Allô @ Jalan Besar - Indulge In French Cuisine For A Chic Brunch Or Cosy Dinner In Modern Shophouse

The newly opened French restaurant Allô sits along one of the many lanes of shophouses in Jalan Besar. It may seem to be quite an unexpected location at first. Still, the restaurant has done its interior in a chic yet cosy fashion, which makes it suitable for various occasions. When we came by for dinner, there were several groups of diners celebrating Father's Day.

Dinner aside, Allô also offers both brunch and value-for-money lunch sets. The Brunch menu is available on weekdays from 11am to 3pm and all day on weekends, offering classic brunch options such as Eggs Benedict ($23) and elevated dishes like Rosti, Eggs & Minute Steak ($32).

The Lunch Sets, on the other hand, are priced affordably from $15.90 onwards. Available from Tuesdays to Fridays, 11am to 3pm, the three-course weekday set lunch includes a choice of starter, a pasta main and a dessert.

Beverages

The restaurant offers various alcohols: beers, house pours, reds, whites, dessert wines and champagnes. We opted for non-alcoholic beverages of Sparkling Apple ($6) and Citrus Blue Magic ($7.50). The former is made with sparkling water infused with 100% apple juice, while the latter has blue pea flower tea, yoghurt drink and citrus juice.

Salmon Rillette 3.5/5

Our starter of Salmon Rillette ($18) features a rillette made of cured salmon slow-cooked in butter, served with capers, a petit salad and a side of sweet potato chips. My dining companion and I were quite disappointed with this as the rillette was mostly overpowered with a sharp sourness and masked any flavour of the salmon. The sweet potato chips lacked crispness as well.

Lobster Bisque 4.5/5

Thankfully, the next dish fared much better. This Lobster Bisque ($18) was also one of our two favourites of the night. Made in-house from freshly caught lobsters, the bisque turned out luscious and creamy but not overly thick. It was bursting with seafood sweetness and had just the right amount of savoury notes.

My dining companion and I enjoyed this very much and mopped it up quickly with the bread from the complimentary bread basket. I did wish there were bits of lobster meat in it for extra texture, though!

Saucisson Croquettes 3.8/5

The homemade Saucisson Croquettes ($12) came in a portion of three, served with a tangy peanut butter dressing with a touch of heat. We appreciated the crunchy exterior and creamy filling; otherwise, it was average. We also hoped to have a better bite of the saucisson bits in it.

Duck Confit with Pomme Purée & Orange Balsamic Glaze 4/5

Next, we were served our first main, the Duck Confit with Pomme Puree & Orange Balsamic Glaze ($30). The dish uses a whole duck leg roasted in its own fat, served with a side of purée and asparagus.

While I enjoyed the tangy-sweet orange balsamic glaze and the slight crispiness on the duck skin, the duck meat was not as fork-tender as I expected. The meat could be better tenderised, and the mash could be more buttery.

Lobster Risotto 4.5/5

Then came our second favourite of the night, the Lobster Risotto ($32). It was hands down one of the best risotto we have had in a while. The rich lobster stock base had an impressive amount of crustacean sweetness brimming through and was nicely finished with cream to achieve that lip-smacking consistency. The arborio rice was perfectly cooked to a lovely creaminess and further topped with chunks of tender butter-poached lobster meat.

Valrhona Dark Chocolate Feuillantine Cake 4/5

We ended our dinner on a sweet note with the Valrhona Dark Chocolate Feuillantine Cake ($15). Made of dark chocolate covertures on a base of feuillantine and crumbles, the chocolate portion was rich without being cloying. The accompanying scoop of yoghurt gelato gave a refreshing and tangy touch.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Allô
72 Desker Road
Singapore 209595
Tel: +65 88979230
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Nearest MRT: Jalan Besar (DT Line), Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Jalan Besar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight down Jalan Besar Road to Desker Road. Turn left onto Desker Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk to Roberts Lane. Turn left onto Roberts Lane, walk to Serangoon Road. Cross the road and walk down Desker Road. Walk down Desker Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Da Paolo Pizza Bar @ Holland Village - Toss To An Auspicious Lunar New Year With The Unique Lo Hei Pizza

In conjunction with the Lunar New Year, Da Paolo Pizza Bar at Holland Village has launched a unique Lo Hei Pizza. Available all day, from now till 31 January 2023, for dine-in only. The Lo Hei Pizza combines both the spirit of their pizza and the celebratory dish, featuring a colourful medley of julienned vegetables and seafood atop a freshly baked mozzarella cheese pizza base.

