Bouillon Gavroche @ Mandarin Gallery - Asia’s First Traditional Parisian Bouillon

Bringing a slice of 19th-century Paris to the heart of Orchard Road, Bouillon Gavroche at Mandarin Gallery introduces Singapore to the timeless charm of the traditional French bouillon. As Asia’s first of its kind, the concept revives a historic dining culture that predates the brasserie and bistro, where hearty, honest French fare is served all day in a lively, convivial setting.

Unlike its more refined sibling, Brasserie Gavroche, this new concept embraces accessibility — both in pricing and atmosphere — offering a menu of comforting French classics designed for everyday dining. With starters from $6, mains from $16, and desserts from $6, it is a refreshing addition to the local dining scene, where quality French cuisine is often associated with heftier price tags.

Camembert Pané 4/5

The Camembert Pané ($14) is a quintessential French comfort starter. Encased in a golden, crisp breadcrumb crust, the thick wheel of Camembert reveals a luscious molten centre upon cutting. The richness of the cheese is thoughtfully balanced by a side of fresh greens, whose light acidity cuts through the indulgence. It is simple yet deeply satisfying.

Oeufs Mimosa 4/5

A staple across Parisian bouillons, the Oeufs Mimosa ($6) celebrates the beauty of simplicity. Hard-boiled eggs are halved and filled with a creamy yolk mixture bound with mayonnaise and lightly seasoned with herbs. Unpretentious and nostalgic, the dish reflects the restaurant’s ethos, humble ingredients, executed with care.

Rillettes de Saumon 4.2/5

The Rillettes de Saumon ($12) offers a delightful interplay of textures and flavours. Combining both poached and smoked salmon, the spread achieves a balance between delicate freshness and savoury depth. Lightly bound with crème fraîche and lifted with a hint of lemon zest, it remains refreshing on the palate. Paired with toasted bread, it makes for an easy yet refined starter.

Salade d’Endives 3.5/5

The Salade d’Endives ($12) is a vibrant composition of contrasting flavours and textures. Crisp endive leaves bring a gentle bitterness, complemented by the creamy saltiness of Roquefort, the crunch of toasted walnuts, and the sweetness of fresh apple slices. While refreshing, its assertive flavour profile may not appeal to all, but it serves well as a palate cleanser amid richer dishes.

Ravioles de Royan aux Épinards 4/5

The Ravioles de Royan aux Épinards ($16) showcases a regional French speciality from the Dauphiné. These delicate, bite-sized pasta parcels feature thin, silky skins that almost dissolve in the mouth, encasing a creamy cheese filling. Served atop a bed of sautéed spinach, the dish achieves a lovely balance between richness and earthy freshness.

Beef Bourguignon, Coquillettes 4.2/5

A highlight on the menu, the Beef Bourguignon, Coquillettes ($26) delivers deep, comforting flavours. The beef is braised until fork-tender in a rich red wine reduction, imbued with the sweetness of slow-cooked vegetables. Instead of the usual potatoes, it is paired with coquillettes, small elbow pasta that soaks up the robust sauce beautifully. Nostalgic and hearty, it captures the soul of traditional French home cooking.

Parmentier de Canard 4/5

The Parmentier de Canard ($22) is a rustic, comforting dish akin to a French-style shepherd’s pie. Beneath a blanket of smooth, buttery mashed potatoes lies shredded duck confit, rich and deeply flavourful. Baked to a light golden finish, it is a hearty, no-frills dish that embodies the essence of French “cuisine bourgeoise” — honest, filling, and immensely satisfying.

Profiterole 4.5/5

The Profiterole ($10) is a standout dessert. The airy choux pastry, lightly crisp on the outside, encases a swirl of vanilla soft serve. What elevates the dish is the warm, luscious chocolate sauce poured generously over the top, creating a delightful contrast of hot and cold while slowly melting the ice cream into a creamy pool.

Tarte Fine aux Pommes 4.2/5

The Tarte Fine aux Pommes ($8) is a study in restraint and precision. A thin sheet of puff pastry forms the base, baked until crisp and buttery, topped with delicately sliced apples arranged in a neat pattern. Lightly caramelised at the edges, the apples retain their natural tartness, allowing the fruit to shine without excessive sweetness.

Mousse au Chocolat 4.2/5

Ending on a classic note, the Mousse au Chocolat ($8) delivers a rich yet airy indulgence. Smooth and velvety with a slight density, it strikes a fine balance between lightness and depth, offering a satisfying chocolate finish without being overly heavy.

