Senso Ristorante & Bar @ Club Street - Sunday Prosecco Brunch

As Club Street settles in for the beginning of a new week on a lazy Sunday morning, Senso Ristorante & Bar is just about to get started with its Sunday Brunch affair. With its Sunday Prosecco Brunch, you get to enjoy a buffet spread of antipasti and desserts, while your choice of mains and pastas will be served a la minute.

Occupying five heritage shop houses that make up its 180-seaters, this 18-year old establishment is an intimate space, no less. Plate yourself a selection of the starters - freshly-shucked Normandy Oysters and Prawns, Cheeses and Crackers, freshly-baked Breads with butter or olive oil, a glass of Prosecco in hand, and you are on your way. Brunch affairs at Senso is not so much about eat-all-you-can kind of weekend splurge but really about taking it slow, bringing people together over drinks & dine.

What you can rave about this Brunch affair is its range of Italian Cold Cuts which includes premium items such as Vitello Tonnato. Afterall, Senso is known for its contemporary Italian cuisine and these Italian antipasti definitely sets the mood for more Prosecco.

Pan-seared Duck Liver 4/5

From the Soup & Appetizer menu, I tried 2 add-ons (top up $8  per serving) - Pan-seared Duck Liver and Foie Gras Terrine. Beautifully plated, the duck liver came with both sides seared to crisp, with the bottom taking on a sweet note with caramelisation. With the tart port wine cherry coulis and savoury salted meringue served alongside, the different textures and flavours of the ingredients intertwine with one another to complete this dish.

Foie Gras Terrine 4/5

The Foie Gras Terrine was buttery smooth, with subtle livery taste and a hint of alcohol which is my favourite part! The mango chutney brightens it up with a sweet tartness. Like any good butter or bone marrow, the toasted homemade brioche bread becomes the best vehicle to deliver all that into your mouth.

Risotto Carnaroli with Summer Black Truffles 3/5

For Pasta, we also tried an add-on Risotto Carnaroli with shaved summer Black Truffles (+$15). There's really nothing much about this dish other than the shaved truffles on top.

Green Fettuccini, Baby Spinach, Mushrooms 3.5/5

Taglierini, Prawns, White Wine Sauce 3.5/5

Hence, sticking to the regular menu is good enough. We had the Green Fettuccini and Taglierini which were pretty decent. All are served small portion, hence you get to try all on the menu!

Haddock Fillet, Salmon Fillet, Beef Straccetti and Iberico Pluma 3/5

Following are the Mains - Haddock Fillet, Salmon Fillet, Beef Straccetti and Iberico Pluma. Served with complementary sides and sauces, I appreciate how all the Mains are being plated as a course of its own. However, given that all are served a la minute, it is a shame that they were all somewhat dry except the Haddock Fillet.

Desserts range from the classic Tiramisu to Macaroons, Profiteroles and Brownies, Crème brulee. The desserts are average, so you might want to end your Sunday with a refreshing note by ordering its Homemade Ice Cream and Sorbet with fresh berries (top up $6 per serving).

Senso’s Brunch menu is refreshed weekly. I love the ambience and the spread of great antipasti that allows one to spend the early afternoon away from the hustle of the city. Of course, with a glass of Prosecco in hand.

Sunday Prosecco Brunch
Pice: $68 (adult), $38 (child, 6-12 years old) includes free flow of juices.
- Top up $30 for free flow of Prosecco
- Top up $40 for free flow of Prosecco, Wines, Beer, Soft drink, juices, Coffee & Tea
- Top up $60 for free flow of Champagne, Prosecco & Rose' Prosecco, Wines, Beer, Soft drink, juices, Coffee & Tea

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.


Senso Ristorante & Bar
21 Club Street
Singapore 069410
Tel:+65 62243534
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (NE Line, DT Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sat: 6pm - 1030pm
Sun: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Club Street. Turn left on Club Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk down Upper Cross Street to junction of Upper Cross Street and South Bridge Road. Continue down Upper Cross Street and turn right onto Club Street. Journey time about 10 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.


[CLOSED]
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]

Five Nines (999.99) @ Cuppage Plaza - It Needs More Polishing To Get Back Its Shine

Five Nines (999.99) which first opened at Keong Saik Road has now been relocated to Cuppage Plaza level 4. In fact, it has done a musical chair with Kyuu, swapping premises. Putting the restaurant's group reason for doing so aside, lets see whether Five Nines is able to maintain its gold standard with a new Chef at helm and new menu.

Marinated Botan Shrimp and Couscous Salad 3/5

For my visit, I had the 6 course dinner at $49. The first course is Marinated Botan Shrimp and Couscous Salad with tosazu vinegar and salmon roe. I can't deny the sweetness and freshness of the botan shrimp, as well as the idea of appreciating the different textures of the botan prawn. However the whole execution and presentation did not quite excite me. It felt rather bare, rough and unappealing.

