Claudine @ Dempsey Hill - Sister Restaurant Of Three-Starred Michelin Restaurant Odette By Chef Julien Royer

With a few foodie friends, we make a reservation at Claudine at Dempsey Hill, the sister restaurant of Odette. It is another concept by Chef Julien Royer. The restaurant, located inside an old chapel building where the former White Rabbit restaurant was, has been transformed into a beautiful French brasserie.

Charred Leeks 4/5

We started with the Charred Leeks ($22). I have never eaten leeks served in 'gribiche' dressing with cornichon and chives. While it looks like a pool of mess, it was a tasty finish that allowed me to appreciate the charred leeks.

Nougat De Foie Gras 4.5/5

My friend, who loves her terrine, insisted on ordering the Nougat De Foie Gras ($38), which was an excellent choice. Best to spread it on the bread to enjoy the creaminess of the goose liver. It even comes with almond, cranberry and apricot to cut that richness.

Herring & Potato Salad 4.2/5

The Herring & Potato Salad ($28) topped with frisee surprised me for its simplicity, yet the various ingredients combine to make it a delicious dish. I adore the pairing of herring and potato, which is a first for me too. Herring can be quite sourish, so the starchy potato kind of balanced it.

Vol-Au-Vent 4/5

The Vol-Au-Vent ($58) looks somewhat like a volcano to me in its form. The towering puff pastry is filled with sweetbread, morel and chicken quenelle. The creamy mushroom jus at the base is like the after-eruption volcano lava that has flowed to the bottom of the volcano.

Chou Farci 4.2/5

It is another eye-opener for me at Claudine in the Chou Farci ($98). It didn't come across me that the French also use cabbage to wrap their food in their cooking. I thought only the Chinese did it. Cutting through the huge cabbage dome reveals luxe fillings of Gascon bacon, foie gras, prune etc. It is a richly flavoured and hearty dish that requires approximately 30 minutes of preparation time.

Claudine Bouillabaisse 4.2/5

The Claudine Bouillabaisse ($198) is probably the most expensive item on the menu. The classic French fish soup with seafood is good for sharing. It consists of deep-sea prawns (carabineros), scallops, john dory fish, razor clams and mussels. The seafood is accompanied by a plate of saffron rouille sauce and croutons to soak up the delicious soup. I enjoyed the dish, but it hurt my wallet.

While I heard mixed reviews of the restaurant, my friends and I enjoyed the food at Claudine. However, the dining experience could be better. Unfortunately, the experience was spoilt by the waiting staff reminding us numerous times throughout the dinner that we had to finish by a specific time for the second seating.


Claudine
Dempsey Hill
39C Harding Road
Singapore 249541
Tel: +65 62652966
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Nearest MRT: Napier (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch
Wed-Sun: 1145am - 2pm
Dinner
Tue-Sat: 6pm - 9pm
Sun: 6pm - 830pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
Alight at Napier MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to Minden Road. Turn left onto Minden Road and walk to the end of Minden Road. Turn right onto Harding Road. Walk down Harding Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

SENS Dining @ Holland Village - New Menu With Innovative Add-ons Plus A Hidden Bar Concept

Known for its contemporary Japanese cuisine, SENS Dining at Holland Village has recently launched a new menu, offering innovative new dishes and sets for sharing. In addition, to deliver an even more unique experience, SENS Dining has also incorporated a Japanese whisky and cocktail bar concept - Bar Nikai.

Yagura Ketsuga Sushi Box 4.5/5

Available in limited sets daily, Yagura Ketsuga Sushi Box ($88) allows you to create your own handrolls using the beautiful ingredients provided - a combination of fish and seafood, beautifully arranged in a tower modelled after an ancient Japanese fortress. The first tier of the box (the roof of the tower) holds the pieces of crispy seaweeds; the second tier is loaded with uni, negitoro, ikura and avocado, while the last tier is a chirashi of scallops, salmon, tuna and Hamachi atop sushi rice. It is a tasty and fun way to present and enjoy the food.

Sushi Tacos 4.5/5

Its all-new Sushi Tacos fit perfectly into its Bar Nikai concept. The taco shell is made of ebi senbei prawn crackers, available in five flavours: Ebi with Tobiko ($8), Tsubugai Shellfish ($8), Salmon Mentai ($12.50), Negitoro ($13.20) and Hotate Uni ($25.80). As the ingredients for the sushis were pretty mouth-filling and buttery, the extra crunch and slight savouriness from the taco shell complement the texture and flavour exceptionally well.

Hokkaido Treasure Don 4.5/5

Hokkaido Treasure Don ($48.80) highlights the freshness of the ingredients. Revamped with additional ingredients, the oyster is a rare treat from a don.

Aburi Sugoi Maki 4/5

A crowd-pleaser is the Aburi Sugoi Maki ($18.50) - Seared Avocado Salmon maki roll with Century Egg sauce and Flying Fish roe. What makes this special is the use of century egg sauce. The maki was good, but the century egg sauce was less distinctive than I had expected.

Wagyu Sukiyaki Set 4.5/5

The Wagyu Sukiyaki Set ($39.50) is my all-time favourite with its extremely comforting broth. The broth's recipe has been tweaked to make it even more flavourful.

Kurobuta Rosu Katsu 4/5

Kurobuta Rosu Katsu ($19.80) features an aged Kurobuta pork cutlet. The pork has been aged for a richer flavour. The katsu wasn't as moist as I had wanted, but I still enjoyed its clean taste and crusty texture.

Bar Nikai curates a wide array of rare Japanese whiskies and Sakes from independent breweries. In addition, the cocktail menu features Japanese culinary-inspired drinks.

Enjoy 1-for-1 tacos for the entire month of November 2022. You get the options of Tsubugai Taco, Negitoro Taco or Salmon Mentai Taco. The free taco will be of the same flavour and exclusively for dine-in. Best to go with a drink or two from the bar!

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.


SENS Dining
243 Holland Avenue
Singapore 278977
Tel: +65 62625618
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Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]