Chez Toto — Restaurant in Nagoya

We went to Chez Toto about a year ago with friends and had a relatively good time. The only problem we had during that visit is that the kitchen was out of nearly everything we decided to order. They opened at 6:00 and we were seated at 7:30. So only an hour and a half later. At that point I told the sommelier, who was our waiter as well, rather than tell us what the kitchen was out of, maybe tell us what we could order. We wound up ordering the steak frittes (surprise!), bouillabaisse, some fish, and lamb. The steak was okay, the fish, a little overcooked, and the lamb tasted a little gamey. Really, I think it was mutton. We are frequent lamb eaters and are keen to the taste. The wine was good. All in all, we had a good time. I was a little disappointed that reservations got us four seats at the bar. Not a bad time though. We always try a place twice before we form an opinion on how good (or bad) a restaurant is. I met my wife in Sakae yesterday after work and we took the subway the one stop to Shin-Sakaemachi to see if we could get a quick bite when the restaurant opened at 6:00 before it got busy later on. We knew the place opened at 6:00. We got there about 5 minutes till 6 and the window panels that make up the front of the restaurant were drawn open as was the door. A sign on a chair informed (in Japanese) arriving people that they would be helped soon. I stepped into the restaurant, which was wide open, about 2 feet to get the host's/manager's attention to see if we would be able to get dinner when they opened. The simple act of me entering the room caused him to become spastic and lose any sense of composure. He pointed to the sign and with Japanese and English barked that the restaurant was not open yet. We begged his pardon and told him we knew it was not open, but only wanted to see if we could get a table to get a quick meal when they opened. He said no. And that all the tables were reserved. I asked if every table was reserved. He said yes and waved the basket of reserved signs at me to prove he was setting them out. He said we could sit outside at either of 2 rickety tables that face a busy, dirty, noisy street. The view to either side of the restaurant is an alley next to a drive through store of some kind or the entrance/exit to a parking garage. Nothing like the tables inside with white tablecloths or the bar close to the kitchen. He again said yes, every table was reserved. However, we noticed that 2 tables did not have reserved signs, nor did the bar stools facing the bar where we sat during our previous visit (check the attached pictures). The point is we were there at 6:00 when they opened and nobody else was there whether they had reservations or not. We waited an additional 10 minutes and still nobody showed up to eat at the restaurant. There were at least 2 open tables. And most likely we would have been finished eating by 7:00 when the diners with reservations were expected to arrive. I think Chez Toto has a preference for certain people eating at their restaurant. Tourists and other visitors seem to be relegated to the tables outside if they insist on eating here. I have been to 2 other French restaurants in Nagoya that serve better food and wine without any items missing from the menu. Absinthe in Izumi across from Central Park, and Petit Deco in Meieki. And service at both places is friendly, professional, and competent. We were disappointed, and out of a last ditch effort I let the host/manager know that I review restaurants on Google Maps. Mostly, I enjoy sharing good experiences at memorable locations. But I don't hesitate to let others learn from bad experiences I have. His response was go ahead, while mimicking typing at a keyboard. Challenge accepted. So be wary of visiting or...

Major issues with our experience. I brought my parents, Aunt and Uncle here for what I thought to be a lovely evening. We ordered, and every main dish we ordered they were "out" of. Then the next 2 options we could think of they were also out of. They could only recommend steak, beef filet, or some hot pot of boar or bear... So we stuck with our salads and soups to which the staff told us we would be hungry unless we order a main dish (we are eating steak tomorrow, don't need steak...). I totally understand running out of one two or even three dishes, but when you run out of everything, and we are ordering at 6:55 p.m.... unacceptable. We had our salads and soups, and the boar or bear hot pot (which was half fat and tiny bones and columns of spine... no wonder it didn't run out...) I only post this to let people know who are doing business entertaining that this place is a MAJOR risk of face, so be warned. I would give this one star, but I had a good experience in the past, but the lack of management is audacious to be able to run out of that many things... the sommelier is trying very hard, but being held back by lack of staff and poor management. Also... please don't blame your suppliers when you run out of food, it's very...

if you love love love french food, this is the place! we came in and immediately reminisced of france because of the smell of the dishes.. COME HUNGRY, very generous portions: main dishes are encouraged to be shared with 2 or more people, so much that its a lot of food for one person alone. we made the mistake of ordering 2 main dishes and weren’t able to finish!! nonetheless, it was great. great food, great people, incredible french music, a lot of wine choices!!! our server was Japanese but spoke to us in french. loved this restaurant, would definitely go back again, un vrai coup...