Tucked in the corner of Teck Lim Road next to Keong Siak Road is Chez Suzette, a beautiful French cafe which specialises in hearty French food, crêpes, freshly baked pastries, artisanal coffee as well as a range of specially curated French wine.

From the French-style decor and furniture to the plates and utensils, Chez Suzette totally nailed it.

Prices range from S$19 for a Croque Monsieur, to S$36 for a main of Braised Beef Cheeks. There are also other classic French dishes including Escargots (S$16), Traditional French Onion Soup (S$16), and Duck Leg Confit (S$29).

We had the Duck Leg Confit (S$29) which was served with ratatouille. While the skin wasn’t as crisp as we’d like, we enjoyed every bit of the Duck Leg Confit.

Another dish that we ordered was the hearty Rolled Turkey with Mushroom Stuffing (S$22) and it came with mashed potato, baby carrot and a turkey sauce. The Rolled Turkey wasn’t dry at all and it was, in fact, quite tender.

To end off your meal, the signature Crêpes Suzette (S$15)—with a homemade sauce made of caramelised sugar and butter, orange juice, and zest—is a must-order dessert. Top it off with Grand Marnier Flambé (additional S$5 supplement) and watch the staff flambéed the Crêpes Suzette table-side. Get your camera ready!

There is also a retail and workshop space at Chez Suzette which features curated items from local artists and craftsmen.

Drop by Chez Suzette and enjoy a leisure lunch of French classics and wines with your friends.

Chez Suzette
5 Teck Lim Rd, #01-01, Singapore 088383
Tel: 8690 4810

French Fold is a new all-day dining concept by the Merci Marcel group which focuses on  French crêpes, speciality coffee and curated cocktails.

Located at 204 Telok Ayer Street, French Fold is housed between Napolean Restaurant and My Awesome Cafe. You can now have French crêpes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Photos by French Fold

French Fold aims to offer their interpretation of traditional French galettes as well as an array of French crêpes with modern flavours. Using imported buckwheat flour, the French galettes are gluten-free and paired with ingredients imported from France.

The food is complemented with an extensive drinks list comprising of both alcohol and non-alcoholic options. French Fold is a place where you can have a cuppa in the day and a cocktail during the evening. And all-day French crêpes, of course.

French Fold by Merci Marcel
204 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068640

Century Square’s renovations are finally about done and the malls spanking new look is definitely well worth the wait. Apart from that, the mall is packed with a whole bunch of new food options that have got out bellies rumbling.

Amongst them is FrapasBar by the renowned Saveur. This new restaurant serves up delectable, authentic French fare and tapas with modern twists here and there—all while keeping prices affordable. Craving French? FrapasBar will not disappoint, especially not their S$15 lunch deals that feature both a fancy starter and a hearty main.

Beautifully furnished with marble tables, plush chairs and a gorgeous circular bar decked out in wooden textures to match, this restaurant exudes vibes of a classic French cafe.

Posh as the establishment might appear, rest assured that prices here are kept consistent with that of Saveur. Their lunch deals are especially enticing—for just S$15++, you get an appetiser and a main.

We started off with a plate of their Crabmeat Croquette (S$9), which featured crab meat that was mixed with fennel, cucumber, red chilli, spring onion, mayo and coconut.

The croquette was nice and crisp on the outside, yet still managed to remain tender and juicy on the inside. The crab meat lent a subtle, sweet flavour to the croquettes which went well with the other components. We recommend adding a dash of lemon to it before you eat it — it really makes quite a difference!

Next up, we had the Saveur Pasta (S$6) which consisted of angel hair pasta mixed with chilli oil, kombu, pork sauce and sakura ebi.

The varying tastes and textures of all the ingredients came together to create a fragrant medley of flavours. The pasta was also cooked to a perfect al dente giving it a nice, slightly chewy texture.

Moving on to the mains, we tried their Duck Confit (S$15), served on a bed of creamy mash and cooked to a lovely, golden crisp. Served alongside are a grilled orange round and a handful of fresh watercress.

The confit of duck, was immensely crunchy while remaining tender and juicy on the inside. The mash, on the other hand, was in another league of its own and was lusciously creamy and delicious.

Finally, we had a plate of their Seafood Bouillabaisse Pasta (S$16), which we have to admit is our favourite. This lip-smacking pasta dish consisted of angel hair pasta topped with fresh and juicy seafood such as mussels, squid, prawns and sea bass.

The varying flavours of the seafood added a great depth of flavour and texture to the overall dish. We also like how generous they were with the amount of seafood they gave. Taking inspiration from the classic French stew, we’d say that they nailed the recipe down perfectly.