Bouillon Gavroche successfully captures the spirit of Parisian bouillon dining — approachable, comforting, and steeped in tradition. The menu focuses on familiar French classics executed with finesse, while the pricing makes it accessible for casual, repeat visits. In a dining landscape where French cuisine often leans towards the formal and extravagant, Bouillon Gavroche stands out with its relaxed charm and honest cooking. In this place, one can simply drop in, enjoy a hearty meal, and return time and again.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Bouillon Gavroche
Mandarin Gallery
333A Orchard Road
#01-16/17
Singapore 238897
Tel: +65 8522 0998
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Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to ground level. Turn left onto Orchard Road. Walk down Orchard Road. Cross the road and walk to the destination. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]

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]

Boeuf @ Telok Ayer Street - 2Hr All You Can Eat Free Flow Argentinian Ribeye On Weekends

Boeuf, located in the Central Business District, is a new steakhouse that offers a variety of aged prime ribs as well as steak with varying marbling scores and beef sourced from around the globe without breaking the bank.

Bone Marrow 4/5

We started with the Bone Marrow ($18/$30) with toasted bread, perfect for mopping up the creamy, rich-tasting bone marrow.

Wagyu Tartare 4/5

Next is the Wagyu Tartare ($28). The portion is generous. Using 400+ days grass-fed Australia Wagyu MB5, the raw beef tossed with capers, shallot, and gherkins is packed with lovely flavours. I am told the chef added mayonnaise, giving it a delightful creamy texture.

Board Minnie 4/5

The Board Minnie ($48) is great for sharing and comes with two kinds of cheese, bresaola and veal rillette. You can also create your own board at $13 each per selection.

Signature Dry Aged Prime Rib Bone-In 4.5/5

The highlight has to be their Signature Dry Aged Prime Rib Bone-In ($18/100g). It comes bone-in, with a minimum of 1kg of charcoal-grilled beefy goodness. Customers get to pick their own dry-aged option, grilled over charcoal on a lava stone, giving it a good char and infused with a smoky aroma. It is then popped into the oven to lock in the juiciness. There are four different accompanying sauces - Steak Butter ($5), Pepper ($5), Mushroom ($6) and Blue Cheese ($6).

Potato Gratin 4.5/5

Kenya Bean 3.5/5

Hand Cut Fries 4/5

We had some sides to go with the beautiful charcoal-grilled prime ribs. Out of the six items available on the sides menu, we picked the Potato Gratin ($12), Kenya Bean ($9) and Hand Cut Fries ($9). Out of the three sides, the Potato Gratin stood out. The layered potato slices baked in cream and cheese were deliciously flavoured with herbs adding a subtle earthy taste profile. The kenya bean and hand-cut fries were comforting dishes that complemented the steak and frites dining experience.

Argentinian Ribeye 4/5

Beef lovers will rejoice that Boeuf has a 2-Hour Eat All You Can Free-Flow Argentinian Ribeye promotion for only $48++ on weekends. However, despite free flow, the restaurant did not shy away from offering quality cuts.

Choco De Coco 4/5

After all the meats, it is good to end the meal on a sweet note. Chocolate lovers will revel in the Choco De Coco ($13) served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. There is even chestnut in the dark chocolate dessert.

Creme Brulee 4/5

The Cream Brulee ($13) was soft and creamy with a crackling caramelised sugar on top. The contrast provides a wonderful textural experience for a satisfying sweet ending.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Boeuf
159 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068614
Tel: +65 69701255
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Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Telok Ayer Street. Turn left and walk down Telok Ayer Street. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Turn left and walk down Telok Ayer Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Drunken Farmer @ Stanley Street - All Good Things Come From The Earth

Drunken Farmer, a purveyor of natural wine, has set up a brick and mortar natural wine bar and bistro along Stanley Street. The menu is designed around naturally leavened sourdough with a minimal waste philosophy, pair with natural wines sourced from Europe to South America, advocating making food and wine the natural way. Embedded in each dish are slow-fermented ingredients sourced from close to home and made entirely from scratch by Chef Albert.

Sourdough “Couvert” 3.8/5, Spanish Mackerel Rillette 3.8/5

For a start, we had the Sourdough "Couvert" ($12) and Spanish Mackerel Rillette ($14). The first let us have a taste of their naturally-leavened sourdough loaves untainted, made using a 159-year-old starter, along with house churned butter, pickles fermented from scratch and smoked Maldon salt. The latter is made with whole Spanish mackerel fillets and housemade ricotta, along with chives, butter, olive oil, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar. Having this with the Sourdough "Couvert" complement one another as it is also served with another two housemade dips – a house fermented miso grain mustard, as well as a crème fraiche, finished with green oil made using local herbs and bay leaf salt to balance out the fat.

