Is European Malayan fusion good? I had been wondering about that before. And after trying some really awesome European cuisine with Southeast Asian influences, I’m really hyped up about it, and this is where Espoir comes into the story with her curated European cuisine infused with Malayan influences. And it works.
I love variety in the menu, and it is so tempting to try all the dishes featuring my favourite seafood such as Scallops, Prawns, Crabs and Uni. The food has the core of European cuisine with dishes such as dips, croquettes, steak, pasta, paella and intricate desserts. What makes the food here special is the sprinkling of Malayan spices into the food, giving the taste an extra oomph. The food here is well-suited to our local palates, making this place a great choice for family outings.
In fact, this is one of the most family-friendly atas restaurants in Singapore. Ample of space, plush seats, bright surroundings with beautiful, watercolours inspired, marble walls, golden trimmings and classy floral arrangements make for a lovely place to enjoy some relaxing time with loved ones. The ambience is also great for dates and high-tea. And the service is nice, thoughtful and friendly.
The moment I pop a Gambas Al Ajillo into my mouth, my eyes widen and the first thought is, “Oh my, this is oh so delicious!” Succulent, bouncy and firm prawns are packed with so much briny sweetness, which is elevated by the sauce made from an amazing mix of Szechuan pepper, pink peppercorns, kaffir lime, garlic and sweet paprika. The slight hint of spiciness makes the taste so exciting. Highly recommended dish.
Crab Croquette is packed with the goodness of the sea and Malayan spices. The crispy deep fried breadcrumbs bellied a soft moist core full of briny sweetness with hints of excitement from the spices.
Espoir’s Signature Pasta is so luxurious in terms of ingredients and so rich in taste. I love, of course, love the fresh sweet uni hidden beneath the lovely caviar. I also love the flat texture of the pasta, which hold in the umami of the sauce onto its surface for a tasty treat with every mouthful of the pasta. The char on the scallop does well to balance out the richness of the pasta and sauce.
Squid Ink Paella is decked full with lots of fresh, succulent seafood. The generosity of adding so much seafood evoke fond memories of Malay stall owners adding huge portions of meat and veggies to my orders. The rice is saturated with the rich briny umami. I enjoy this a lot, but I will love it even more if the rice grains are firmer in texture.
Matcha Moelleux is matcha lava cake made with white chocolate, and this is really good. The floral flavour of Earl Grey Gelato goes so well with the vegetal grassy notes of matcha, elevated by the richness of cocoa butter.
To celebrate my reborn of a new woman, I ordered the special Birthday Celebration cake while making my reservation … okay, I admit, I just want to try this cake lol
The Blue Lagoon Mousse, Pineapple compote, Chantilly Whip combined to yield a beautiful cake with very refreshing taste. Partially frozen pineapple actually works beautifully in a cake! The presentation is so awesome. I’m so glad that I ordered this special cake. I sure feel special at this moment ❤️
Altina Blanc Sparkling Wine is a nice accompanying non-alcoholic wine to go with the cake.
Litchi Papillon cocktail is so refreshing, and guilt-free since it is alcoholic free.
Thoughts: Nice Restaurant with unique Malayan flavours
70 Amoy Street
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar, Maxwell
