Au Balcon @ The Summerhouse - Parktake In Comforting, Classic French Fare With The Reinvented Au Balcon

Formerly known as the French Dining Room at The Summerhouse, Au Balcon, located on the second floor of the historical building, refreshed its menu to focus on classic French flavours with a twist.

Octopus & Prawn Nicoise Salad 3,5/5

We kickstarted our dinner with several entrees, starting with the Octopus & Prawn Nicoise Salad ($28). It is an elevated take on the salad featuring a smoky, tender grilled octopus leg on a bed of fresh butterhead lettuce, sweet cherry tomatoes, haricot verts, olives, fingerling potatoes and local Kelong-farmed prawns. I am not a salad person, but the accompanying ingredients liven the enjoyment of the boring greens.

Florentine 65℃ Organic Egg 3.5/5

Next is the Florentine 65℃ Organic Egg ($18). A farm egg sits on a bed of garlic-sauteed spinach, cauliflower puree and is finished with a flourish of fresh truffle shavings, pecorino and truffle vinaigrette. It may look simple but do not be deceived by it. It is packed with lovely flavours.

Seared Atlantic Scallop 3.8/5

Seared to perfect golden brown is the plump and sweet Atlantic Scallop ($24), paired deliciously on a swath of smooth, vibrant romesco sauce, topped with sweet caper raisins and coriander cres from The Summerhouse's edible garden.

Pluma Iberico 4/5

Moving to the mains, we had the Pluma Iberico ($48) beautifully seared and paired with a sweet-sour apple celeriac puree and moreish garlic brussels sprouts. It is sprinkled with toasted almonds for a layered bite and a nutty finish.

Kuhlbarra Barramundi 4/5

The Kuhlbarra Baramundi ($36) is sustainably sourced, paired with creamy polenta and roasted heirloom carrots. A rich, savoury crustacean reduction beautifully ties the dish together, binding every component together in harmony.

Wagyu Striploin 4.2/5

Another delicious protein is the richly marbled Wagyu Striploin ($98), charcoal grilled to perfection. The melt-in-the-mouth beef is served with a buttery, smoked potato puree and crispy broccolini.

Citrus Creme Brulee 3.5/5

Wrapping our meal is the Citrus Creme Brulee ($16). The smooth and creamy vanilla custard is given a citrus lift with the addition of orange zest. However, I preferred the other dessert. The Paris Brest ($16) fares much better with airy choux pastry rings piped with a rich, nutty praline diploma and finished with a light dusting of icing sugar.

Paris Brest 4/5

Having dined at The Summerhouse previously, the new menu fell below my expectation. It is good, but the dishes felt safe without many surprises or its own character. They are classic French fare, which can be found in any French restaurant.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Summerhouse Dining Room
Seletar Airport
3 Park Lane
Singapore 798387
Tel: +65 88095840
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Nearest MRT: Punggol (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Dinner
Mon, Wed-Sun, Eve of PH & PH: 6pm - 10pm
Brunch
Sat-Sun, PH: 1130am - 3pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Punggol MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Punggol Bus Interchange (Stop ID 65009). Take bus number 117. Alight 6 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 30 minutes. [Map]

First Grill @ Bukit Pasoh - Grilled Gastronomy, Where Culinary Meets The Flames Of Passion

First Grill, located at Bukit Pasoh is dedicated to serving delicious grilled cuisine to customers who enjoy the beauty of grilled food over charcoal and flames. Using the renowned Josper Charcoal Grill paired with a team of chefs who have mastered the wild nature of flames. First Grill serves a comprehensive menu of grilled meats, seafood and even paella that best bring out the alluring smoky flavour of grilled food.

Australian Grass-Fed Ribeye 3.8/5

Australian Grass-Fed Ribeye ($29) is a simple dish that will satisfy your craving for a steak any time of the week. Ours was evenly cooked, with the right doneness to bring out the flavour of the beef. For fancier options, try those paired with sambal belacan for a touch of local flavours.

Iberico Spare Ribs 4.2/5

The extravagant-looking Iberico Spare Ribs ($29) were pretty spot on. The exterior was slightly charred and caramelised with an alluring smoky flavour, with the meat juicy and tender. It can be grilled even slightly longer to render more fats to get more out of the meat.

Seafood Paella 4.5/5

I love the Seafood Paella ($25) here! Perhaps due to the amount of socarrat present in the dish. Some parts of the rice at the bottom of the pan had caramelised and turned crispy due to the direct heat from the flame, adding more texture and flavour to the dish. It came brimming with many ingredients, such as shrimp, squid, salmon, bell pepper, green peas, tomato and onion.

Grilled Octopus Leg 4.8/5

The Grilled Octopus Leg ($35) is a must-try here. It is very popular and gets sold out in the afternoon. The portion was quite sizeable and evenly grilled to perfection with a delightful texture.

English Clam Chowder 3/5

The menu offers Starters as well, such as soups and salads. Unfortunately, they were rather average, with the English Clam Chowder ($9) being the best out of the lot.

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.


[CLOSED]
First Grill
2A Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089860
Tel: +65 80449297
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Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW, NE, TE Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 1130pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit 4. Turn right onto Teo Hong Road. Walk to Bukit Pasoh Road. Turn left and walk down Bukit Pasoh Road. Journey time about 5 minutes. Walk to destination. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Walk straight down Neil Road. Turn right onto Bukit Pasoh Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]