nao4.
On my husband's birthday, we visited a patisserie for the first time in a while. His preference is not for fancy and delicate cakes with layered mousse, but for something hearty with plenty of cream and a satisfying tart or crust. Grang Vanille seemed to fit the bill in that sense. While Saint Honore and Dacquoise are my top 3 favorites (the other two being Assemblage Kakimoto and Kimura), the overall high-end prices surprised me, with most petit gateaux priced at 750 yen (tax included). Despite the high prices, the satisfaction level after tasting the pastries is so high that I can overlook it.
The Millefeuille Vanille at 750 yen had a lovely vanilla scent, plenty of Chantilly cream, and a good combination of custard and puff pastry layers with a nice mouthfeel. The Praline Choux at 480 yen had a perfect balance of crunchiness from the cookie dough and a unique mouthfeel from the choux pastry, filled with hazelnut mousse, hazelnut cream, and caramelized hazelnuts, providing maximum satisfaction. My husband was also pleased with it.
The Croissant Amande at 450 yen, although expensive, was quite large and turned out to be a favorite due to its perfect balance of crispy surface and moist interior, filled with generous almond cream infused with rum. We planned to share it with our daughter, and the portion was just right. The Kouign Amann at 450 yen, which my husband, a Kouign Amann enthusiast, enjoyed, was crispy, buttery, and very delicious.
My son had the Croissant at 250 yen, which was of medium size. Among the other baked goods, we aimed for Dacquoise but it was not available that day, so we chose all new items. The Paledonoad Cococo at 1200 yen and below 320 yen (Vanille, Tropical, Cafe Noisette) were all flawless, and I was impressed by their high quality, realizing the level of excellence compared to the usual Dacquoise.
For a special gift for a loved one or a personal treat, these pastries are highly recommended. Each one is worth savoring slowly, and there is no room for complaints about the taste. The clientele seemed to consist of sophisticated university students, women in their 20s, couples, 30-something parents and children, solo male diners, and few locals. The entire shop sparkled like jewels, and the showcase was like a treasure trove, popular among relatively affluent young people. While I, in my age group, was completely satisfied with the taste, considering the prices, it might be a bit much for a family of four to eat heartily. Therefore, I always end up eating with my daughter only.
For locals, or mature individuals, or families of four or more, Agreable seems excellent and cost-effective. It's a grateful shop with products that make it hard to choose between Grang Vanille and Agreable. We visited just after the opening at 10:30 am, and although we could enter the shop, the eat-in seats were full, and there were around 6 groups in the takeout line. It took about 30 minutes to receive the products. The Millefeuille was very popular, so when I ordered 4 pieces, they checked the quantity and confirmed it. An early visit or making a reservation is recommended.