FrapasBar by Saveur
2 Tampines Central 5, #01-35
Singapore 529509
Tel: +65 6789 1121
Daily: 11.30am – 12pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

The latest addition to Sunset Way’s cluster of F&B outlets is Summer Hill, a casual French dining bistro that took over the premises of The Tiny Roaster.

Helmed by Chefs Anthony Yeoh and Christopher Soh who used to work for the now-defunct Cocotte at Wanderlust Hotel, you can expect a straightforward menu that focuses on home-style dishes and comforting recipes when you are dining there. Special items and sides are on a weekly rotational basis to keep things exciting so you always have an excuse to go back for more.

For hearty and unpretentious French cuisine that will not break the bank, Summer Hill is indeed an up-and-coming dining destination that is worth checking out.

Boasting an open kitchen concept where you can watch the chefs whip up your meals, Summer Hill is an intimate bistro where diners do not have to pay for service or GST charges. The indoor seating is rather limited as the space is used for displaying their delectable range of French bakes.

The menu features quality French-inspired dishes but the crowd-pleaser is their Signature Roast Chicken (Half – S$23, Whole – S$45). Using only hormone and antibiotic-free birds, the chickens are marinated in creamy herb butter to produce a pronounced flavour which made it brilliant on its own.

The herb butter keeps the meat extremely moist and juicy while crisping the chicken skin to a lovely shade of golden brown. Brown gravy that is made from the chicken bones is given as an accompaniment for the roast chicken to boost the overall flavour.

Another favourite at the bistro is the Croque Monsieur (S$17.50).

What appears to be an ordinary plate of toast is actually grilled sourdough bread that is jazzed up with ham, swiss cheese, bechamel sauce and dijon mustard. The combination of savoury ingredients and tangy mustard worked beautifully together and one bite was all it took for us to sing praises of the chef’s expert culinary skills.

Fans of cheese will enjoy the generous portion of mild-tasting melted swiss cheese atop the grilled sandwich. This hearty dish is perfect for fast lunches or dinner on a busy night.

Other options on their menu include Freshly Baked Croissants (S$1.90 each), Quiche a la Christina (S$8), Dark Chocolate Tart (S$8) and a neat range of premium craft beers brewed by Rye and Pint and locally-made cocktails by Sunday Punch.

The French bistro also offers private meal services soon that can cater from two to 12 pax so you can host dinner parties at home without the mess.

Summer Hill
106 Clementi Street 12
#01-62
Singapore 120106
Tel: +65 6251 5337
Daily: 11.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

Nestled in an enclave of cafes in Tiong Bahru, Merci Marcel is a chic French café that took over the premises of the now-defunct The Orange Thimble. Located right next to Tiong Bahru Bakery, the café operates as a brunch spot in the day and transforms into a casual bar at night.

With a variety of French bakes and mains features in their daytime menu and an even larger assortment of hot beverages and alcoholic drinks, Merci Marcel is the perfect place for a gathering with friends or a romantic date with your other half.

Here’s a peek into what you can expect from this enchanting Parisian-style cafe in Tiong Bahru.

Merci Marcel is an Instagram-worthy Parisian-style café that emits a charming ambience and it is separated into three dining areas—an outdoor lounge, the main dining hall with a fully-stocked bar and an air-conditioned courtyard.

With natural sunlight filtering in through the glass roof, the cafe’s iconic indoor courtyard boasts the best seats for food and OOTD pictures.

The cafe’s delightful Smoked Salmon Burger (S$21++) makes for a wholesome meal that will start your day right if you are dropping by for breakfast. Their robust burger came with warm toasted bretzel bun, avocado slides, smoked ham and a side of mesclun salad tossed in olive oil and white wine vinegar dressing.

End your meal on a sweet note with a plate of French Toasts Brioche (S$17++), drizzled with honey and topped with summer berries. The French toast was very aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and definitely made for the ‘gram but the taste was not mindblowing and we have tried better ones elsewhere.

However, Merci Marcel’s signature croissant (S$3++) is a must-order! The croissant might look ordinary but the taste was phenomenal—it was one of the best croissants that we’ve had in Singapore.

Patrons can expect an airy and flaky crisp croissant baked with rich and creamy French butter which made it good on its own. The raspberry jam provided at the side gave it a zesty contrast and added an uplifting bite to the croissant.

Patrons can also look forward to other options such as Ravioles de Royans (S$18++) and three goat cheese platter (S$24++).

Coffee lovers will be interested to know that Merci Marcel outsources their coffee beans from Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee where the beans are roasted locally in Singapore.

