filled with the joy of good food...

With love, Rose

Tokyo’s Hidden Gem: A Delightful Lunch & Yellow Peach Tart at Bistro Quatre Avril

Hi everyone. You can already feel the touch of summer in the air. Today, I’m back with my usual lunch review of Bistro Quatre Avril 🍽️✨

Tarte aux peches jaunes

黄桃のタルト🍑

It’s rare for me, but I’m starting today’s post with a dessert before showing you the main lunch dish.

The dessert had a gentle sweetness, filled with wonderfully juicy yellow peaches. And whipped cream on the side is always a delightful touch, no matter which daily dessert is served. The yellow peach tart paired beautifully with my coffee as always.

Seriole roti sauce balzamique aux legumes de saison

ブリのロティ バルサミコソース 季節の野菜添え

For my main course, I went with the roasted yellowtail with balsamic reduction, served with seasonal vegetables. The fish dish was just as hearty and juicy as a meat course. Out of consideration for our health, the chef thoughtfully includes an abundance of vegetables.

Quatre Avril offers a few different lunch options that change every day. Please note that they are open for lunch on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM (L.O.).

If your travels ever bring you to Japan, I recommend stopping by this quiet Fudomae neighborhood.

Have a beautiful day❤︎❤︎

You can find my previous post on Bistro Quatre Avril here ↓
Bistro Quatre Avril Photo Diary: 5 Amazing Lunch Mains & Desserts (with a special twist🥺)

Bistro Quatre Avril Photo Diary: 5 Amazing Lunch Mains & Desserts (with a special twist🥺)

Hi everyone😊 Today, I’m sharing a photo diary of lunch mains and desserts from 5 different visits to my go-to spot, Bistro Quatre Avril. (Note: Desserts are an extra charge.)

While I made sure to match the menu names exactly with Bistro Quatre Avril's Instagram, the very first main dish actually got an upgrade. The chef was kind enough to add some rare shellfish and shrimp for me! ※

May 1, 2025

Poisson roti à la dieppoise avec riz pilaf

お魚のロティ ディエポワーズ（ノルマンディの地名）風ピラフ添え

↓

※ Roasted fish dieppoise served with pilaf rice, specially

upgraded with rare shellfish and shrimp added by the chef.

珍しい貝と、海老 追加！

May 1, 2025

Gateau aux pommes

🍎りんごのガトー

✧ ･ ﾟ : *    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    ✧ ･ ﾟ : * : ･ ﾟ ✧    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    * : ﾟ ･ ✧

May 27, 2025

Ratatoulle traditionnelle, l'oeuf poché avec baguette maison

野菜たっぷりラタトゥイユとポーチドエッグ 自家製バゲット添え

↓

They were kind enough to let me switch

 the homemade baguette to pilaf rice. 🥺

自家製バゲット添えを、ピラフに変えてもらっちゃいました。

May 27, 2025

Brownie zeste d'orange, cacao de Cote d'Ivoire

コートジボワールのカカオとオレンジピールのブラウニー

✧･ﾟ: *   ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆   ✧･ﾟ: * :･ﾟ✧   ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆   * :･ﾟ✧

June 14, 2025

La Kedjenou Ivoire façon grande-mere avec riz

キジヌー（鶏肉の美味しい煮込み）ピラフ添え

June 14, 2025

Clafouti aux abricots

アンズのクラフティ

✧ ･ ﾟ : *    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    ✧ ･ ﾟ : * : ･ ﾟ ✧    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    * : ﾟ ･ ✧

July 24, 2025

Gaspacho et capellini avec effiloché de poitrine de volaille

（冷製）カッペリーニ（極細パスタ）鶏肉入りガスパチョソース

July 24, 2025

Gelée d'orange d'ete aux abricots

アンズ入り夏みかんのジュレ

✧･ﾟ: *   ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆   ✧･ﾟ: * :･ﾟ✧   ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆   * :･ﾟ✧

August 28, 2025

Aiguillette de poulet sauce tomate au pistou avec pate fraiche

チキンのソテー ピストゥ（バジル）とトマトソース パスタ添え

↓

They were kind enough to let me switch

 the pasta to pilaf rice again. 🥺

パスタを、またピラフに変えてもらっちゃいました。

August 28, 2025

Tarte rustique aux nectarines

ネクタリンのタルトリュスティック

I always have the best time (and the best meals) at Bistro Quatre Avril.  Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Have a wonderful day 💕

Missed the last post?

