Dinner @ Les Amis [Revisit]
December 5, 2016 in French by thywhaleliciousfay
Am not one to return to the same restaurant, but I decided to head back as it has been a long while (4 years at least) since I had dinner at Les Amis which has 2 Michelin Stars to its name now. And thankfully, my friend always let me decide on the venue. Keke.
And it’s a pity I didn’t take many pictures of my previous dinner cause it would have been nice to compare and see how much they have changed improved. Oh well… I will get to do that (comparison) in… 2020? Keke.
While using Google to search for the contact number, I was surprised to find Les Amis on Chope. And since it wasn’t too convenient to call while at work, I decided to go through Chope. Keke.
Online reservation was made at 10am on the day of our dinner. Yes, last minute booking again. And at 3pm, I received a ‘looking forward to welcoming you’ text from Les Amis. In the same text, the cancellation fee was also mentioned. Cancellation fee of $50 is imposed for bookings cancelled 24 hours before dinner, and $100 for 12 hours before. So yes, credit card detail is required for reservation. However, I am guessing Les Amis didn’t have time to ask for mine.
What my friend and I didn’t know was that Les Amis provide complimentary valet service for patrons. But thankfully, it didn’t take us long to find a parking lot within Shaw Centre.
And from the menu (pages 1, 2, 3), we ordered:-
1) Amuse bouche #1 (above) – Before our order was taken, we were served with an assortment of canapes which include sardine rilette with chive, comte cheese wrapped with dry aged beef, and Mediterranean cake (eggplant, olive, bacon and cheese tart). Unfortunately, my friend and I had to forgo the cheese-beef stick cause we don’t take beef. Of the remaining 2, my favourite was the rilette.
2) Bread platter, Complimentary (above) – And it’s hard to give up the assortment of sea salt brioche feuilletee (above, topmost), sourdough, mini baguette, wholewheat and bacon-cheese bun. Especially when we were pairing the breads with salted and non-salted Le Ponclet butters; Served in less than 20 restaurants in the world, and made from 3 different types of bio-certified milk from Briittany.
3) Amuse bouche #2 (above) – Chestnut soup topped with truffle.
4) Le menu automne, $295 comprised of:-
(A) Dish #1 (above) –
(B) Dish #2 (above) – Erquy scallop and caviar served in clam and scallion sauce.
(C) Dish #3 (above) – Warm French cadoret oyster in veloute. When the bowl of oyster and asparagus was placed before me, I was told bthat this was an award-winning oyster before the staff proceeded to pour warm soup over the oyster. “Oysters shouldn’t be overcooked,” he explained.
(D) Dish #4 (above) – Roasted line caught sea bass served on baby leeks, verjus du perigord sauce.
(E) Dish #5 (above) – Camus artichoke with parmesan souffle and seasonal white truffle. Yes, Alba white truffle is in the season! Yum.
(F) Dish #6 (above) – Pheasant served in a tourte with duck foie gras. Transferred from a tray of 2 types of grass, the filling was a little dry. Thus, it should be eaten with the gravy that’s served along with it.
(G) Dish #7 (above) – French pork belly with glazed onions and potato crisps. This replaced the menu’s original main course of veal tenderloin with black truffle cause I don’t take beef. Unfortunately, I didn’t finish my main because I found it salty and was feeling pretty full. The staff later explained the pork belly was in fact salted. After the salt treatment, the pork was soaked in water (for 12 hours if I didn’t hear wrongly) where the water was regularly changed.
(H) Palate cleanser (above) – This, to me, was a sorbet of green juices; Tarragon, parsley, basil, mint, etc. The staff lost me at the fourth green. I was surprised at how healthy the palate cleanser was. Haha. And it was really sour because of the lime juice.
(I) Dish #9 (above) – Williams pear poached in an infusion of star anise and bourbon vanilla, with light caramel cream. This, was, good.
(J) Dish #10 (above) – Crisp sugar sphere filled with seasonal chasselas and muscat grapes. This, was, insanely, good. The filling enclosed within the sphere was mousse! Such a beautiful creation.
(K) Petit fours/ mignardises, Complimentary (above) – Chestnut tart and canele.
(L) Coffee, Complimentary (above)
5) Le menu classique, $185 comprised of:-
(A) Dish #1 (above) – Seasonal mushroom tart on duxelles with a confit of egg yolk and lardo di colonnata. This was pretty good, especially the pastry crust which was flaky and buttery.
(B) Dish #2 – Langoustine in raviole served in a light parmesan broth with caviar and white truffle.
(C) Dish #3 – Similar to mine, sea bass served on baby leeks.
(D) Dish #4 (above) – French pork belly with glazed onions and potato crisps. And for main, my friend had the option to choose between beef and pork. However, he had to forgo the sweetbread cooked in a cocottee with baby leaf as he doesn’t take beef too.
(E) Palate cleanser
(F) Dish #6 (above) – Iranian pistachios served in a warm souffle with toasted pistachio ice cream.
(G) Petit fours/ mignardises, Complimentary – Chestnut tart and canele.
(H) Coffee, Complimentary
6) Fig cake, Complimentary (above) – And when the staff presented us with the silver boxes, we were surprised. We thought dinner ended with the petit fours and coffee. The staff, who knew we were very full, jokingly said “Eat for breakfast tomorrow.” But I must say, my friend and I loved the boxes. Keke.
Did we enjoy our dinner? A big “yes”! Food was great, although I must admit the appetisers were boring. In the sense that the dishes lacked creativity. But I am letting them get away with the big portions of caviar. Haha. However, the desserts at Les Amis impressed me lots! If I am to make a return trip to Les Amis anytime soon, it will be for the desserts.
And of course, service at Les Amis was impeccable. In fact, this being my third time at Les Amis, I have taken their professional standard of service for granted. Oops. =p I still remember my first time dining at Les Amis. I was a little intimidated by the staff who were all suited up. I remember feeling very conscious of myself, trying my very best not to be clumsy. Ha.
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LES AMIS
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1 Scotts Road, Shaw Centre, #02-16, Singapore
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Overall: 8.5
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Opening hours:-
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Food/Beverage: 9
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Mon – Sat : 12:00 – 14:00 (Lunch)
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Ambience: 8
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Mon – Sat : 18:30 – 21:30 (Dinner)
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Value: 8
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Service: 9
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* Closed on Sun
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UPDATE 1: Restaurant was awarded 2 Michelin stars by Michelin Guide Singapore 2017.
UPDATE 2: Restaurant was awarded 2 Michelin stars by Michelin Guide Singapore 2018.