Without a doubt, this Parisian café is gaining attention fairly quickly for its charming ambience and we would definitely recommend this brunch spot to our friends.

Merci Marcel
56 Eng Hoon Street #01-68
Singapore 160056
Tel: +65 6224 0113
Tue to Fri: 9am – 11.30pm
Sat and Sun: 8am – 11.30pm
Mon: Closed
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

Words by Fion Lee
Edited by Julee Ooi

Au Chocolat, opened by the folks behind Ku De Ta and Catalunya, occupies a huge space at a corner of Marina Bay Sands. It is divided into two sections: a retail confectionery store where you can find all sorts of delicious snacks – such as slice cakes, cupcakes, gelato, truffle – and fun merchandise. The other half is the bistro which has an all-day dining menu.

We have been to Au Chocolat many times, and tried quite a few items from the bistro and confectionery. Here are some of the highlights.

The menu is huge, running from handmade crepes ($16-20), to breakfast food ($15-22), finger food and snacks ($12-18), soup and salad ($11-20), burgers and sandwiches ($16-25), pasta ($23-25), entrees ($22-32) and desserts ($16-18).

We started with their Truffle Fries ($15), a generous serving of crispy fries drizzled with fragrant white truffle oil and seasoned with truffle sea salt. The Mushroom Bite ($14), next to arrive on the table, was rather run-of-the-mill. For the price, we would rather get another portion of the truffle fries.

We have heard a lot about Au Chocolat’s Ultimate Benedict ($22), so we knew we had to give it a try. Pancakes formed the base of the dish, and it was topped with spinach, tomatoes, crispy bacon, roasted ribeye steak, roasted chicken and two poached eggs. It has a generous drizzling of red wine and dark chocolate infused hollandaise sauce.

Each of the ingredient was good on its own, but when you put everything together, it became too overwhelming. Simply put, we were not too impressed.

Our favourite entree is the crispy Duck Confit ($27), which comes with potato mash, white wine poached pear and topped off with a tangy chocolate orange sauce. It was one of the best duck confits that I have had in recent times. Definitely one of the must-order dishes when you are dining at Au Chocolat.

A commendable dish is the Steak Frites ($35). I was not expecting much of the pan-seared ribeye steak, if only because many places tend to serve mediocre steaks, so I was pleasantly to find that this was really good. It was a perfectly cooked steak which was juicy, tender and well seasoned. Plus, it was accompanied by tasty truffle fries and red wine sauce on the side.

Other enticing options on the entrees menu include a delicious corn-fed Roasted Chicken ($24) and the rich and flavourful Boeuf Bourguignon ($26).

We also had their Stuffed French Toast ($18). Two slices of brioche bread filled with berries and mascarpone cheese. There is nothing wrong with this dish, but other than the pretty appearance, there is little about it that stands out.

Dessert lovers will surely go crazy at Au Chocolat here. Among the six options under the dessert section, we had the Au Chocolat Tower Cake ($18), a huge six layers of moist chocolate cake served with a vanilla gelato; and the Caramel Apple Skillet ($17) – which was a baked caramel pecan cake drizzled with salted caramel sauce. If you have been on a hunt to find the best chocolate cake in Singapore, you must try Au Chocolat’s rendition.

Besides that, we have also tried many different desserts from Au Chocolat’s pastry counter over several visits. The noteworthy ones include the Chocolate Tart, Red Velvet Cheesecake, Kalamansi Cake and Peanut Butter Cheesecake.

What makes Au Chocolat a place you can return to again and again is that its all-day menu provides plenty of options for everyone. Furthermore, it opens till late everyday, making it a great venue for dinner, or to hangout for desserts with a group of friends.

Au Chocolat
2 Bayfront Avenue
#01-03 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Tel: +65 6688 7227
Sun to Thu: 10am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 12 midnight
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

From a stall in a coffee shop to a full-fledged restaurant at Purvis Street, Saveur Restaurant has done a good job serving inexpensive French food. The long line of hungry patrons during meal times is a testament to its popularity. But does Saveur live up to the hype? Is it worth queuing up?

People love Saveur because it offers cheap and decent French food. There’s a trade-off, though. Portions are very small, so you have to order more dishes to share.

The main courses are averagely priced at $10, with a few special items at $24.90. Yes, so affordable, but because of its puny portion, you end up ordering more – which leaves you spending more than you normally would for a meal.

I wasn’t particularly impressed by the offerings, and while I appreciate that they offer decent French food at pocket-friendly prices, I am not in a hurry to come back.

Having said that, it is probably impossible to find another place that serves a good duck confit at $10. So, if you are on a budget, check out Saveurs. Remember to go early, or be prepared to queue.