👇Read my previous Quatre Avril diary here.

A Perfect Bistro Lunch and a Hilarious Google Surprise!

A Perfect Bistro Lunch and a Hilarious Google Surprise!

One day, I went for lunch at Bistro Quatre Avril, my favorite French bistro in Tokyo. As I glanced through the glass display where they offer a rotating selection of baked goods, I noticed pain aux raisins among the offerings that day. 🥰

pain aux raisins at Bistro Quatre Avril

“I’ll save this for later.”

Thinking just that, I picked one up and settled into a counter seat inside.

　　　　　　　　　　　      

Steak haché sauce Bordelaise

ビストロのハンバーグステーキ ボルドレーズソース

I had the hamburger steak today. The one here at Bistro Quatre Avril is impressively tender, thick, and quite generous in size. It was a truly satisfying meal—and now, I have my pain aux raisins next♪

What's great about this place is that you can enjoy the pastries displayed by the window right here in the cafe, or grab some to go. I enjoyed a pain aux raisins for here along with my lunch coffee that day.

Aside from the pastries in the window, they also have rotating plated desserts on the menu:

🍰 Quare Avril Dessert Photo Diary & Matcha Happiness 

I love the laid-back vibe here. It’s well worth a visit if you’re in the area! 

◇ Quick Update ◇ 

I noticed that when you search for 'Rose' 'Charmed by Michigan' on Google, the People also search for section pops up further down the page. Some of the results are pretty hilarious. 😂

I live in a town in Tokyo near the Meguro River, where I spend my days blogging. My current Michigan Journal series is actually about my trip back in October. In addition, I share snippets of my Tokyo Daily Life, like the story I shared today.

My blog feels a bit like a memoir, but by looking back and writing about these moments, it feels like I’m reliving those experiences together with all of you. Thanks for joining me on this journey!  Rose

Quare Avril Dessert Photo Diary & Matcha Happiness

Hello😀 This is the Photo Diary of Bistro Quare Avril. I’ve got lots of lovely dessert photos saved up, so I’ll be sharing them little by little☆

April 29, 2025

Bavarois aux fraises

🍓苺のババロア

May 24, 2025

Quatre-quart au Matcha

抹茶のカトルカール

 May 29, 2025

Brownie zeste d'orange, cacao de Cote d'ivoire

コートジボアールのカカオとオレンジピールのブラウニー

June 24, 2025

Flan Parisien

フランパリジャン

August 12, 2025

Bavarois aux fraises

🍓苺のババロア

September 25, 2025

Clafoutis aux peche jaune et poire

黄桃と洋梨のクラフティ

Sitting at the counter enjoying my clafoutis, the chef just called out "Plate!" from the kitchen right in front of me. When I handed it over...

The plate returns—with an extra matcha quatre-quarts slice!😮

I love matcha sweets so much❤︎ I gratefully enjoyed it. A sweet surprise from the chef that made my day... It was a heartwarming moment from my favorite bistro.

See my last Quare Avril Photo Diary here:

Springtime Surprise at Bistro Quatre Avril: Mackerel Quiche & Chef's Generous Gift

THE ORDY BAKERY at Hotel Vintage Meguro Fudomae: A Quiet Morning Escape

A hidden gem with a cinnamon roll that always reminds me of Finland

Nestled between Meguro and Gotanda lies Fudomae — a neighborhood where city convenience meets nostalgic tranquility. Hotel Vintage Meguro Fudomae stands a pleasant walk from Fudomae Station, blending quietly into a residential neighborhood on a street lined with cherry trees, especially charming in spring when the blossoms are in full bloom.

