Tanjong Beach Club (TBC) by the Lo & Behold Group is the perfect place to escape from the city and enjoy a day of sun, sand and sea. It has a restaurant (The Dining Room), a bar and a pool facing the beach.

The Dining Room at Tanjong Beach Club offers a unique beach dining experience, and after dinner, you can laze by the pool and enjoy a Tanjong Martini with truffle fries. The beach house at Sentosa is modern, sexy and definitely the place to see and be seen.

The crowd at Tanjong Beach Club is quite diverse. From the beach goers in cargo shorts, bikinis and flip flops, lazing by the pool side during the weekends; to young working executives on a romantic dinner date; to well-heeled cliente with an appreciation for the finer things in life – there is a good mix of crowd.

Since it was a Friday night, we had a glass of champagne each. Actually, even if it wasn’t a Friday night, I’d still have a glass of champagne.

As usual, we had a hard time trying to decide on the dishes. So we took the easy way out and asked for recommendations. On my own, I probably would not order a salad, but the Bean Salad ($19) came highly recommended so we started with that.

We followed up with the Salt-cured Foie Gras ($27), which I thought was pretty cool. The goose liver was served with toasted brioche, kaya and house-made jam. Eaten together, the cold foie gras combination was quite amazing. But I would very much prefer to have pan seared foie gras.

The best, however, had yet to come – we had the freaking awesome truffle fries. Having heard so much about Tanjong Beach Club’s popular bar snack – which my friend proclaimed as the best truffle fries in Singapore – I wasn’t prepared to leave the place without trying it.

The bar menu isn’t available in the dining room, and vice versa. Still, we managed to convince the waitress to serve us the truffle fries while waiting for the rest of the appetisers to be served.

The dining room at Tanjong Beach Club has a good mix for its main course menu. We were tempted by the Crispy Atlantic Cod ($42) and the Spicy Crab Spaghetti ($32); while the Roasted Kurobuta Pork ($43) and Asparagus Risotto ($26) also called out to us. We eventually settled for the Maine Lobster Pot Pie ($58) and USDA Prime New York Strip Steak ($58).

Encased by flaky pastry crust, the lobster pot pie was quite a visual treat for the senses. We watched as the waitress poked a hole into the crust and unearthed the lobster from within. It was like digging for treasure!

The USDA Prime New York Strip Steak ($58) came with potato puree, roasted mushroom, and smoked eggplant. It was a gorgeous piece of meat, but unfortunately, it was way too salty.

We used the elimination method to choose our desserts. Since we weren’t keen on the Mixed Berry Bowl and ice cream, it was down to the Coconut Panna Cotta ($14), Chocolate Ganache Tart ($16) and Tea & Honey Parfeit ($14). We decided to leave the Panna Cotta for another day and had the other two desserts to end off the meal.

I thought that the Chocolate Ganache Tart – which was accompanied by salted candied hazelnuts, butterscotch sauce and vanilla bean ice cream – was pretty fabulous.

The Tea & Honey Parfeit ($14) came in a pretty glass of earl grey crémeux, honey ice cream, house-made honeycomb and chocolate crisp.

The Dining Room at Tanjong Beach Club (TBC) is a great option if you want a nice romantic dinner away from the city. The food is not out-of-this-world good, so don’t come here expecting a life-changing experience. Instead, come here if you want a unique beach-dining experience. The TBC, is after all, one of the few Beach restaurants in Singapore.

I will definitely go back for brunch during weekends.

Singapore Food Blog Review
The Dining Room at Tanjong Beach Club
120 Tanjong Beach Walk
Tanjong Beach Club Sentosa
Tel: 6270 1355
Lunch: 12noon – 2.30pm (Tue – Fri)
Dinner: 6.30pm – 10pm (Tue – Sat)
Brunch: 10am – 4.30pm (Weekend)

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

I first went to 1-TwentySix restaurant at Playground @ Big Splash, East Coast Park a year ago. It was a romantic restaurant to dine in, but I thought that the food was unremarkable for the price point, so I didn’t blog about it. Two months back, I went back again for dinner as a group of friends wanted to go there.

1 Twenty Six is a large sea-fronting beach restaurant & bar. While they have a nice indoor dining room, most of the customers prefer to eat at the al fresco area where you can enjoy the sea breeze and chill out with a group of friends over dinner and drinks.

