Restaurant bi.ble — Restaurant in Biei

We four people arrived at the Bi Ble around 13:05, the restaurant put up in their page that no reservation is needed but the lady at the front said they will not be able to receive us even though the table was clearly available, when we inquire and told the lady that we drove three hours to especially come here she said they close at 13:30 but when we opened their page that stated lunch close at 14:30 she opted to tell us that last order was 13:30 which it was 13:09 at that time. We were contemplating just to get their bakeries to take home a Japanese couple without reservation came in and after a little exchange the staff came to the front lady which after awhile she went back into the kitchen before our eyes to tell the staffs in the kitchen something and guess what the Japanese couple was shown the table right away even thought it was 13:20 already (remember the front lady said last order was 13:30) So I decided to inquire this with the same exact staff who should the Japanese couple table and he just bluntly said the couple had reservation which I told him I had asked the couple which they said they didn’t have reservation! So we naturally felt lied to and discriminated!! I never ever reviewed this badly before but the way both front lady and the waiting staffs shown no sign of willingness to help nor compassion of us having 80 years old mother with us and wanted to treat her to a good time was quite far from Japanese hospitality and politeness we had come to love and respect!! MOST DISAPPONITED AND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO TRY HAVE FOOD HERE MAKE A RESERVATION AND GOOD LUCK! WE WILL NEVER GIVE THEM ANY OF...

Absolutely amazing experience at bi.blé. Was told at the tourist information centre that they only took reservations, so we didn't plan to dine at the restaurant. But as we cycled by (tip: cycle around Biei on a non-rainy day, you won't regret it!), we decided try getting a table for lunch anyway. Praise God! The maitré d', Kamochi Ken-San, gave us a table for 2 facing the vast field. We didn't know it was a one Michelin star restaurant until we googled the place while waiting for our food. The food was delicious, fresh (made from local Hokkaidō produce) and meticulously prepared. What set this place apart was its service. Halfway through lunch we realised our booking for our next destination in Sapporo got cancelled as we forgot to pay the deposit. Not only did the staff allow us to borrow their restaurant phone, they even communicated with our accommodation for us, all while attending to their customers at the front smoothly. Amazingly, they helped us to rebook our accommodation and we're so grateful about it.

The food was a 5/5 (very worth it's value as a lunch set - we took the baguette and croissant options, presentation and taste was superb) and the service was a 5/5, with such attentive and patient service, going beyond their usual duties. We look forward to...

Excellent in many ways.||The owners imported expertise, knowledge and an oven from France and combined it with Japanse refinement.||The former school has been remodelled into a restaurant/bakery shop and a hotel. The architecture is pure, modern and yet very Japanese in its balance of dimension. I had to think of Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma and several old temples or main gates.||There are only five rooms. Ah I love the small scale. We booked a long time in advance for 2 nights. ||Biei is beautiful countryside (proven by the many tourist cars driving around), and we visited the famous Asahikadake. The flower gardens nearby could not enchant us.||And then there is the food, of course. A delight, certainly. A surprise : chevreuil ! in spring, apparently the culling needs to be done, so we enjoyed excellent meat. The breakfast a bit heavier than an average western one, with some surprises, always good. ||The crew a real team that seems to enjoy working here. Most speak some English, some rather good French. But always the Japanese courtesy. Like cleaning the entrance of the restaurant, just before evening service. It reminded me of Ryokans.||I...