On the ground floor of Hotel Vintage sits THE ORDY BAKERY, a bakery café devoted to authentic ingredients. Opened on April 7, 2025, it uses only domestically grown Japanese wheat and 100% natural yeast — with no shortening or margarine added.

Labeled Hotel Vintage on the café’s glass window

From inside the café, you can see the quiet views of Fudomae through Kamurozaka (the cherry‑tree‑lined street).

The café opens from 8 a.m., so why not enjoy a morning stroll and then spend a peaceful, refreshing moment in this little‑known gem of a space?

A freshly baked Original Croissant 

Did you enjoy the cherry blossoms🌸 this season?

Here’s a freshly baked original croissant and house‑roasted organic coffee at THE ORDY BAKERY. 

The receipt also serves as a Refills Ticket. It says: “Enjoy your 2nd coffee or latte at half price on the same day. Please show your receipt.”

On my way to the café, I picked up a pretty cherry blossom that had fallen on the sidewalk, so I shared a story with music on Instagram. Then I sent a video message to Collie in Michigan.

Of course, I took it easy and enjoyed a slow, relaxing moment afterwards!

A freshly baked Cinnamon Roll

My top pick is the cinnamon roll. Here, it has a Nordic feel that takes me back to the ones I tried in Finland. Having a cinnamon roll in Tokyo that reminds me of Finland feels truly special...!

If you’re curious, here are my articles about Helsinki’s cinnamon rolls❤︎

Lovely Korvapuuti (Finnish cinnamon roll) at Hakaniemi Market Hall

A Fabulous Finnish cinnamon roll & an excellent Americano I tasted at St.GEORGE BAKERY, Helsinki

Big Korvapuusti of KANNISTON LEIPOMO, and my favorite Korvapuusti during my stay in Helsinki is...

THE ORDY BAKERY　      8:00-17:00 (Weekday L.O. 16:00)

Hotel Vintage Meguro-Fudomae 1F, 4-9-16 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 141-0031

The quality shows in the price, so I can’t come here every day…^^; Even so, I’d recommend stopping by when you want to treat yourself to a little special escape in your daily life.

When I start craving the cinnamon roll again, I’d like to visit in the fresh, clear air of the morning, as I always do.

Rose

Charming & Fluffy: The Adorable Magic of Tokyo's Yaezakura

Yaezakura (Double‑Flowered Cherry Blossoms) 

These lush, layered blossoms bring an almost heavenly charm to Tokyo’s streets in late spring…

As the single‑petaled cherry blossoms fade away in late spring, the double‑flowered cherry blossoms begin to open, as if gracefully taking the baton to continue the season’s beauty.

Delicate pink Yaezakura double‑flowered cherry blossoms in full bloom, fluffy petals creating a romantic canopy over a tree‑lined street in Shinagawa, Tokyo.

Some sections along the quiet route are lined with various types of Yaezakura among many other cherry trees along the Meguro River, and it’s the Yaezakura that always puts me in a dreamy mood.

The single‑petaled cherry blossoms have a fragile, fleeting beauty, yet I am especially drawn to Yaezakura with their strong, lively, and adorable charm. Fluffy layers of Yaezakura are so lovely💕

The bouncy Yaezakura, where pure white and soft pink blend, also look dreamy.

These Yaezakura overflow with adorable fluffiness, yet they feel powerful and uplifting!

Pink petals gather along one side of the walkway beside the bridge.

Looking from that walkway toward the main avenue, I’m amazed at how such a cute, natural world can coexist with the city.

This season, why not discover the adorable fluffiness of double‑flowered sakura? A leisurely walk under these blossoms is the perfect way to fall in love with Tokyo’s springtime magic.

Rose

Cherry Blossoms Seen Through the Glass Hallway at Meguro Gajoen Tokyo

A Painting‑like View of Cherry Blossoms and City Buildings Along Meguro River

Meguro Gajoen Tokyo closed its operations on September 30, 2025, following the expiration of its lease agreement with the property owner. As of now, no official announcement has been made regarding its renewal or reopening. It’s truly regrettable, as the building was adorned with magnificent Japanese paintings and intricate décor throughout, harmoniously integrated with traditional Japanese gardens that showcased the elegance and beauty of Japan.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photos when Meguro Gajoen Tokyo was still open, but I took this earlier this week.