We had a lot of food, but I only took a few shots as I didn’t want to scare off some of the new friends. 1 Twenty Six’s Coast menu is divided into two parts: the ala carte menu where you can get the usual appetiser ($6.5-22), salad ($12-20), platters ($22-32), main course ($28-48) and dessert ($14); and the Communal menu where you pay $70++/pax (min of 2 pax) for a nibble platter, choice of 1 main course/pax with sides, and a dessert platter.

With the exception of a few new additions, the menu has remained largely unchanged since my last visit. The nibble platter (pictured above) comes with the familiar Potato Skin with sour cream, Steamed Vongole Clams, and Crispy Soft Shell Crab with chilli mayo.

For the main course selections from the Communal menu, gone were the Seared King Scallops, Penne with Zucchini, and Fish Pie. In place were the Butternut Pumpkin Risotto, Shellfish Carbonara and Fish & Chips.

During my first visit to One Twenty Six, we had the 150 day grain fed tenderloin ($48), and braised short rib of beef ($38). The tenderloin was not bad, but I could have gotten a better steak elsewhere.

This time round, we also had the Communal menu. For the main courses, we shared the Fish & Chips, Roasted Baby Chicken, Seared Tuna Loin, and Grilled Cod Fillet.

Our British friend wasn’t impressed with the Baby Snapper Fillet in crispy beer batter, but the French Fries that came along with the ‘Fish & Chips’ were excellent – all of us couldn’t stop eating it.

Some of my friends thought that the Grilled Cod fillet with blood orange salad was good, but I felt that it was just decent, so was the Seared Tuna Loin (pictured below) with bell pepper marmalade. For me, the standout dish for the night was the Baby Chicken served with rosemary potatoes.

If you choose to have the Communal menu ($70++/pax), you get to pick either the Grande Assiette – a selection of five petite sized desserts consisting of Creme Brulee, Panna Cotta, Chocolate Cake, Pavlova, and Souffle; or a selection of artisan cheese.

1 Twenty Six by One Rochester Group is a hip and trendy place to see and be seen. Being one of the few fine dining restaurants in the East, it is a good option for people if they do not want to travel all the way to town. As for me, I would probably just come back for drinks.

Singapore Food Blog Review
1 TwentySix Restaurant
902 East Coast Parkway
Blk E #01-26 Playground @ Big Splash
Tel: +65 6348 2126

Sun to Thu: 6.30pm – 1am
Fri & PH Eve: 6.30pm – 3am
Sat: 3pm – 3am
Sun Brunch: 11am – 3pm

Apart from the key attractions like the Singapore Flyer, Sentosa, Universal Studios, and the Marina Bay Sands, the most appealing thing about Singapore is food. In Singapore, there are many restaurants serving different cuisines from all over the world, and it is one of the best things about dining out in Singapore.

French Cuisine is extremely popular in Singapore, and we are lucky to have many restaurants serving good and authentic French food.

Here’s my list of the Best French Restaurants in Singapore.

French Restaurant / Baguette / Bistro / Bouchon / Boulangerie / Brasserie / Café / Crème Brûlée / Coq au vin / Foie Gras / Gâteaux / Patisserie / Pot au feu / Steak frites / Tarte Tatin

Absinthe French Restaurant

For a long time, my friends have been telling me that I simply have to check out Absinthe French Restaurant. One of my friend said that it is the best French restaurant in Singapore. Sadly, I have yet to go there. But I will definitely grab some friends and head there soon.

48 Bukit Pasoh Road
Tel: +65 6222 9068

Au Jardin Les Amis

Offering French fine dining amidst the Singapore Botanical Gardens, Au Jardin by the Les Amis Group is one of the top Singapore restaurants. They offer a superb Sunday Brunch at $88; dinner degustation menu at $225/pax; as well as Table d’hôte – host’s table menu – where multi course meals with only a few choices are charged, at a fixed total price.

1 Cluny Road, EJH Corner House
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Tel: +65 6466 8812

Au Petit Salut

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Au Petit Salut is one of my favourite restaurants in Singapore. You are really missing out if you have not been there before.

40c Harding road
Tanglin Village (Dempsey)
Tel: +65 6475 1976

Bistro Du Vin

Another French restaurant by the Les Amis group, Bistro Du Vin at Shaw Centre is a casual French Bistro serving classical French food. If you are looking for a restaurant in Orchard road to have dinner, why not drop by Bistro Du Vin?

