L’Effervescence: A 3 Star Michelin-Starred Journey Through Nature-Inspired Cuisine

What's it like to eat at a 3 Michelin star restaurant? Pretty darn good.

For my birthday, we had the chance to dine at L’Effervescence in Tokyo—and it was nothing short of magical. From the ambiance to the service to the food itself, this was one of those rare experiences that really lives up to the hype. The hardest part of the whole thing? Getting a reservation.

How We Got In

We first tried booking on our own, frantically refreshing reservation pages like so many others. We nearly settled for lunch instead of dinner just to get in. But thankfully, we reached out to our hotel—The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, easily one of the best hotels in the city—and their concierge worked some magic. Despite nothing being available online, they managed to secure us a 7:00 PM dinner reservation.

The Vibe

The restaurant's interior is dark and elegant—black seats, minimal but intimate. Seating is extremely limited, which probably explains the reservation difficulty. It instantly sets the tone for something special and personal.

The Menu

Here's what we had the pleasure of experiencing that night:

Welcome

Omotenashi cocktail, bouquet of vegetable crisps, tofu sour cream

Vegetables are a cornerstone of the L’Effervescence philosophy, so it made sense to start with a delicate set of vegetable crisps. Think ultra-thin, flaky chips—light and sophisticated. The tofu sour cream was surprisingly flavorful and would make a few reappearances throughout the night as a delicious dip.

Momentum

Hamaguri clam, firefly squid, wakame seaweed, yuzu, bottarga, Sasanishiki risotto

This was a beautifully plated risotto dish—creamy, perfectly cooked, and layered with subtle umami. I’ll admit, I’ve seen firefly squid show up at a few places in Japan, and while it’s not my favorite, the overall combination here was solid.

Genesis of Civilization

Potato focaccia, sourdough

Apparently, I loved the potato focaccia so much I forgot to take a photo before diving in. It was pillowy, warm, and a little sweet—easily one of my favorite bites of the night. They even sent me home with extra. The sourdough was classic and well-made, but the focaccia stole the show.

Ars longa, Vita brevis

Artisanal vegetables

Before this course, the server brought over a tray of raw ingredients to preview the artistry behind the dish. It felt like getting a peek behind the curtain. With so many different vegetables, I worried it might be disjointed or overly crunchy—but it was incredibly balanced and flavorful.

Fixed Point

Tokyo turnip complexity and simplicity

This dish was all about showcasing the Tokyo turnip—and it was a success. What looked like a minimal plate packed complex, layered flavor. Simple in appearance, but bold in execution.

Beautiful Spring Landscape

Grilled seven star grouper from Kagoshima, house made mustard beurre blanc, spring mountain vegetables

One of the most surprising moments of the night—they cooked the grouper in front of us, but not how you'd expect. Rather than using a hot stone, they applied heat from the top, which was fascinating to watch. The result? A wonderfully tender and flaky fish paired with a light and tangy beurre blanc.

Blessings of the forest

Wood-fired Kyoto Nanatani duck breast with Mizunara oak from Tokyo’s Hinohara Village, Red wine sauce, spring onion

This was hands-down the best dish of the night. The duck breast was perfectly cooked—juicy, slightly smoky from the oak—and the red wine sauce added richness without overpowering it. Just perfection.

Migration

Duck thigh raviolis, spring onion, bamboo shoot, Gyokuro, duck consomme soup

Following that incredible duck course, the ravioli had a tough act to follow. While the duck flavor didn’t shine as much as I expected, the duck consomme was delicious and comforting. A nice, warm note before dessert.

Blessings from the trees

Artisanal Japanese cheeses

I love a good cheese course, and this one came with six varieties, paired with things like honey, fruit, and sugar. A couple of them stood out with bold, interesting flavors, while others were a bit more expected—but still enjoyable.

Dessert

Nagano hazelnut crème brûlée, kuromoji ice cream, hassaku, olive oil

Dessert is always one of my favorite parts of any tasting menu, and this one didn’t disappoint. The creme brûlée was creamy with a perfectly torched top, and the kuromoji ice cream offered a light, herbal contrast. The fruit on top helped balance everything beautifully.

Final Sweets

Bergamot, black tea / Peanut financier / Hazelnut and kombu NerikiriRice flour, macaron / Quince, osmanthus crystal / Chocolate, dry ginger / Matcha / World Peace

Yes, they literally ended with a sweet called “World Peace.” How could you not love that? This final medley of sweets was playful and thoughtful. The only one I didn’t love was the kombu and hazelnut—a bit too bold for me—but the chocolate with dry ginger was amazing. Subtly spicy and totally unique.

Final Thoughts

Dining at L’Effervescence was a truly special experience. Everything—from the ambience to the impeccable service to the thoughtful presentation—made it feel like a birthday to remember.

Would I go again? Probably not—not because it wasn’t incredible, but because Tokyo has so much to explore. But if you’re visiting Japan and looking for a once-in-a-lifetime meal, this one absolutely delivers.

Also, a pleasant surprise: the cost wasn’t as crazy as you’d expect for a 3 Michelin star restaurant, especially with the favorable yen-to-USD conversion. We even did the non-alcoholic pairing, which added another layer of creativity to the evening.

One-of-a-kind, delicious, and full of heart.