View of cherry blossoms along the Meguro River and city buildings in the background, seen through the glass hallway at Meguro Gajoen Tokyo, where the scenery blends beautifully with the architecture. It feels as if one were looking at a contemporary painting.

The cherry blossom season is often marked by unsettled weather, but whenever it isn’t raining, I try to go outside and enjoy the blossoms. Among the many beautiful spots, the cherry trees along the Meguro River also feel like one of nature’s gifts, offering us a gentle chance to appreciate the subtle beauty of the sakura.

Standing in front of the glass, you can see the entire view, and even look down over the Meguro River.

Although Meguro Gajoen Tokyo has closed its doors for now, I quietly hope that one day the doors will open again, letting us rediscover the beauty that once graced this space.

◇ Quick Update ◇

I’ve added a cute Instagram clip of the lovely waitress who served Collie and me at Whistle Stop Diner in Birmingham to the bottom of this post⬇︎

Returning to Michigan Memories: Healing at Airy Whistle Stop Diner Hope you’ll check it out💕

Springtime Surprise at Bistro Quatre Avril: Mackerel Quiche & Chef's Generous Gift

The soft, hearty quiche and heartwarming pork belly takeaway story.

It's the season when I can really feel spring—enjoying sweets at Bistro Quatre Avril. 

🌸Spring's Breath at Bistro Quatre Avril: Desserts & Window Shelf Delights

For lunch, I thought I'd go with something different this time. That's because I came in a bit later than usual, and the roasted pork belly I'd normally go for was already sold out.

Quiche maquereau avec salade verte

サバのキッシュ 山盛りサラダ添え

The soft, generous quiche is made with an unusual ingredient—mackerel. Quiche appears for lunch occasionally with different fillings each time, always accompanied by plenty of fresh vegetables 🥗 

If you love quiche, you have to try this one—it's like nothing else!

I was delighted when Chef Bosco told me, "I have a little bit of that sold-out pork belly left—I'll give you some!"

I thought he'd just add a small portion alongside the quiche plate...   Instead, 

Poitrine de porc rotie SP sauce avec pate

豚バラ肉のロティ スペシャルソース パスタ添え

What a surprise—he packed it in a plastic takeout container for me to take home! It even included some other side dishes, making it essentially a mini version of the lunch menu.

So, I've listed the menu names above 😊

Lately, this blog has been featuring a lot more Bistro Quatre Avril in my Tokyo Life updates. 

Today, I wanted to share a heartwarming everyday moment that happened there with you all.

What's your most heartwarming moment lately?  Have a wonderful day today🌷   Rose

Spring's Breath at Bistro Quatre Avril: Desserts & Window Shelf Delights

As the first hints of spring began to show, I felt my heart quietly leap with excitement for the season of cherry blossoms ahead.

Brownie aux cacahuetes

Savoring a peanut brownie and coffee at Bistro Quatre Avril.

Nestled in this cozy café, the window shelf tempts with baked goods beyond the menu's desserts—perfect for enjoying here or carrying home.

A variety of donuts

Pain aux raisins

The baked goods vary from day to day—each visit a delightful surprise of what treats await us.

In Gotanda, different varieties of cherry blossoms start their own bloom in gentle succession, each type revealing itself in turn.

Bavarois aux fraises🍓

A softly pink strawberry bavarois, harmonizing with the cherry blossom's gentle beauty.

Kamuro-zaka in Gotanda is a quiet, atmospheric spot—a hidden gem with a delicate cherry blossom tunnel. Located in such a place is Bistro Quatre Avril.

Should you find yourself nearby, do stop by. The cozy comfort and exquisite flavors of French home cooking will surely enchant you.

☕️More dessert photos from Bistro Quatre Avril: Bistro Quatre Avril — Sweet Moments Photo Diary