1 Scotts Road
#02-12 Shaw Centre
Tel: +65 6733 7763

Bistro Petit Salut

Located at Chip Bee Gardens, Bistro Petit Salut is the sister restaurant of Au Petite Salut, and it is a great causal dining option if you are craving for French food.

They offer one of the best set lunches in Singapore, and the whole experience is available for just $25++/pax.

44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-54
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6474 9788

Brasserie Les Saveurs

As you can see from the first photo of this post, Brasserie Les Saveurs at The St. Regis Singapore is a gorgeous restaurant. It is easily one of the most beautiful restaurants in Singapore. The food at Brasserie Les Saveurs is equally stunning. Besides the brasserie-style refined French cuisine during lunch and dinner, they also have a luxurious Champagne Brunch on Sunday and afternoon high tea on weekdays.

29 Tanglin Road
The St. Regis
Tel: +65 6506 6888

Brasserie Wolf

Brasserie WOLF at Robertson Quay is a casual French bistro under the management of the Esmirada Group of Restaurants. It serves simple and good French food. Amongst the dishes that we’ve had, the Traditional French Onion Soup and Beef Bourguignon are worth ordering.

80 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-13
The Pier @ Robertson Singapore
Tel: +65 6835 7818

Choupinette

Tucked in a corner along Bukit Timah road near Coronation Plaza, Choupinette is a charming little place that serves bistrot style dinner, and lovely French pastries. They are very popular with expatiates, especially during weekend brunch, so be sure to make a reservation in advance if you want your Pain au chocolat and Croissant.

607 Bukit Timah road #01-01
Tel: 6466 0613

Cocotte

Located on the ground level of Wanderlust boutique hotel, Cocotte serves up unpretentious, rustic French cuisine in a casual and comfortable setting. Cocotte is all about communal dining. Go with a group of friends, and remember to order the Poulet Roti – their signature roasted whole organic chicken.

2 Dickson Road
Ground Level Wanderlust Hotel
Tel: +65 6298 1188

DB Bistro Moderne

With all the michelin star restaurants opening in Singapore, it is so exciting to be living here right now. Daniel Boulud’s name is synonymous with fine dining in New York, and his signature Manhattan restaurant, DB Bistro Moderne is probably one of the ‘slightly more affordable’ options among the Marina Bay Sands celebrity chef restaurants.

10 Bayfront Ave
#B1-48 Marina Bay Sands
Tel: +65 6688 8525

Gunther’s Modern French Cuisine

Gunther’s restaurant by the Garibaldi group, was ranked 84th in S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2010. It’s no mean feat to be up there with all the best restaurants in the World.

36 Purvis Street
#01-03 Talib Centre
Tel: +65 6338 8955

Guy Savoy

Hard-core food lovers no longer need to fly all the way to Paris just for a dining experience in Guy Savoy. His celebrated Parisian restaurant now awaits you at Marina Bay Sands.

10 Bayfront Avenue
#L2-01 Casino Level 2
Marina Bay Sands
Tel: +65 6688 8513

L’Entrecote

Around the world, many restaurants featuring steak dishes use the word entrecôte as their name or part of their name, and L’Entrecote at Duxton Hill is no exception. If you are looking for a nice restaurant that serves steak and fries, here’s the perfect place to go.

36 Duxton Hill
Tel: +65 6238 5700

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon

Having a world class meal at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, is definitely a foodie pilgrimage. As at all L’Ateliers around the world, the fine dining French Restaurant at Resorts World Sentosa has contrasting and sexy red and black interiors, and you can choose to dine in either the casual counter-dining side, or the more formal table side.

Now that we finally have L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon in town, surely, it is one of the must-go restaurants in Singapore?

8 Sentosa Gateway
Level 1 Hotel Michael
Resorts World Sentosa
Tel: +65 6577 7888

Le Bon Marche

Le Bon Marche at Alocassia Service Apartments, located near the junction of Bukit Timah/Dunearn and Whitley/Stevens Road, is a bistro and gourmet shop. Their food menu includes: appetisers ($11-35), French Sandwiches ($12-15), foie gras/escargots ($16-27), main courses ($23-35), cheeses ($21-49) and desserts ($11-16).

383 Bukit Timah Road
#01-01 Alocassia Service Apartments
Tel: +65 6226 3269

La Petite Cusine

La Petite Cuisine is a simple, no frills French restaurant that offers good French food at affordable prices. Where else can you find a decent restaurant that serves a good duck confit below $20?