Lo Hei Pizza

The base of the artisanal thin-crust pizza is made with Da Paolo's proprietary pizza dough recipe, where the dough is leavened for 48 hours, hand-stretched, and then stone-baked in the oven. Lo Hei Pizza ($58) is a pizza bianca in which a white base is chosen to pair with the yu sheng topping. Atop the mozzarella cheese pizza base is a combination of crunchy vegetables such as carrot, daikon, and celery, as well as piquant house-pickled red cabbage for some acidity. The seafood topping includes succulent raw Hokkaido scallops and citrusy house-cured Atlantic salmon slices. Binding the ingredients and the pizza dough together is a homemade plum sauce with some extra crunch and nuttiness from white sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, and crispy rice paper.

Lobster Bisque Fried Croquettes 4/5

After tossing to an auspicious new year, we had a couple of starters from the menu - Lobster Bisque Fried Croquettes ($18) and Buratta & Prosciutto ($30). The croquettes were very robust in flavour and not too creamy despite the addition of bechamel cream. I like how the piquillo sauce gave it a touch of peppery and fruity sweetness to balance its flavours.

Burrata & Prosciutto 4/5

Burrata & Prosciutto ($30) is an evergreen item here. With the burrata so plump, fresh and creamy, I can see why.

Spicy Lobster Tagliolini 4.5/5

We also had the Spicy Lobster Tagliolini ($36), a lip-smacking delicious pasta dish on the menu with a full-bodied tomato sauce spiced up with garlic and chilli, accented with occasional bust of sweetness from blistered tomatoes. I love the chunky slipper lobster too!

Tiramisu 4/5

For dessert, we had the signature Da Paolo's Tiramisu. It is good for two, but one can easily polish it clean.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Da Paolo Pizza Bar
44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-46
Singapore 278116
Tel: +65 64796059
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Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm
Sat-SuN & PH: 11am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Turn left and cut through the open air carpark. Walk to Jalan Merah Saga Road. Turn left at Jalan Merah Saga Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Monte Risaia @ Duxton - A Contemporary Italian-Japanese Omakase Experience

Monte Risaia is a contemporary Italian-Japanese Omakase restaurant located on Duxton Road, helmed by Chef Taizo Yamada, whose forte lies in Japanese-inspired Italian cuisine prepared using premium and seasonal ingredients from Japan. We had a $98 Omakase Course consisting of 2 antipasti, 1 pasta, 1 meat and a dessert.

Wagyu Ham with Burrata Cheese 5/5

The first appetiser was Wagyu Ham with Burrata Cheese, whose rich mouthfeel and luscious texture bowled me over. The fats of the wagyu ham bind the ham and the cheese together as it melts away, with shredded parmesan cheese lending some sharp saltiness to the dish. I'm genuinely surprised by how well these ingredients harmonise with one another.

Lobster Bisque Cartoccio Style 4.8/5

The 2nd appetiser did not disappoint as well. The Lobster Bisque Cartoccio Style was rich and intensely flavoured, but it wasn't overly creamy or buttery.

Japanese Chiayu Confit 3/5

The 3rd appetiser is a seasonal dish - Japanese Chiayu Confit. I didn't quite know how to approach this dish as there wasn't any side dish I could use with the flavoured oil. The Chiayu had a hint of bitterness, but it wasn't unpleasant. Interestingly, that bitter nuance brought out the sweetness of the corn and tomatoes.

Signature Triple Dashi with Shiso Leaves Pasta 4/5

Chef Taizo's pasta left an impression when I had it a couple of years back. I love the addition of shiso leaves that permeates the pasta with this distinctive herbaceous scent and the intensity of the tomato pasta sauce. The Signature Triple Dashi with Shiso Leaves Pasta (hamaguri dashi, Kani dashi, konbu dashi) was just as delicious this time round.

Roasted Beef Tenderloin 4/5

For main, we had Roasted Beef Tenderloin. The meat was simply prepared, but Chef Taizo layered it with small touches of ingredients such as horseradish, parmesan cheese, balsamic and tomato sauce, seasoning the meat with tiny bursts of acidity, sweetness and some sharp saltiness. Even bits of chicken soft bones were added to give it a textural crunch.

Genmaicha Gelato 4/5

Dessert was a refreshing Genmaicha Gelato, which I thought was a deviation from the usual Matcha ice cream. There were even bits of roasted brown rice that had become chewy in its current form, giving an additional texture to the ice cream.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Monte Risaia
59 Duxton Road
Singapore 089523
Tel: +65 69700067
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm – 230pm, 5pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Orchid Hotel. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road, cross the road. Walk to Craig Road. Turn left onto Craig Road. Walk down Craig Road. Turn right onto Duxton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Turn left and walk to Neil Road. Cross the road. Walk to Duxton Road. Walk down Duxton Road. WAlk to destinaton. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Beach Road Kitchen @ JW Marriott Singapore South Beach - The Art Of Afternoon Tea in Collaboration with Nespresso

In celebration of Earth Day on 22 April 2022, Beach Road Kitchen at JW Marriott Singapore South Beach has collaborated with Nespresso to launch The Art of Afternoon Tea ($40++ per person). Guests will find Nespresso-centric savoury treats and coffee-infused sweets. The Afternoon Tea is available every Saturday and Sunday 3.30 pm-5.30 pm for April and May 2022.

