BURDIGALA CAFE

At BURDIGALA CAFE, lunch can mean mopping up the last of a daily pasta sauce with bread. One diner described a spicy tomato sauce with minced meat, served with 3 types of bread and spring onion soup. The bread included 2 soft varieties and 1 firmer kinds baked with fruit. The pasta changes daily, so the pairing varies from one visit to the next. For a bread-led meal, there is also a croque monsieur: bread pain de mie filled with béchamel sauce, ham and cheese, then toasted. A croque madame adds a fried egg, making these options suitable for anything from a light bite to a more substantial meal.

For something sweet, the Mont Blanc layers cassis cream and chestnut cream over a meringue base wrapped in chestnut paste. It centres on chestnut, balanced with cassis. Orange Suzette is described as coming with a bittersweet caramel and a refreshing orange-flavoured sauce; one diner also singled out the combination of orange and butter. The drinks menu includes a wide selection of teas, including seasonal herbal tea and iced tea. It is an easy place to pause for cake and tea, or to linger a little longer after a meal.

On the 5 floor of Daimaru Tokyo, the café has a bright interior with white tones and large windows. It serves lunch and cakes to eat in, making it an option for a meal or a tea break while shopping.