10 Jalan Serene
#01-05 Serene centre
Tel: 6314 3173

La Saint Julien

Located in the central business district, La Saint Julien is the perfect place to meet your client for a nice and quiet business luncheon. This is French Fine Dining at its best.

3 Fullerton Road, #02-02
The Fullerton Waterboat House
Tel: +65 6534 5947

Le Bistrot

At the heart of the Singapore Indoor Stadium is Le Bistrot, a traditional French Bistro that aims to serve classic and inventive French Cuisine.

Le Bistrot is an interesting place. They have a prix fixe menu, which means you can order an entree & main course for $50, main course & dessert for $50, or entree, main course & dessert for $60. Otherwise, you can also order ala carte: entree ($18), main course ($40), dessert ($18).

2 Stadium Walk
#01-03 Singapore Indoor Stadium
Tel: +65 6447 0018

Le Bistrot du Sommelier

Previously from Au Petit Salut French Restaurant, Chef Patrick Heuberger is the Executive Chef and Part-Owner of Le Bistrot Du Sommelier.

The French restaurant is extremely popular. A month or two ago, I called them a few days earlier, hoping to get a table during the weekend – only to find out that they were fully booked for the next two weeks. If you are going there, make sure you make a reservation early in advance.

46 Prinsep Street
#01-01 Prinsep Place
Tel: +65 6333 1982

Picotin

The laid-back atmosphere of the bistro makes Picotin the ideal place for a nice escape from town. Just in case you might be interested, it is partly owned by award winning chef Emmanuel Stroobant of Saint Pierre (see below).

100 Turf Club Road
Tel: +65 6877 1191

Saint Pierre

Who doesn’t know celebrity chef Emannuel Stroobant? Saint Pierre is undoubtedly one of Singapore’s top French restaurant.

3 Magazine Road
#01-01 Central Mall
Tel: +65 6438 0887

The Black Sheep Cafe

The Little India area is a mini paradise for French food. Besides The French Stall along Serangoon Road, you also have Cocotte French Restaurant in Wanderlust hotel. And of course, The Black Sheep Cafe at Mayo Street.

I’d recommend this place if you are looking for a restaurant that offers affordable French Food in Singapore. Try the Baked Brie Cheese, Duck Leg Confit, Crispy Pork Cheek, and Souffle.

35 Mayo Street
Tel: +65 9272 1842

The French Kitchen

Looking for a nice restaurant to have a quiet lunch? The French Kitchen at Central Mall offers a $36++/pax set lunch which includes escargot/lobster bisque/goat’s cheese for appetisers; pork loin/duck confit/steamed barramundi for main courses; and red berry sabayon/creme brulee for desserts.

7 Magazine Road
#01-03 Central Mall
Tel: +65 6438 1823

The French Stall

The French Stall is the restaurant that most people mention when you ask them where to have French food in Little India. Homely French food in an unpretentious (road-side) setting.

544 Serangoon Road
Tel: +65 6299 3544

Which is the best French Restaurant in Singapore? Where do you go to satisfy your craving for good and authentic French food? Which is the next French Bistro/Brasserie you want to visit next? Bon appétit!

When it comes to Sunday Brunch, there’s nothing better than the Pink Champagne Brunch Buffet at Equinox Restaurant. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that this is definitely one of the best brunch in Singapore.

On the last Sunday of each month, the fine dining restaurant at Swissotel the Stamford has a special Pink Champagne Brunch.

From free flow of Moet & Chandon Rose Brut and pink cocktails, to pink chocolate fountain and staff dressed in hot pink, the Pink Themed Brunch will most definitely lift your mood. Trust me, it almost feels like heaven when you are sipping champagne on the 70th level.

Anyone who has been to Equinox knows how beautiful it is. At 70th level of the Equinox Complex, it is one of the restaurants with the best view in Singapore.

I have a love-hate relationship with buffet as I tend to overeat. But it is impossible to say no to a luxurious Sunday brunch. There is an appetiser section where you can start with parma ham & rock melon, as well as an assortment of salads.

There is also a corner with shooters like cured smoked duck and chilled gazpacho.

Moving on, the Salmon showcase will definitely wow you with the varieties of gravlax, cured, smoked salmon tartar and salmon rillette. But I was distracted by the Seafood Counter on the rather magnificent ice sculpture.

