01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
At Bistro Le Singe, part of the pleasure is choosing a few à la carte dishes and building a meal around them with wine. The menu features seafood plates such as the fish of the day carpaccio, fried hamo (pike conger) and turban shell sautéed in herb butter. The fried hamo comes with tartar sauce, while one recorded carpaccio combines the fish of the day with salmon roe, giving diners options from a light starter to a fried dish. One diner described ordering raw oysters, mushrooms sautéed in butter, quiche and carpaccio alone, enjoying a little of each. The same diner noted that demi-size portions were available for some dishes—a useful option for anyone dining solo who would like to try several plates.
Even if you begin with seafood and smaller plates, there are heartier dishes to anchor the meal. Chicken thigh can be prepared sautéed, as a cutlet or in a cream sauce. For fish, there is also a poêlé of wild sea bream wrapped in potato, served with lemon-butter-anchovy sauce. Meat options include sautéed duck loin and Australian beef cheek braised in red wine; for a later course, consider cream pasta with Gorgonzola and Parmigiano. A diner who tried a course featuring fried hamo and steak recalled that each dish arrived piping hot. Both courses and à la carte dining are available, making the bistro suited to an evening of choosing individual plates or a meal that takes you through a set selection.
Choosing the wine can be part of the experience, too. One diner reported tasting three white wines before settling on a favourite, then ordering a bottle to go with the food. Among the whites listed is Mommessin Mâcon-Villages, described as made and aged entirely in stainless-steel tanks, with a generous mineral character—an appealing choice for anyone who wants to consider food pairings while choosing a bottle. The restaurant has counter seating only, with several reports putting capacity at around 8–10 seats; reservations are recommended for dinner. In Manjuji Nakanocho, Gojo, the bistro offers plenty of choice, whether you are sharing wine or working your way through several plates on your own.