Saveur Restaurant
5 Purvis Street #01-04
Tel: +65 6100 1788
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm

For more recommendations, read my list of Singapore’s Top 20 Inexpensive Restaurants

French restaurants are aplenty in Singapore, it is not difficult to find good French food here. But if you are on a hunt for a pocket-friendly option, the options become considerately limited. So I was quite excited to hear about Poulet, a casual French restaurant, by the Thai Express group, at the new Bugis+ (previously Illuma) which specialises in poulet rôti (roast chicken).

On Poulet’s menu, you can find appetisers ($5.80 to $9.80) like escargot, saute wild mushroom and French onion soup; main courses ($8.80 to $15.80) like Iberico pork belly, Smith chicken and egg mayo sandwich, and braise de poulet; and desserts ($6.80 to $7.80) such as banana bread pudding, tiramisu and caramelised apple in puffy tart.

We started with a salad de Paris ($9.80), a simple garden salad with tomato, avocado and roasted pine nut with French dressing. Next up was half a dozen of escargot ($8.80) with tomato fondue and garlic butter. Both appetisers were okay, but nothing to shout about.

After which, we shared three main courses. The beef ($15.80) in red wine sauce with carrot and onion arrived first. For the price, we thought that it was very decent.

Flavour-wise, the braise de canard ($15.80) in sweet wine sauce was good, but texture-wise, it was way too dense for our liking.

The star of the show, something that you must order at Poulet, is the poulet roti ($15.80 for half, $28.80 for whole). I’d come back just to eat the chicken.

We agreed that the main courses were competent. Our only grouse is that they could do with some starch given that the portions are pretty small.

From the dessert menu, we ordered a banana bread pudding ($6.80) and apple tart ($7.80). The banana and warm bread pudding served with vanilla ice cream was run-of-the-mill. Luckily, the baked caramelised Granny Smith apple in puffy tart was good, and we ended our meal on a sweet note.

All in all, Poulet is a casual dining place that serves affordable and decent French fare. The food is acceptable; and at these prices, there is little to fault.

Poulet Restaurant
201 Victoria Street
Level 4 Bugis+, Singapore
Tel: +65 6509 9411
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm

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

Since Cocotte opened its doors at Wanderlust boutique hotel, I’ve heard both good and bad things about the French Restaurant. Some of my friends spoke at length about its signature Poulet Roti, and Roast Pork Collar. There are others who told me to forget about it as they felt that food was overpriced, and most of the dishes were mediocre.

Even though I wanted to try their food, I decided to wait a while. It turned out to be a pretty long wait as it took me until recently to visit them. My good friend Jolene told me that she had a splendid lunch at Cocotte. I trust her tastebuds so I reckoned it’s time to drop by.

After having lunch there, I have to agree. Cocotte serves pretty good French Food, and the 3 course executive set lunch at $29++ is definitely worth a try.

The set lunch (only available on weekdays) allows you to choose from five appetisers, four main courses, and four desserts. It also includes coffee/tea.

The five appetisers include starter of the day, Chicken Liver Mousse, Rosette, Pear Salad, and Pork Rillettes. We didn’t take very long to decide on the Salad and Pork Rillettes. Both dishes were decent, but nothing to write home about.

The selection of the main courses was challenging. Three dishes – Pan Seared Chicken, Duck Confit, and Pan Seared Seabass – called out to us. We already knew that we wanted the Duck Confit, so it was down to choosing between the chicken and the fish.

Jolene told me that the Pan Seared Chicken that she had was very good. But my dining companion and I did not feel like having chicken that day, so we decided to give it a miss, and ordered the Seabass instead.

Luckily, the Pan Seared Seabass which came on a bed of summer vegetables in a seafood nage, was good. I particularly enjoyed the seafood broth; it was light, fresh, and very comforting. The Seabass was also nicely seared.

Cocotte’s Duck Confit (top up $9) was easily one of the best that I’ve had. Crispy, flavourful, and very delicious. I’d return just for this.

For desserts, we had Tarte Au Citron and Creme Brulee. The Tarte Au Citron was a tad too sweet for my liking. The Creme Brulee, on the other hand, was nicely done, and we ended our lunch on a nice note.

If you are looking for a nice place to have lunch, I’d recommend Cocotte Restaurant. Besides the 3 course executive set lunch, they also have a communal set lunch for 3-4 pax at $156, and it includes dishes like Fried Tripe, Roast Pork Collar, Braised Beef Cheek, and Sole Meuniere.

I am planning to come back with a few friends to try the communal set lunch. But if you beat me to it, do leave a comment and let me know if they are worth the trip.