All you can eat seafood: tiger prawns, mud crabs, green lip mussels, fine de clair oysters, white pearl oysters, gillardeau oysters, and slipper lobsters.

The Japanese Station is conveniently located beside the seafood area. With Sashimi (Kingfish, Tasmanian Salmon, Yellowfin Tuna, Japanese Scallops, Surf Clam and Octopus) and a selection of Sushi and Maki to choose from, it felt like a mini Japanese buffet.

Oh my god. There goes my diet plan.

Carnivore alert! The Carving & Live station offers roasted USDA beef rib eye (too dry), roasted turkey (it’s Christmas already?) and leg of lamb (excellent).

The highlight of the dessert buffet was definitely the pink chocolate fountain. The nitrogen sorbet that came with the crepes, was equally impressive.

Opera cake, raspberry chocolate gateau, maple tree financier, panna cotta, macaron, cream brulee — how did desserts steal all the lovely words?

Looking for a birthday venue to throw a pink themed party? Equinox Restaurant is definitely the perfect place!

The $148++ Pink Brunch is not cheap, but I think it is worth splurging for that special occasion. Besides the fantastic view of Singapore’s skyline and waterfront, there’s also free flow of champagne with lots of yummy food. The Pink Brunch at Equinox is very popular, please make a reservation before going.

Singapore Food Blog
Equinox Restaurant
2 Stamford Road
70F Swissotel The Stamford Singapore
Tel: +65 6431 5669

Weekday Semi Buffet Lunch $59++
Afternoon high tea international buffet $43++
Sunday Brunch Buffet $128++
Pink Champagne Brunch Buffet $148++

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

It has been two years since my last visit to Royal China Restaurant at Raffles Hotel, and I was glad to finally make a trip there for dim sum during lunch recently.

I’ve said it before and I am happy to say it again. Royal China Chinese Restaurant is definitely one of the best dim sum places in Singapore.

Much has been said about Royal China’s gorgeous interior – it is impossible not to like the Tiffany blue themed restaurant. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of the dim sum, they range from $3.6 to $4.8 for a basket.

We took a quick look at the menu and made our orders: “please give us siew mai, har gau, char siew bao, custard bun, cheong fun, char siew soh, egg tart, and carrot cake.”

Everyone was very excited when the waitress brought the dim sum to our table.

After having the Cheong Fun and Siew Mai, we proceeded with the Baked Pork Bun ($3.6), and it was good enough to make me order it again next time. But if you do not want too many pork items, skip the Char Siew Bao and get the delicious Baked BBQ Pork Puff ($4) instead.

When it comes to Char Siew Sou, I’d rank Royal China’s rendition as my top 3 in Singapore, with the other two being Yan Ting and Taste Paradise.

Having tried the best pan-fried carrot cake from Si Chuan Dou Hua, I felt that the one from Royal China was mediocre.

The few of us were debating on where to find the best custard buns (liu sha bao) in Singapore. Names like Taste Paradise, Si Chuan Dou Hua, Mandarin Court and Peach Garden were mentioned, and after trying Royal China’s version, it is definitely in the same league.

I poked a hole into the liu sha bao to take a peep at the magnificent custard fillings. The bun was too hot to eat, but I put it into my mouth anyway. The golden liquid burnt my tongue, but it felt so good. It was hard to resist ordering a second portion.

Royal China’s Baked Egg Tarts ($3.60) were also very good. Delicious little devils.

If you are planning a visit to Royal China after reading this post, make sure you order their Steamed Prawn Dumplings ($4.8).

They were amongst the best I ever had: the skin of the har gau had the right consistency and thickness, and each dumpling came with a big shrimp which was fresh and crunchy.

Like the other dim sum places in Singapore, Royal China at Raffles Hotel only has dim sum during lunch, and it is a must to make reservations in advance. The must-try dim sum items are custard bun, har gau, char siew sou and egg tart.

For more recommendations, please read my list of dim sum restaurants in Singapore

Singapore Food Blog Review
Royal China Restaurant
1 Beach Road
#03-09 Raffles Hotel
Tel: +65 6338 3363

Operating Hours:
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm
Sun & PH: 11am – 3pm
Mon to Sun: 6pm – 10.30pm

Rang Mahal is definitely top of the list when it comes to fine dining Indian Restaurants in Singapore. Besides the flagship outlet at Pan Pacific, the Rang Mahal Group comprises Vansh at Stadium Waterfront, and Rang Mahal Pavilion at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).

