Actually, élan had been on my mind since I noticed this restaurant while walking pass “Les Amis Street”. Yes, the street where all restaurants on one side is under the Les Amis group. I just simply have this desire to try the food in all the restaurants at Les Amis Street, with exception to Mui Kee since porridge to me is … I think I got that desire when I first visited Les Amis (the set lunch set was still affordable at that time), long before Michelin Star had come onto our shores. Aoki, Shabu Jin, Bistro du Vin, I had tried them all.
The chance to dine at élan finally comes when my schedule allows it, and I jump at it. I do expect a restaurant under Les Amis to be of certain standard, and élan surprisingly exceeds it, given its affordable price point as compared to the Les Amis now. The French food here hits all the right notes in terms of taste and texture, with little surprises due to the incorporation of Asian influences.
The interior is of contemporary chic style with soft colour palettes, paintings with splashes of striking colors, warm yellow lights, grey plush fabric sofas and chairs. It is casual, thus being great for gatherings while still romantic enough for dates, due to the cosy ambience.
Service is very good, being helpful and friendly.
Cervettes Carabinero is so amazingly good. Excellent recommendation by the young service staff. The tender prawns taste so briny sweet, enhanced by the lovely char that seeps to the core of the prawn. The super thin tagliolini, similar to angel hair pasta or mee kia in texture, is peppered with yuzu and essence of uni to lift up the taste of rich carbs.
I love this so much. Definitely a must-try here. Recommended for foodies to try this awesome, unique dish.
Nice free flow of Sourdough Bread that is crispy on the outside while fluffy and dense on the inside. I like the generous amount of butter given.
Pan roasted Hokkaido scallops in st jacques have this nice light char with sweetness of grilled meat on the surface and creamy, tender sashimi goodness at the centre. The coconut veloutè and thyme make for very interesting taste when paired with the scallops. The paper-thin bacon bits inject the simulating kicks into the taste.
Canard features slow-roasted succulent, tender Irish Duck Breast that tastes so good on its own already. The crunchy texture and earthy sweet taste of dragée adds a nice variation in texture and taste to the duck.
Crème Brûlée here showcases what a wonderful idea it is to add in orange, making it an unique and one of the best crème brûlée. The zesty taste with slight bitterness of the orange cuts through the rich creaminess of the custard to make the taste more exciting and multifaceted.
The dark chocolate ice-cream is tad too bitter when eaten on its own. But when paired with the orange crème brûlée, it tastes fantastic!
One of a kind Champagne cocktail with Blackberry juice. I like it.
Some may wonder on the difference between élan and Bistro du Vin since both are casual French dining with wallet-friendly prices and doing away with the formalities. The food at élan is bolder, more unique and finer while Bistro du Vin features more rustic and classic French food. élan’s ambience tends towards upmarket contemporary chic, and her sister's ambience is full of rustic French flavour. In terms of food, I actually prefer élan's since I like gastronomic surprises.
Thoughts: Excellent modern French Cuisine
1 Scotts Road
Shaw Centre #01-13
Nearest MRT: Orchard