Foie Gras Terrine and Bruschetta 2.8/5

The second appetiser is Foie Gras Terrine and Bruschetta with instant smoked orange jam. I really felt the smoking effect was rather gimmicky and it didn't really complement the dish. Rather I felt it was a bit too thick and unpleasant, distorting the appreciation of the main ingredients.

Lobster Spaghetti with Creamy Tomato Sauce 4/5

Garlic Flavoured Squid Ink Tagliolini 3.5/5

For the pasta dish, one has a choice between the Lobster Spaghetti with Creamy Tomato Sauce or Garlic Flavoured Squid Ink Tagliolini topped with Snow Crab. I like my pasta to be saucy hence I preferred the lobster spaghetti with creamy tomato sauce. For those that enjoys a firmer bite and less creamy, the squid ink tagliolini will be a good choice.

Steamed Cod Fish Rolled with Parma Ham 3/5

The next dish is Steamed Cod Fish Rolled with Parma Ham with Porcini Cream Sauce. The cod fish was cooked to a nice moist texture which paired excellent with the porcini cream sauce. While it is a nice dish, I am not sure the technique used in cooking the cod fish is the best choice to bring justify to the fish.

Mozzarella and Lamb Tenderloin Fritto 4/5

For those that is afraid of the gamy flavour of lamb, you will not find it in the Mozzarella and Lamb Tenderloin Fritto with celeriac puree, Japanese pepper fond de veau sauce. This is probably the best dish for me among the six-course dinner. The flavourful meat is cooked to tender. The stuffed mozzarella provided the additional boost in flavour to elevate the whole enjoyment.

Creme Brulee 3/5

Lastly, the Creme Brulee wrapped up the six-course dinner. I thought the custard was a little wet but it seems the others in the group did not think so and quite enjoy it. Guess its up to individual's preference.

Overall, I felt that the six-course dinner at $49 is quite value for money. However it terms of the dishes, I felt Five Nines has lost its shine to be the gold standard. It really needs some polishing to get back its shine if it wants to bring back the crowd.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


[CLOSED]
Five Nines (999.99)
Cuppage Plaza
5 Koek Road
#04-04
Singapore 228796
Tel: +65 67320195
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 6pm - 230am
Sun: 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to ground level. Walk to junction of Orchard Road and Koek Road. Cross the road. Walk down Koek Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Equinox Restaurant @ Swissotel The Stamford Singapore - Sunday Vintage Brunch With The Views Of Singapore Skyline

Located on level 70 of Swissotel The Stamford Singapore, Equinox Restaurant has unveiled a whole new Sunday Vintage Brunch set against unparalleled views of the Singapore skyline. The spectacular buffet spread is accompanied with an endless flow of Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2006.

Starting with something light to go with my champagne, I got myself some Duck Rillette, Country Terrine, Foie Gras Terrine and Smoked Salmon with Caviar.

Usually buffet is served in big portion and diners help themselves to it. At Equinox, quite a number of items come in small tapas size portion such as the Prawn Cocktail, Roasted Duck Salad, Beetroot Salad, Quinoa Salad. I actually quite like the idea, so that there is no food wastage and I can safe my stomach to try more food.

Diners can look forward to a plethora of seafood such as Boston Lobster, Oysters from Traigheanna Bay, Oleron and French, Sri Lankan Crab and Prawns.

There are also fresh Sashimi and Sushi to complement the enticing spread of ocean fresh seafood.

Not to be missed is the Roasted Angus Beef with red wine and Bearnaise sauce. The beautiful meat s cooked to pink, succulent and flavourful. From the carving station, the Salt Crust Baked Sea Bass with wasabi butter sauce is another worthy dish for its moist meat.

Besides the buffet spread, diners can also order from the ala carte menu (unlimited order) which features Chef Paul's weekly special  which is freshly prepared from the kitchen. On the menu there were six items, namely Roasted Pork Belly, Salted Cod Croquettes, Roasted Lamb Leg, Pull Pork Toast, Roasted Scallops and Salmon Wellington.

I personally would recommend going for the roasted pork belly and salted cod croquettes. The rest can skip. Instead go back for more seafood, angus beef and baked sea bass.

You should not leave Equinox without trying their dessert. You will not regret it. Even myself who is not a dessert person, could not resist myself helping to them. That just shows how good they are.

Sunday Vintage Brunch
12.00pm to 3.30pm
S$168++ per person, inclusive of unlimited Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2006, cocktails, wines and imported beers.
S$138++ per person, inclusive of unlimited juices and soft drinks
S$89++ per child (7 – 12 years old)
S$69++ per child (4 – 6 years old)

Pink Vintage Brunch (Every last Sunday of the month)
12.00pm to 3.30pm
S$178++ per person, inclusive of unlimited Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2006, cocktails, wines and imported beers.
S$148++ per person, inclusive of unlimited juices and soft drinks
S$99++ per child (7 – 12 years old)
S$79++ per child (4 – 6 years old)

Noted: This is an invited tasting.


Equinox
Swissotel The Stamford
Level 70
2 Stamford Road
Singapore 178882
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 2pm, 7pm - 10pm
(Closed on Sun & PH)

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]