Squid Ink Crackers 4/5

Squid Ink Crackers ($13) is like a more sophisticated sister of our Asian prawn cracker, served with an extremely umami prawn dip that packs a punch. Heads and shells of prawns that go into the laksa sambal of another dish are repurposed into it, topped with soy-marinated sago pearls to mimic the texture of caviar and as well as a flavour boost.

Sourdough Karaage 3/5

This Sourdough Karaage ($20) may not have the most ideal airy and light crust, but the effort behind it is notable. The crust made with the key ingredients of sourdough discard and TBB Beerguette Beer (a locally produced pilsner-style beer made from upcycled surplus loaves of bread from Tiong Bahru Bakery). The best part to me was the kimchi mayonnaise served at the side. I enjoyed it as I do with yoghurt.

Drunken Farmer's Salad 4.5/5

You can't get any closer to nature with this Drunken Farmer's Salad ($15), a gorgeous plate of fresh salad leaves and herbs from local farms, raw and pickled beetroots and radish, dressed with a light and tangy apple juice reduction and dollops of homemade Greek yoghurt marbled with a reduction of beets juice.

Shrooms & Goat Cheese 4/5

Their Sourdough Pizza is a must-try. We had Shrooms & Goat Cheese ($22) and Anchovy & Pesto ($23). As the goat cheese is house-made, it was mild in a good way as I usually find mushrooms and goat cheese tend to fight against each other. The latter had a good combination of flavours - saltish and briny anchovy mellowed with milky house-made temple stracciatella.

Sourdough Waffle 4.5/5

Summing up our meal was a Sourdough Waffle ($12/$18). It is made using a 159-year-old starter and a two-day fermentation process that allows the natural reaction of wild bacteria between the flour, air and water to take its course. The salted caramel ice cream made entirely out of banana was superb but just too little to go around.

Complementing the food menu is an exhaustive list of over 80 natural, organic, biodynamic and sustainably farmed labels sourced straight from winemakers from France, Italy, Chile and Spain—some of which exclusively imported by Drunken Farmer.

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.


Drunken Farmer
11 Stanley Street
Singapore 068730
Tel: +65 68774855
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 6pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Mon and Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk along the covered walkway until the junction of Mccallum Street and Telok Ayer Street. Turn right onto Mccallum Street and then left onto Stanley Street. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to junction of Telok Ayer Street and Upper Cross Street. Turn left onto Telok Ayer Street. Turn left again onto Boon Tat Street and make a right onto Stanley Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Audace Bar & Restaurant @ Wanderlust Hotel Singapore – Modern French Bistro Fare With A Contemporary Twist

Opened in May 2017, Audace Bar & Restaurant also short for "Audacity" is a whole new concept built on the idea of bistronomy (bistro fare with a contemporary twist). It is helmed by Chef Jeremy Gillon hailing from Le Montana in the French Alps where he was executive chef of a trio of restaurants and led French restaurant L'Epicurien to receive its first ever Michelin star in 2015. So, what makes Audace "audacious"? Its audacious demeanor begins with its locale in Little India, within the quirky Wanderlust Hotel. Rather than serving up audaciously bizarre concoctions on the menu that one may expect, the restaurant presents an ever-changing sensational offerings of French bistro fare with contemporary touches, working food alchemy magic with a combination of imported and Tekka market-sourced ingredients, as well as infusing components with wild herbs thoughtfully foraged from the French Alps. Here, Audace offers a more relaxed, casual and approachable fare to curate an unforgettable dining experience different from the traditional mould of Michelin star fine dining.

Open throughout the day from Tuesday to Sunday, Audace provides a continental breakfast spread and an afternoon tea selection of sweet treats. On Sundays, it offers a communal brunch, consisting of 6 Appetisers, 5 Main Courses, 5 Side dishes and 5 Desserts placed in the centre of your table for sharing. We tried the 16-dish Sunday Brunch menu rolled out by Audace. Do note that dishes on the menu are subject to changes due to the seasonality of the ingredients used.

Arugula Salad, Parmesan, Lemon And Olive Oil Dressing 3.8/5

For the appetisers, we had the Arugula Salad with Parmesan, Lemon and Olive Oil Dressing. The argula salad boasts a crunchy texture while its accompaniments, an abundance of parmesan pieces atop and olive oil dressing bring a lift to its taste.

