Of all the French Restaurants in my wishlist, Nicholas Le Restaurant is on the top of list. There's Something About Nicholas that appeals to my gastronomic senses. I guess it's the menu, the charm of an intimate setting of the place and the passion the chef has for in his restaurant. And these gastronomic senses of mine directs me to here to savour amazingly good and authentic French food at this restaurant.
I love every dish of the Tasting Menu that is cooked to perfection, holds a myriad of subtle flavours and has dimension in textures. And Chef Nicholas even goes the extra mile to search through his stash of wines in the walk-in wine cellar and wine cooler to get one to pair with my meal. In fact, he does this for every wine-ordering patron in the restaurant. Now that is passion. So if here, order some wines for the personalised service of wine selection.
Organic Hen Egg 'A La Coque' is perfect match with Iberico Ham. The smooth, half-boiled, jelly-like egg white, the runny, creamy egg yolk, the paper thin, slightly chewy, flavourful Iberico ham and the broth create a delicious juxtapose of complex flavours and textures.
Clos de Jaug from Margaux is the wine specially selected for me.
Even the bread here has that variation in textures, distinctive in the dishes here. The exterior is baked until super crispy while the interior is super fluffy. I enjoy munching on them, paired with the creamy French butter, of course.
Vichyssoise Soup and Crunchy Pastilla of Obsiblue Prawns both blow me away with how delicious they are. The soup is creamy yet light at the same time, packed with lots of wholesome flavours. The prawn is firm and full of briny sweetness, accentuated by the slightly zesty creamy sauce. And an excellent play on textures to wrap the thin crunchy pastilla over the juicy prawn.
I add on the optional dish of Scallop since I like scallops. Very plump and succulent, the taste of ocean contained within the scallop goes so well with the seared surface of the scallop, the foamy broth and the secret hidden beneath the broth: beans. The different textures featured here also works wonderfully together.
Pan Seared Otoro with Linguine and Clam Sauce looks simple, but the taste is complex and full of umami. I'm so surprised by how good it tastes. In addition, the linguine is al dente 👍.
Iberico Pork is so tender that it is unbelievable for pork steak. I love the variety of sauces, plus pan fried chopped garlic, to go with the pork. All are so good. I also try dipping the mashed potato into the sauces, and my verdict is "Go for it!"
Lots of different French Cheese to choose from and enjoy.
Since I prefer soft cheeses, the service staff recommend two types of cheeses to me. Both are good choices. One is a bit like Brie, with nuttier flavour. Another is Mont d'Or Lait de Cru, a type of winter cheese, which is very creamy. The sweet accompanying homemade eggplant jam goes very well with the cheeses.
Complimentary Petite Fours of Caramel Chocolate.
Dessert is another fine example of good balance of flavours, such as sweetness and tanginess, nice play on textures between the chewiness, creaminess and fluffiness. A nice one to end the meal with.
The interior of restaurant is of classic French style with red plush sofa, dark wooden furniture and hanging lamps. The place feels very intimate and cozy, perfect for a romantic date or a nice gathering with friends to enjoy good food. The open kitchen shows the chefs in action, which is cool. Service is outstanding: very professional, polite and knowledgeable about the food.
The food here is really amazing, where the focus is on skilful preparation and right combination to bring out the best of the ingredients. I can't wait to be back again to enjoy authentic French food prepared with lots of passion.
Thoughts: My favourite French Restaurant
10 Teck Lim Road
Nearest MRT: Outram Park