Cocotte
2 Dickson Road
Ground Level Wanderlust Hotel
Tel: +65 6298 1188
Mon to Sat: 12pm –2.30pm
Mon to Thu: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 6.30pm – 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

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

Paul Bakery has opened in Singapore with much fanfare, and it’s not difficult to understand why the French boulangerie/patisserie is packed with customers everyday.

For those who have been to Europe, Paul Boulangerie is the place for them to relive those wonderful memories of having a warm croissant and a cup of coffee during winter. For others who have heard much about Paul from their friends, the new restaurant in Singapore gives them the chance to try something before they go Europe.

The question on everyone’s mind is no doubt whether Paul Boulangerie in Singapore is the same as Europe.

Let’s be realistic. It’s impossible to replicate the experience in Singapore. I mean, even if you’re just having a croissant from Paul by the roadside in Paris, it’s still going to taste better as compared to dining in the restaurant in Singapore. Everything tastes better when you are on a holiday.

We had a Lemon Tart ($6.1), Mixed Fruits Tart ($6.4), Chocolate Cake ($5.1) and Eclair Chocolat ($5.6). All of them were decent, but not blow-my-socks-off good.

That being said, I am still glad that Paul Bakery is finally in Singapore. At least now I have a place to get my Pain au chocolat while saving up for a trip to Europe. Besides desserts and bread, they also serve proper food; it is a nice all-day dining restaurant in Orchard.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Paul Bakery
391A Orchard Road
#03-16/16A/17 Ngee Ann City Tower A
Tel: +65 6836 5932
Sun–Thu: 8.30am – 10pm
Fri–Sat: 8.30am – 11pm

For more recommendations, read my list of dessert places in Singapore

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Antoinette is a Parisian pâtisserie and salon du thé by Chef Pang Kok Keong, who is one of Singapore’s best pastry chefs.

Sugar Daddy Group – which currently includes Antoinette and Pique Nique – is Chef Pang’s first business venture after a career of working for different hotels and Les Amis group’s Canele restaurants.

I was over the moon to hear about Antoinette Patisserie. Needless to say, I was very excited to try all the desserts. My first visit was a media tasting session and we had the chance to try quite a few dishes.

Since then, I’ve been there on numerous occasions as a regular customer, and ordered various items on the menu. My goal was, or still is, to try all the cakes by Chef Pang.

Cakes make me happy. I want to eat cakes.

Antoinette currently has three outlets at Penhas Road (near Lavender MRT), Mandarin Gallery and Scarlet Hotel. While the French tea salon at Mandarin Gallery has a great location, it is much smaller than Penhas Road.

I’d definitely recommend going to Penhas Road instead of Mandarin Gallery as the latter does not allow reservations and there is always a queue during peak hours.

If I could only choose one cake, I would definitely go for Antoinette ($9).

Even up till now, I could still remember my first encounter with it. The Chocolate Earl Grey cake caught my attention with its glossy surface; I could almost hear it calling out to me.

I took a fork and tapped it lightly, unsure of how soft or hard it would be. My fork easily went through the milk chocolate mousse infused with earl grey tea cake. The only words to describe it? Luxurious, chic, and heavenly.

I will go so far as to say that my hunt for the best cake in Singapore ended with the Antoinette chocolate earl grey cake. It is rock-my-socks-off good!

If the Antoinette cake was divine, the Saint Honore L’amour ($8.5) – made up of choux pastry, rose petal cream, and strawberry compote on an almond tart – would be the perfect representative of love and romance.

Another interesting option is the Chocolieux ($9.5). When the staff brought it to our table, we thought that we were having ice cream as it was molded into the shape like a magnum. How wrong we were.

It was actually a dessert (I find it difficult to call it a cake) made up of dark chocolate cream, hazelnut nougatine, dark chocolate biscuit and almond chocolate.

On my fourth (or fifth time) there, we tried Strawberry Shortcake ($8) and Café Caramel ($8).

The Café Caramel ($8) – an almond tart composing of caramel a la fleur de sel, genoise cafe, and coffee mousse – was well executed, but nothing special.

To be honest, I was a little unsure about the Strawberry Shortcake as I didn’t have a good impression of the one Chef Pang made at Canele Patisserie. It was actually not too bad. I’d include it in my list of best Strawberry Cakes in Singapore, but it is not my favourite.

I marvelled at the Religiuese of Caramel with fleur de sel ($8) when it arrived at the table. It was so beautiful! I found it to be a little too sweet, so you might want to order this to share.