Located at the lobby level of Hard Rock Hotel in RWS, Rang Mahal Pavilion is a stylish Indian restaurant where tradition meets modern. A stunning wall feature of brass drums fronts the restaurant. Inside, traditional Indian musical instruments are suspended from the ceilings of the main dining hall. The posh interior sets the tone for an exquisite dining experience.

For starters, we had the Aromatic Cheesy Mushroom ($14), which was light and tasty. We continued with a simple Paneer salad that came with homemade tandoori cottage cheese.

The Tandoor Sampler ($18 half, $32 full) was chosen to showcase the combination of chicken and fish tikka, with garlic prawns served on a sizzler. The platter is great for sharing, and it allows you to try the best of what Rang Mahal Indian Restaurant has to offer.

Out of the three items, my favourite was definitely the tender and succulent chicken tikka. The fish, on the other hand, was slightly too dry.

If you are fond of a particular dish, you can always order them separately. A full portion of the Chicken Tikka goes for $22, whilst their signature Tandoori Garlic Prawn is available for $30.

A basket of naan (plain, garlic and butter) quickly came our way with the curries, and they were the perfect vehicle to soak up the curry gravy.

Amongst the vegetarian curries available on Rang Mahal’s menu, we had the Patiala Aubergine ($18) which was excellent. I’m not a big fan of egg plant, but I thought that the curry had a good combination of flavours. If you don’t fancy having egg plants, they have seven different curries on the vegetarian selection, with prices ranging from $15 to $20.

The non vegetarian curries are generally more exciting (at least to me). You can choose from either the signature Murgh Tikka Masala – tandoori chicken tikka in a full bodied bell pepper and tomato masala, or the Gosht Masala – with tender cuts of lamb simmered in smooth house tomato gravy. Otherwise,  there are prawn curry with a saffron kick, or fresh fish fillet curry in aromatic coconut gravy.

Although Nasi Briyani is a fairly common dish, Rang Mahal’s version was very delicious. Extremely tender lamb with fine Indian basmati rice. I’m not sure if I’d pay $25 for it, though.

We were already very full by then, but it was impossible to say no to desserts. The two popular desserts on the menu are Rasmalai ($10) – cottage cheese dumplings in reduced milk, and Grape Kulfi ($10) – homemade grape flavoured frosty.

Even though my previous encounter with Kulfi was not an enjoyable one, we eventually opted for the Indian ice cream as the hosts convinced me to give it a try. I must say the kulfi here was much better than the one that I’ve had before.

Whilst the prices at Rang Mahal Pavilion in RWS are higher than the typical Indian restaurants in Singapore, the food is generally quite good and the 6,300 square feet restaurant is gorgeous.

The main dining room can seat 130 people. It is a fantastic birthday party venue if you want to invite a big group of friends. It’s also good for an intimate group dinner – the fine dining Indian restaurant has two separate private dining rooms that are perfect for business luncheons or small parties. For a slightly more affordable option, you can choose to try out the $28++ set lunch which consists of a soup, main course and dessert.

So tell me, which restaurants in Resorts World Sentosa have you been to?

Singapore Food Blog Review
Rang Mahal Pavilion
8 Sentosa Gateway
Level 2 Hard Rock Hotel
Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
Tel: +65 6238 7013
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm

7 Raffles Boulevard
3F Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6333 1788
Lunch: 12pm – 2.30 pm (Sun – Fri)
Dinner: 6.30 pm – 10.30 pm (Daily)

Note: This was a media tasting dinner.

Located at Robertson Quay, Brasserie WOLF is a casual French bistro under the management of the Esmirada Group of Restaurants. With the appointment of new Head Chef Claudio Sandri, Brasserie Wolf had recently launched a new ala carte menu.

It consists of classic French dishes like the Beef Bourguignon, and Traditional Bouillabaisse Soup. Prices range from $15-$26 for appetisers/soup, $26-$48 for main courses and $10-$15 for desserts.

With dim orange lighting, vintage overhanging lamps and plush leather seats, the interior of Brasserie Wolf is cosy and spacious. The restaurant can easily accommodate 90 people indoor and I like the fact that it is not too pretentious.

For starters, I had the Traditional French Onion Soup ($14). It was rich and cheesy, just the thing you need to start the meal on a bright note. My dining companion had a Tomato Gazpacho which was not from the menu.