Shark Rillette 4/5

The Shark Rillette comes in a small bowl and an accompanying side of crusted bread. Creamy with a slight crunchiness in between bites, the shark rillette may be a tad too salty when eaten on its own. It acts as a spread on the bread provided to prevent it from being too overpowering.

Asparagus Salad Chorizo Iberico 4/5

The Asparagus Salad Chorizo Iberico features two stalks of asparagus with a nice crunchiness and subtle sweetness, while the thin slices of fresh chorizos add a rich savouriness in accompaniment, resulting in an appetiser that is refreshing and light on the palate.

Focaccia With Cooked Ham & Mascarpone Black Pepper 4/5

For a more carb-loaded appetiser, the Focaccia with Cooked Ham & Mascarpone Black Pepper features small pieces of mildly salted cooked ham garnished with mascarpone black pepper sitting atop slices of focaccia bread, which is essentially flat oven-baked Italian bread with a crisp texture.

Salmon Gravlax Beetroot 4.2/5

The Salmon Gravlax Beetroot comes in slices of fresh smoked salmon. Paired well with the thinly sliced beetroot and puree on the side for a refreshing combination.

Duck Terrine & Pickles 3.8/5

The Duck Terrine & Pickles is slightly heavier on the palate and stronger in taste with its tender duck terrine meat, which imparts a mild saltiness and paired with sourish pickles that has a harder tart texture to complement the soft duck terrine.

Grilled White Tuna, Origan 4.2/5

Moving on to the mains, we had the Grilled White Tuna, Origan. The white tuna had a perfect grilled crisp skin which reveals the meat within with a softness and tenderness that just melts in the mouth. It sits on a bed of Origan mash which complements the tuna well with a subtle herb fragrance.

Red Snapper with Kafir & Orange Paste Dressing 4.2/5

The Red Snapper with Kafir & Orange Paste Dressing left an impression with its tender meat that breaks easily in the mouth, with accompaniments of kafir and orange pasta dressing which adds a citrusy note to the dish.

Braised Pork Belly 4/5

The Braised Pork Belly features a perfectly crisp skin with an almost half-half ratio of fats-meat within. It results in a sublime slice of pork perfect for pork belly lovers who perhaps prefer a greater proportion of fats in their braised pork belly meat. The crunchiness of the accompanying chestnut slices and crispy crackers add a texture to the dish though the flavours in the combination are too fleeting to leave much of an impact.

Smoked Breast Duck 4.2/5

The Smoked Breast Duck is presented in neat slices of duck breast meat. Tender, juicy with a slight smokiness in its taste, the chestnut mash smeared on the side is a nice touch to the duck breast meat.

Skewer Flank Beef 4.2/5

The Skewer Flank Beef comes in glistening cubes of beef stacked neatly on a skewer, with some bits slightly tougher but the rest of it is enjoyable with a smoky taste, almost to the point of being tender yet retaining a resilient bite.

Creamy Polenta 4/5

The Creamy Polenta served as a side dish – creamy textured and buttery tasting, is a perfect complement to the mains served.

Orange Cream Tartelette & Candied Berce, Macaron Speculoos Cookies 4/5

The Orange Cream Tartelette comes in dollops of smooth orange cream with a mildly sourish taste, Speculoos Macarons stuffed with a subtly sweet speculoos cream, and Cookies that boast a nice crunchiness and chocolatey flavour. Overall, a platter of desserts that features a contrast in textures and flavours that keep the palate from getting bored.

Dark Chocolate Mousse With Salted Caramel 4.2/5

The Dark Chocolate Mousse with Salted Caramel features a smooth creamy chocolate mousse with a dark and intense flavour, subtle saltiness with the salted caramel, and served with roasted pecans for an additional crunch and nutty undertone.

Calamansi Sorbet 3.8/5

The last desserts dish we had is the Calamansi Sorbet, which features a refreshingly light and smooth calamansi sorbet, though its sourness is further augmented by the bed of pomelo flesh below. The candied berce and orange slices give a crunchy contrast to the smoothness of the sorbet, yet add a citusy note with just a subtle sweetness to the otherwise overwhelmingly sour dish.

Audace tries to push boundaries and challenge the norm with continuous pursuit of innovative dishes. The food overall fares quite excellently with never ending elements of surprise when the menu changes very week.

Words and photos 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.


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Audace Bar & Restaurant
Wanderlust Hotel
2 Dickson Road
Singapore 209494
Tel: +65 62981188
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Jalan Besar (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 1130am - 2pm, 2pm - 6pm, 630pm - 12midnight
Sun: 1130am - 4pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Jalan Besar MRT Station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk to Dickson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]