Among the cakes at Antoinette Patisserie, I also had the Exotique ($8.5) – mousse exotique with coconut cremeux and poached pineapple; Pudding Maple ($6.5) – maple flan with caramel, in a cup; and Strawberry Baba ($8) – baba pastry, citrus rum syrup and vanilla crème Chantilly.

If you prefer savoury food, you must try their Chicken Burger, which is one of the better burgers that I’ve had. Besides desserts, Antoinette also has All Day breakfast ($9 – 20) such as Eggs Florentine, Baked Omelette; French Toast ($10.5), Crepes ($15 – 20) and Pancakes ($10 – 15); entrees ($10.5 – 23) like Salad and Foie Gras Terrine; and main courses ($16.5 – 38) which include options like Bouef Bourguignon and Gnocchi Carbonara.

Antoinette, without a doubt, is my favourite patisserie in Singapore. But then again, I am a big fan of Chef Pang, so I’m definitely biased. Don’t take my word for it, go there and try the cakes for yourself. Service can be very patchy depending on the time you are there, but really, who cares so long we can have good cakes.

The French patisserie is a great place for a quiet afternoon high tea. If I lived near the Lavender area, I could imagine myself dropping by the Parisian tea salon every other day.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Antoinette Patisserie Tea Salon
30 Penhas Road
Tel: +65 6293 3121

333A Orchard Road
#02-33/34 Mandarin Gallery
Tel: +65 6836 9527

33 Erskine Road
#01-02/03 Scarlet Hotel

For more recommendations, read my list of best dessert places in Singapore.

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One of the French Restaurants that I’ve always wanted to try, but have not gotten the chance to visit until recently is Bistro Du Vin at Shaw Centre.

Bistro Du Vin by the Les Amis Group has been making a name for itself since opening in 2009. My friends have always raved about the classical French Food that they serve. I went there for lunch a while back and I have to say that the set lunch is absolutely a steal at $30++/pax.

What I like about the three-course set lunch at Bistro Du Vin is the variety that they offer. It has six items each for appetisers, main courses and desserts.

I am still saving up for the air ticket to Paris, so for now I can only satisfy my French food craving by eating at a French Bistro in Orchard road.

After taking a glance at the menu, I immediately knew that there was no way I could resist the Pan-fried Foie Gras with prune compote (supplement of $6). I took a bite and I could feel happiness entering my body. The Foie Gras was good, but the scrambled eggs were even better.

There is only one word to describe the Scrambled Eggs with mushroom & chorizo – scrumptious! I’d come back just for this (hopefully they don’t take it off the set lunch menu).

Other appetisers include: Tuna and Lemon Pasta, Duck Rillette, Foie Gras Terrine, Escargot, and Tomato Soup.

When we were there for lunch, the six main courses on the set menu were Chicken Leg, Roasted Pork Chop, French Duck Confit, Pan-fried fish of the day, Braised Oxtail, and Char-grilled US Angus Ribeye. There was also “blackboard specials” like the Roasted Spring Chicken, Braised Duck Leg, and Char-grilled Striploin.

My dining companions had the Roasted Spring Chicken wrapped with ham and Fish of the day. Both were not too bad, but it was the French Fries ($3 side order) which stole the show. There was no truffle oil, or any secret ingredients – just really good French Fries.

I had a hard time trying to decide between Char-grilled US Angus Ribeye (supplement of $10) and the French Duck Leg Confit. I eventually went for the latter. It was one of the better Duck Confits that I’ve had, and the portion was just right for a not-so-heavy lunch.

For desserts, there was Creme Caramel, Dark Chocolate Mousse, Coconut and Passionfruit Sorbet, Warm Pear Tart, Profiteroles and selected cheese on the set lunch menu. We used the elimination method and chose three desserts.

My favourite was the lovely Pear Tart with vanilla ice cream, while my friends found the pairing of Coconut and Passionfruit sorbet intriguing.

All in all, Bistro du vin by the Les Amis group serves a value for money 3-course set lunch at $30++. I will definitely come back again to try some of the classical French food like the Coq Au Vin and Pot Au Feu on the ala carte menu.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Bistro du vin
1 Scotts Road
#02-12 Shaw Centre
Tel: +65 6733 7763
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10pm

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

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Brasserie Les Saveurs at The Regis is easily one of the most romantic restaurants in Singapore. It offers all-occasion dining, serving set lunch, afternoon high tea, degustation dinner menu and of course, Sunday champagne brunch.

Even though I’ve been to Yan Ting restaurant many times, this was my first visit to Brasserie Les Saveurs at The St Regis Singapore and I instantly fell in love with the French restaurant.