I’d have gone for the Pan Seared Foie Gras ($26) if not for the fact that my dining companion was not a fan of goose liver. Since it was impossible to finish half a dozen of Burgundy Snails ($15) on my own, I gave that a miss too.

To make up for it, Chef Claudio served us his signature Fresh Artichoke Heart ($18.50). Composed of Smoked Salmon Mousse, Poached Egg, Caviar, and Mustard Vinaigrette, the appetiser was so pretty that we did not know how to start eating it.

Next up on the menu, I had the Crispy Duck Leg Confit ($32) with Braised Puy Lentils. Brasserie Wolf’s rendition of the French dish was decent, but it was not the best I’ve had.

For the record, I love Duck Leg Confit. But if I must choose between Brasserie Wolf’s Duck Leg Confit and Beef Bourguignon, I’d go for the latter.

The fork-tender Beef Bourguignon ($28) was braised to perfection. Together with the sides of Bacon, Mushroom, Baby Onions, and Carrots, the beef was so good.

The Seared Cod ($35) was excellent in my opinion. The simple preparation of the dish highlighted the freshness of the Cod. So much so that my dining companion was actually reluctant to share the fish.

It was a shame that we were too full to continue eating. Otherwise I’d definitely order the Traditional Bouillabaisse Soup ($36).

For desserts, we skipped the ubiquitous Valrhona Warm Chocolate Cake ($15) and had the Chocolate & Coffee Liegeois ($13). The cold dessert was visually appealing, and the presence of Valrhona Chocolate Sauce added bonus points too. But I felt that it was nothing impressive, and did not justify the price tag. We also had a selection of macarons which were run-of-the-mill. On hindsight, we should have gone for the Creme Brulee Vanilla ($10) instead.

Chef Claudio had just arrived in Singapore from London to helm Brasserie Wolf. I’m certain he will slowly find his way to satisfy everyone with his straightforward French cooking.

Personally, I feel that prices are slightly steep for a causal French Bistro. But having said that, Brasserie Wolf serves simple and good French food. Amongst the dishes that we tried, the Traditional French Onion Soup and Beef Bourguignon are definitely worth ordering. Dessert is probably Brasserie Wolf’s weakest link. I’d suggest skipping it and go to Laurent Bernard or Canele Patisserie to have your sweets.

If you are looking for French food in the Robertson Quay area, check out Brasserie Wolf and say hi to Chef Claudio.

For more recommendations, read my list of the Best French Restaurants in Singapore

Singapore Food Blog Review
Brasserie Wolf
80 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-13
The Pier @ Robertson Singapore
Tel: +65 6835 7818
Note: This is an invited Media Tasting.

Housed within the stunning Fort Canning Hotel, Gattopardo Italian Grill & Pizza Bar serves contemporary Italian and Mediterranean cuisine with a charcoal grill and wood-fired oven for baking gourmet pizzas. The Italian restaurant is under the Garibaldi Group of restaurants, who is also behind Gunther’s, Ricciotti Italian restaurant and Brotzeit.

Having heard so much about the good Italian food from my friends who ate at Gattopardo before, misstamchiak and I went there for lunch during Restaurant Week.

Restaurant Week is a good way to try out the fine dining restaurants that you always want to go. If it is a positive dining experience, you can visit the restaurant again to try their usual offerings.

Considering the fact that such fine dining restaurants usually charge $30-$50 for a main course, it is quite a steal to pay just $25++ (lunch) and $35++ (dinner) for the restaurant week’s menu.

For restaurant week, Gattopardo Italian Restaurant had two main course options: the Pan Seared Chicken Breast and Home-made Tagliatelle.

Filled with Scamorza cheese and mushrooms, the Pan Seared chicken breast was pretty decent; it was nice to find that the meat was not too dry, with the sauce a good compliment to it.

The Tagliatelle al Pesto di Trapani was slightly overcooked, but somehow managed to retain the flavour from cherry tomato, basil, Pecorino cheese and almond Pesto.

The whole point of having desserts is to end the meal on a sweet note. Unfortunately, the Creme Brulee was very disappointing and we did not finish it.

Overall, Gattopardo Italian restaurant’s restaurant week menu was not impressive, but I am still keen to come back again to check out their dinner offerings.

I took a look at their normal ala carte menu (note: they do not have a set lunch menu), and I thought that the prices are pretty reasonable for good Italian restaurants. Expect to pay around $15-$25 for antipasti, $20-$30 for pasta, $16-$30 for pizza, $30-$40 for main course and $14 for dessert.

