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• Awesome veg options in the heart of Tokyo!

I first learned of CITRON on Facebook only a few days ago and decided to visit as I would be in Tokyo for the weekend. As a vegetarian in Japan, there are generally very few options suitable for vegans and vegetarians. When I heard there was a new French vegetable bistro in Tokyo, I had to check it out. Only a few minutes from Gaen-Mae (take exit 1A), the outside patio is welcoming and there are cute vintage French advertisements and lemon-themed displays on the ground floor. The first sight that greets you as you come in the door is the ultra- fresh salad bar. There are several lunch sets available including salad, quiche, and gratin, all reasonably priced at about $12. You can also choose to order off the à la carte menu. They also do takeout. I opted for the salade Citron with the green pea soymilk potage and a glass of organic red wine; I was surprised by how quickly the order came out. The one thing I noticed was that the dish said it had wheat berries, but the salad I received had cooked barley instead. I loved that all the waiters and people working there were actually French; many of us were ordering in French which was it pleasant change from struggling to communicate in Japanese. The upstairs seating area had many cute touches, such as vintage enamel signs and French music playing in the background. One thing to note is there is a (well-behaved) dog roaming loose on the premises on certain days, so if you are allergic to dogs or have small children, that is something to keep in mind. My salad was extraordinarily fresh, and the green pea soup was delicious. The wine was excellent as well. They also have a cake and coffee service; I didn't try dessert on this visit, but the offerings looked delicious. I greatly enjoyed my first visit and look forward to returning in the near future!