Before diving right into the main course, enjoy their warm entree of Lobster Bisque and Quiche Lorraine, included in the afternoon tea set.

Indulge in coffee infusion treats such as the Chocolate "Origin Brazil" Duck Rillettes and Foie Gras "Origin Peru Organic" Tart for savouries.

The local favourite kaya toast inspires the Truffle Kaya "Guatemala" Toast. The coffee's elegant bitterness balances the sweetness from the kaya spread.

Another of my favourite is the Lobster Tartare with a crispy charcoal shell and the Salmon Tartare with pesto cone.

The sweets selection was both a visual and sensory pleasure. My favourites include the Vanilla "Origin Guatemala" Coffee Caramel Tart, Latte "Peru Organic" Gateau, and Origin Peru Organic Coffee Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse. The melt in the mouth Origin Peru Organic Coffee Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse stood out for its luscious creaminess, neither too sweet nor bitter.

Coffee-infused sweets include the Raspberry Coffee Praline, which is punchy and robust in its fruity aroma without overpowering the coffee's bittersweet notes.

Take a break from the caffeine loaded treats with the Pistachio Strawberry Swiss Roll and Lemon Almond Gateau, which are equally delicious.

Enjoy the quintessential Scones in plain and tomato flavours, served with clotted cream, lemon curd, and raspberry rose jam. However, we found the scones a tad dry and lacking in the buttery taste.

End the afternoon tea on an even sweeter note with their Softserve Ice Cream with berries. We had the yoghurt flavour, which is superbly creamy and has a nice tangy-sweet flavour.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Beach Road Kitchen
JW Marriott Singapore South Beach
30 Beach Road
Singapore 189763
Tel: +65 68181913
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Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line)

Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

The Gallery Bistro @ Singapore National Gallery - Chic Museum Cafe With A Picturesque View Of The Singapore Skyline

Tucked on the first floor of National Gallery is The Gallery Bistro, a museum cafe that offers all-day dining from a relaxing brunch in the day to an alfresco co bar at night with mains and cocktails while soaking in the beautiful views of the Singapore's skyline.

As part of their ongoing promotions, The Gallery Bistro offers free dozen oysters for every 2 pax reservation with purchase of any ala carte items. This promotion is available from Mondays to Fridays, after 6pm. For every main ordered, kids below the age of 12 years old get to enjoy a free kids meal as well. This promotion is available daily before 5pm.

Lobster Bisque 4/5

To start the meal, we had the Lobster Bisque ($19). The lobster broth is creamy and flavourful, served with cream of chives and a small handful of lobster flesh.

Steak & Frites 4/5

There was an option for either the Striploin (250g/$28) or Ribeye (250g/$38) for the Steak & Frites, and we chose the latter. The thick medium-rare ribeye cut is succulent, well-seasoned, and yields intensely savoury flavours. It was served alongside a generous portion of fries.

White Wine and Clams Mafaldine 3.5/5

Tossed in garlic, shallot and clams, and butter sautéed in white wine with fresh herbs, the White Wine and Clams Mafaldine ($24) turned out relatively flat in taste, the white wine flavour was rather subtle. I liked the thick and chewy Mafaldine pasta, which has a firmer bite compared to others.

French Toast 4.2/5

End your meal on a sweet note with their variety of sweets on the desserts menu. We had the French Toast ($18) which comes in a thick, soft and fluffy French toast, garnished with cream Chantilly and fresh berries. Adding a scoop of house-made blue pea ice cream from Bread & Butterfly (+$4) is a great decision, as it elevates the toast's flavours, and made it less dry and cloying to finish.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Gallery Bistro
National Gallery Singapore
1 St Andrew's Rd
#01-11/13/14/17
Singapore 178957
Tel: +65 87200123
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Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am – 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk down North Bridge Road. Turn left onto Coleman Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Luke's Lobster @ Isetan Scotts - Marks The Brand's First Foray Into Southeast Asia

The long wait for New York-based restaurant - Luke's Lobster, famed worldwide for its Maine-style lobster rolls is finally over with it anticipated opening in Isetan Scotts Singapore on 23 September 2020, 1pm. It will be the brand's first foray into Southeast Asia.

Lobster Roll 4/5

For a start, Luke's Lobster is offering 3 different rolls on the menu - Lobster Roll ($25.50), Crab Roll ($23.50) and Shrimp Roll ($21.50). I have not tried their rolls before; hence I could not compare whether it tastes the same as the other overseas outlets. Checking with my friends that had tried their rolls before, the feedback is it tastes the same.

