allée 表参道（アレ） — Restaurant in Tokyo

Went here because it was trending on SNS at one point. There was a line of about 6 people when I arrived. The line began on the other side of the street, not in front of the restaurant. The line took a long time since there’s limited seating. However there was one single seat facing the front window that remained empty. An employee came out to ask how many were in each persons party. I was by myself and the others ahead of me were in groups of two.

It was finally my turn and they seated me at the single seat that had remained open the entire time, facing the window. I laughed because I wondered why they wouldn’t have seated me sooner since I was the only one by myself. I’ve never had that happen to me in Japan where I waited 45-60 minutes just for a seat that was vacant the entire wait time. I found it pretty rude and then the staff wasn’t friendly towards me. It was an uncomfortable experience especially when you’re by yourself and seated right at the only window in the cafe, facing the line that is waiting to get in while you eat. I should’ve left.

I ordered the purin (flan) with ice cream and an iced latte and a cream puff to bring home. They were sold out of the basque cheesecake which was the whole allure on SNS. You are required to order 1 food item and 1 drink. Be aware you need to order a drink. The drinks are not very good. The taste was good of the flan, but nothing unique to bring you back. The portion is incredibly small given the cost. If you want the cheesecake, order it to go otherwise skip.

The atmosphere may be the biggest draw. I wouldn’t know tho, because I was sat at the single chair...

This coffee shop and bakery offers a cozy setting with a few 4-seater booths and counter seats, clearly designed for dining in. While takeout is available, the pastry display case is awkwardly positioned below the cash register, making it difficult to view without bending down.

The shop specializes in Basque pastries, including cheesecakes and fruit tarts. However, be aware that the pastries are quite small for their price. I chose a slice of the Earl Grey cheesecake for takeout, priced at JPY 780 (or JPY 840 for dine-in). Other cheesecake options included Amazon cacao, strawberry, and honey. While I can't speak for the coffee, they do use vacuum pots.

The Earl Grey cheesecake itself was moderately rich with a balanced sweetness and a slight tartness, possibly from lemon or vinegar. It offered a prominent milk tea and houjicha flavor on the finish.

The staff, though competent, were not particularly warm or attentive. Despite just having come in from the rain, I felt the reception was rather neutral. I stopped by around 2 pm on a weekday and there 2 patrons.

Given the competition in Basque cheesecakes, Allée offers a solid product. However, its high price point makes it a less appealing choice for first-time visitors and a difficult one to prioritize for repeat visits. The dine-in option, however, makes it an attractive respite in the busy...

I’m a little surprised this place only has a 3.9 as my experience here was great. I went for the basque cheesecake, but there were quite a few sweets options, and I wanna go back for the cream puff. But back to the cheesecake; it was totally worth it. It was creamy and tasty and burnt just the right amount on top. I had a drip coffee, which ended up being a steeped coffee which I enjoy. The price was pretty standard for the coffee and cake set, and the service...