The location at Fort Canning Hotel is rather inaccessible if you are not driving. It is probably a good idea to cab in, have a good dinner and take a romantic stroll to Orchard road to burn off the calories.

// Read my list of Italian restaurants in Singapore for more options.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Gattopardo Italian Grill & Pizza Bar
11 Canning Walk Fort Canning Park
Fort Canning Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6338 5498

Operating Hours:
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm

Amongst the Crystal Jade Fine Dining restaurants, there are Crystal Jade Golden Palace at Paragon (contemporary Cantonese & Teochew cuisine), Crystal Jade Dining In at Vivocity (modern Cantonese cuisine) and the flagship Crystal Jade Palace at Ngee Ann City.

There are 35 items on Crystal Jade Palace’s dim sum menu, with the usual suspects like rice roll cheong fun, deep-fried shrimp dumpling, baked egg tart, siew mai, har gau, and steamed pork ribs. The prices are very reasonable for a Chinese fine dining restaurant, with most of the dim sum ranging from $3.60 to $5 per basket.

The Char Siew Sou ($4) had buttery and flaky pastry, and I love the sweet yet savoury char siew fillings. I’d think that Crystal Jade Palace’s char siew sou is on par with the ones that I’ve had at Taste Paradise and Yanting restaurant.

There were so many different types of steamed dumplings on the dim sum menu and we were spoilt for choices. Since it was our first time to Crystal Jade Palace, we took the safe option and went for the ubiquitous Steamed Prawn Dumplings ($5). It was fairly decent, the translucent skin was not too thick, and came with fresh crunchy shrimp.

Similarly, the Steamed Pork Dumplings with mushroom ($4.8) were not out-of-this-world good, but they were tasty and that was enough.

And what’s dim sum lunch without Steamed Rice Roll cheong fun ($4.8)? We easily finished it and only decided against ordering another portion as we had other dim sum coming.

When broken with a pair of chopsticks, the Xiaolongbao ($3.9) released the tasty stock into the spoon. Paired with vinegar and ginger, it was satisfying to swallow the whole pork dumpling.

My friend was feeling a little health conscious that day so we went for the Steamed Carrot Cake instead of the pan-fried one. It would not win a food photography competition, but the steamed carrot cake definitely tastes good.

* * *

With the fairly good dim sum at reasonable prices and its convenient location at Orchard road, Crystal Jade Palace has joined my ranks of my favourite dim sum restaurants in Singapore. If you don’t feel like having dim sum, there’s always Crystal Jade Korean Restaurant as well as the more affordable Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao at level four of Takashimaya.

The fine dining restaurant was packed when we went there on a weekend, reservations are highly recommended.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant
391 Orchard Road #04-19
Ngee Ann City Singapore
Tel: +65 6735 2388

Operating Hours: Daily 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm

I’m sure many of you know of the Michelin Guide to the best restaurants in the world. While the guide is a good reference for gourmet dining, the emphasis has always been on the Eurporean countries. This is where The Miele Guide comes into play: it was created to better recognize and celebrate Asia’s best chefs and restaurants.

It is difficult to cover all the good restaurants in Asia since the culinary scenes in most Asian countries are uncharted by any previous guides. This is when we can gladly say that food blogs in the respective countries are doing a fine job in discovering new hidden gems.

I’m very skeptical whenever it comes to ranking of restaurants. Everyone has different taste buds and preference, your best restaurant is definitely different from the one that I have in mind. Nonetheless, The Miele Guide which is currently in the third edition is an option if you need a guide for fine dining restaurants in Asia.

20 Best Restaurants in Asia

1. Iggy’s
2. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon (Hong Kong)
3. Robuchon a Galera
4. Jaan
5. Antonio’s
6. Mozaic
7. Zuma
8. Cilantro Restaurant & Wine Bar
9. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon (Tokyo)
10. Caprice
11. Les Amis
12. Yung Kee
13. Gunther’s Modern French Cuisine
14. Bukhara
15. Tippling Club
16. Nobu
17. Dum Pukht
18. Ku De Ta
19. Bo Innovation
20. Beijing Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant

It is heartening to see some of the Singapore restaurants emerging on the list of best restaurants in Asia. Among the 20 best restaurants on the list, which one have you been to, and which is the restaurant that you want to try one day?