But the problem is, it’s very easy to make me fall head over heels. Just give me two (maybe three) glasses of champagne and a platter of desserts and I would be screaming “baby, I am in lurveee with you!” So is it because of the champagne or is the Sunday brunch buffet at Brasserie Les Saveurs really good?

I was here for their Sunday Champagne Brunch buffet. For $140++ (non alcohol) or $180++ (free flow of champagne and juices), you get a main course with semi-buffet: antipasto counter that has tiny nibbles like smoked duck tartar and mini crab salad; seafood counter with fresh prawns, oysters and crabs; and a very impressive dessert buffet that has Isaphan, chocolate tart and creme brulee.

Besides having free flow of Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut, you can also order some of the St Regis signature cocktails like bloody mary.

But that’s not it. Plenty of beautifully plated appetisers – fresh crab roll with papaya mustard, yellowfin tuna tartart, creme brulee foie gras, traditional lobster bisque, calamansi sorbet and 36 hour braised pork belly – would appear on the table every now and then.

Besides the semi buffet of appetisers, cold cut and desserts, the champagne brunch has a choice of main course, and you can also have eggs done in any style.

From our table, we could smell foie gras. What a lovely smell. Brasserie Les Saveurs has a few ala minute stations and boy am I glad there is a counter pan-searing foie gras on the spot. Next to the foie gras station, there was another chef preparing stir-fried black pepper lobster.

I think I am in love. Or maybe it’s just the champagne.

From the seafood buffet counter: Fresh oysters (Royale oyster, Gillardeau oyster, Tarbouriech oyster), live prawns and Sri Lanka crab.

From the cold cut buffet counter: Iberico ham, parma ham, chorizo, air fried beef and selection of bread.

From the antipasto buffet counter: Vegetarian Soba salad, Organic Grilled vegetables salad, Caprese, Thai asparagus salad with black truffle vinaigrette, Organic “oriental” couscous, Achar Vegetables, Mini crab salad with avocado salsa, Mini “Datterini” tomatoes stuffed with ratatouille Smoked salmon pancakes, Smoked duck tartar, Caesar salad, Nicoise salad, Rocket salad, mix green salad, Lemon and balsamic dressing.

As mentioned, everyone is entitled to one main course, so it was fortunate that we had a big group and managed to try quite a few items on the menu. Among the ones that we’ve had, the Roasted Brittany Turbot stood out for its flavour, while the grilled USA beef ribeye was a little too dry.

The other main courses include: Black Angus beef tartar, free range sakura chicken breast, roasted Welsh lamb, pan seared red snapper, roasted Atlantic cod, and pan fried john dory. Like the other items in the buffet, they are changed from time to time.

Eggs done in any style: eggs benedict, omelette, scrambled, hard-boiled, over easy, sunny side up. I don’t think I can ever live without eggs!

Hello from cheese heaven!

And of course, what’s buffet without desserts?

Chocolate crunchy mousse, Chocolate tart, Lemon meringue tart, Strawberry sable, Banana cheese cake, Raspberry tart, Opera cark, Chocolate Manjari cake, Madeline, Chocolate choux, Mango éclair, Assorted Macarons, White chocolate cassis, Pistachio & cherry with apricot jelly, Orange jelly & Chantilly with ladyfinger sponge, Triple chocolate shooter, Mango & lime creameux with coconut dacquoise, and Cappuccino crème brulee – I’m really in love.

In fact, I’d go as far to say that the selection of the dessert buffet at Brassserie Les Saveurs is one of the best among the buffet restaurants that I’ve been to.

I don’t know how others do it, but I suck at multi-tasking. I always admire how some people can do a few things at the same. It was only when I was eating the desserts, then I realised how lucky I am not to be able to multi-task. Focus on one dessert at a time, eat it and repeat the process for maximum pleasure.

At $170++/pax, the Champagne Brunch Buffet at Brasserie Les Saveurs is not cheap. But what you get is a superb brunch experience in one of the most beautiful restaurants in Singapore. I would definitely save up and come here during a special occasion.

Mains selections from the ala carte menu during dinner are available from $35 for a pan roasted wild snapper to $55 for a grilled US prime grade beef ribeye. For a special indulgence, try their 6 course degustation menu at $138++.

After a fabulous champagne brunch, it’s probably a good idea to go home for a nap. If not, you can always get a suite in St Regis and enjoy a nice weekend staycation.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Brasserie Les Saveurs
29 Tanglin Road
The St. Regis Singapore
Tel: +65 6506 6888
Sunday Champagne Brunch
$140++ (Non-alcohol)
$180++ Free flow Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut & juices

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

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

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.

The small French cafe can probably seat around 30 guests, a nice cosy place for a quiet dinner. The menu is relatively small, with only 4 appetisers, 6 mains, and 3 desserts.