Crab Roll 4.2/5

The rolls come with seafood served chilled atop a buttered, griddled split-top bun with a swipe of mayo, a dash of lemon butter and a sprinkle of the brand's secret seasoning. If I compare it to Burger & Lobster, I find the bun is less buttery and oily. The texture is crispier, more like a toasty. I am not saying it is not good. I enjoyed it. It is up to the individual, just like how different people like their burger.

Shrimp Roll 3/5

Among the 3 rolls, surprisingly my favourite goes to the Crab Roll. I enjoyed how the sweetness of the crab meat coming through the buttery bun. Followed by the Lobster Roll. As for the shrimp, I didn't quite enjoy it there is still saltiness to it like it has been soaked in saltwater.

For those that can't decide what to get, you can go for Luke's Trio ($33.50) which consists of half portion each of the three rolls. A sample platter for you to decide which you really like and you can get the full portion in your next visit. To complete the meal, you can add either the Clam Chowder Soup ($11.50) or Lobster Bisque ($12.90).

To be launch at a later date is the Grilled Cheese Toast with either Lobster or Crab meat. It has a crispier bite compare to the roll. Some of us felt that the strongly flavoured cheese used kind of covers the sweetness of the lobster meat. It fares better with crab meat toasty though as it is sweeter.

To avoid snaking queue for its opening on 23 September 2020 at 1pm, you can pre-order online for takeaway through https://www.lukeslobster.sg from 17 September 2020, 12pm. The restaurant will also be rolling out island-wide delivery and third-party food delivery aggregators in phrases.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Luke's Lobster
Isetan Scotts, Shaw House
350 Orchard Road
#01-K4
Singapore 238868
Tel: +65 65927642
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 9pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Take the underpass to Isetan Scotts. Journey time around 5 minutes. [Map]

Fleur De Sel Le Restaurant @ Tras Street - Bringing Fine French Cuisine To The Comfort Of Your Home

Fleur De Sel Le Restaurant is a French restaurant located at the heart of Singapore's Central Business District along Tras Street. I am actually quite surprise the restaurant has been under my radar all these years. If it is a new restaurant I could have understand but it has been around since 2013. If not for the pandemic with the restaurant joining the food delivery bandwagon, I probably would not have known the restaurant opened by Chef/Owner Alexandre Lozachemeur.

Lobster Bisque

Beef Cheek Bourguignon

Who says you can't have fine French cuisine at the comfort of your home? Starting with some soups, we have the Lobster Bisque and Beef Cheek Bourguignon. We also got some bread to go along with the soups. The soups were legit, packed with depth and flavours. 

Crab & Prawn Citrus Salad 

Light and yet refreshing is the Crab & Prawn Citrus Salad, paired with avocado and coriander vinaigrette. 

Chicken Thigh Basquaise with Tomato & Stewed  Capsicums

Moving to the mains, we have a whole Chicken Thigh Basquaise with Tomato & Stewed Capsicums, that has been cooked to tender and soaking up the delicious sauce.

Seared Hokkaido Scallops

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Seared Hokkaido Scallops paired with braised leek and 

black truffle chicken sauce. Besides the plump scallop, what delighted me is the braised leek that complemented the dish excellently.

Beef Tongue with Tomato Sauce, Gherkins and Potato

Beef Tongue maybe acquire for some but as long as you can overcome psychological block, you will appreciate the fork tender piece of meat cooked in tomato sauce. I like the addition of gherkins which help to freshen up the palate from the richness. 

Seabass in Papillote with Zucchini, Tomato, Lemon and Thyme

For the Seabass in Papillote, you just need to heat up and you are ready to dine. The seabass was really moist, complemented by zucchini, tomato, lemon and thyme, elevating the whole taste as well as presentation.

Tiramisu

For dessert, I have the Tiramisu. I like the way it is done, light and not overly sweeten with the distinct espresso coming through from each mouthful. 

Lemon and Meringue Tart

If you like something sweet and sour, you will definitely enjoy the Lemon and Meringue Tart. It is definitely one of the best I have eaten for a long time.

Breakfast Basket

Not to be missed is the Breakfast Basket from Fleur De Sel with their freshly bakes. The breakfast basket consists of 2 croissants, 2 Almond Croissants, 2 Pain Au Chocolat, 2 Pain Au Raisin with 3 mini jams and butter.

Fleur De Sel Le Restaurant 

64 Tras Street

Singapore 079003

Tel: +65 62226861

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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:

Mon-Fri: 12pm - 2pm, 630pm - 10pm

Sat: 630pm - 10pm

(Closed on Sun)

Direction:

1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tras Street. Turn right onto Tras Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]