Merci Marcel caught my attention when I passed by Palai Renaissance on a weekend morning and saw a long queue beside a glass wall illuminated with yellow lights and lined with wine bottles. Wondering about the hype, I decide to dine here on a weekday afternoon, where the crowd is more manageable. It is still almost full house actually, but I manage to snag a nice cosy spot to enjoy an idyllic afternoon.
The food is mainly consisted of nice, yummy brunch items with some extra twists that make dining here worthwhile and a unique experience.
Another worthwhile factor of dining here is the ambience. Yes, it is a large highlight here. At one of sides, there are soft yellow lights with wine bottles filling up the entire walls, giving that romantic and classy vibe. Another side is the full panel windows that have the artistic Clay Murals of Voco Hotel on the opposite of the road as backdrop. The third side is right beside the lush beautiful lawn of Thai Embassy and with a window that stretches across the entire length of the wall, one feels like dining by the garden there. With idyllic setting, beautiful scenery, soothing French music playing in the background and beige canvas plush sofa, I really feel like I'm dining in a hip cool café in Paris.
Now I can see why this place is so popular.
Homemade Crème brulée shakes things up with salted caramel cookie. I like the hints of saltiness incoporated into sweet dessert. The pudding part is runnier than the usual, but juxtaposes very well with the crunchiness of the crystallised burnt sugar on top.
Pretty good 18mth aged organic Bayonne ham and it goes very well with pickled gherkins.
Passion Fruit Mousse is a little too sour to my liking, but it is a very healthy dessert.
Thoughts: Enjoying Idyllic Time here