My friends are terrific to eat with, mainly because they are gamed for anything. Six of us went to The Black Sheep Cafe for dinner, and we tried the entire menu.

For starters, we had the Pan Seared Foie Gras ($22), Caesar Salad with Garlic Prawns ($12.50), Baked Brie Cheese ($12.50), and Daily Soup of Prawn Bisque ($6.50). The clear favourite was the Baked Brie Cheese, I’d skip the run-of-the-mill Caesar Salad and Prawn Bisque if I ever come back again.

Besides that, I also enjoyed the Pan Seared Foie Gras. But then again, I am biased towards anything-foie-gras.

The small portions reminded me of La Petite Cuisine. For those of you with big appetite, you would probably need to order an extra starter/main to share.

We continued with the six main courses: Crispy Pork Cheeks ($24), The Black Sheep Shank ($22.50), Duck Confit with Apple Rosti ($22.50), Beef Special – Tenderloin ($32-38), Meat Special – Lamb Chops ($32-38), Fish & Seafood Special – Snapper ($22.50-32).

The Black Sheep Cafe’s Duck Confit is by far one of the best I’ve had. It was lean and crispy, and very delicious. Unlike most French Restaurants in Singapore that charge $30 upwards for this dish, the one here is reasonably priced at $22.5. Definitely worth a try.

Another dish that I’d order again is the Crispy Pork Cheeks. The tangy sauce complimented the tender pork perfectly. The other dishes were decent, nothing spectacular. If pork and duck are not your favourite meat, I’d choose the lamb chop over the lamb shank.

To end off the French dinner, we had the Souffle, Tiramisu and Flourless Chocolate Cake. The souffle was the highlight out of the three. Orange Martini Souffle may take a long time to come, but when they reach your table and you dig in with a spoon – it’s instant happiness.

Given that I’ve tried the entire menu at The Black Sheep Cafe, I probably won’t be rushing to come back any time soon. But I’d recommend the 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.

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

Singapore Food Blog Review
The Black Sheep Cafe
35 Mayo Street
Tel: +65 9272 1842

Operating Hours
Mon to Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

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Updated: The restaurant is no longer in operation.

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.

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

Like the main restaurant at Dempsey road, the French bistro offers two different set lunches: 3 course set lunch at $30++.

We had two normal 3 course set lunches and for starters, we had the Salmon Tartar, which was light and refreshing – the perfect appetiser to start our lunch. When it comes to escargot, there are typically only two reactions: a) I love it or b) eew snails are so disgusting! My lunch partner belonged to the latter camp, and refused to touch the escargot so I had everything to myself.

It took us a while to choose the main course. You could have the excellent Onglet Beef with French Mustard Jus and mashed potatoes, or the Penne pasta with roasted vegetables, or the catch of the day. It is impossible to not be tempted by the Chicken Leg Confit and the Braised Lamb Shoulder, and it’s hard to say no to my favourite Mushroom Risotto.

We eventually settled on the Mushroom Risotto and the Catch of the day which was an Escolar. The fish was very fresh and well-cooked, it fell apart nicely when we teased it with a fork. The portion was quite small for guys, but it is probably just nice if you don’t want to fall asleep in the office after lunch.

As much as I love risotto, I’d usually avoid this dish when it comes to choosing a main course for set lunches. It seems a little silly to choose risotto when there are meat and seafood on the menu. But I was glad that I ordered Chez Petit Salut’s Mixed Mushroom Risotto with light cream emulsion and Parmesan Cheese. It was rich, and creamy: thick flavourful rice done al dente, with the earthiness of the fresh mushrooms giving it an additional flavour.

I think this is easily one of the best risotto that I had before.

Amongst the six desserts available on Chez Petit Salut’s set lunch menu, we didn’t want the Fresh Fruit Salad, Homemade Strawberry Shortcake, and Financer with chantilly cream, so it left us to choose two desserts between the classic Creme Brulee, Choux Buns and Homemade Cheesecake.

We agreed that the Gateau au Fromage Blanc was too good to miss, and since I had Au Petit Salut’s creme brulee before, we went for the Choux Buns with vanilla ice cream.

Filled with vanilla ice cream and glazed with a sweet and thick coating of chocolate sauce, the choux buns were gone before you could pronounce profiteroles. While they were not fantastic, we wanted to end the meal on a sugar high, and the Choux Buns did just that.

The Homemade Cheesecake was accompanied by a mixture of fruits, a delightful end to a great lunch at Chez Petit Salut.

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

Chez Petit Salut
44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-54
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6474 9788
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village