Le Bistrot du Sommelier, a popular French restaurant which serves country style French cuisine in a casual setting. Early this year, the restaurant moved from Prinsep Street to the current Armenian Street, just a few units away from the Penarakan Museum.
As we have never been to this restaurant while they were at Prinsep, we decided to try them out on a Saturday lunch. Reservations was difficult and it is recommended that either you reserve a table 1 week beforehand, or that you come here after 1:30pm where there are seats available.
Enjoyed a bottle of Moscato D'Asti 2010 from Italy (S$65 per bottle) with our Saturday brunch.
Food here is very reasonably priced, and let me warn everyone that portions are huge! I think 2 diners can share one main, or even 3 small eaters. So do not over-order. Try to get just one appetizer to share, one main per diner and perhaps one dessert to share.
We strongly recommend their Chicken liver pâté with port wine (S$13.50). According to news reports, they make their own pate. And I think their pate are one of the best in Singapore. Creamy, not too salty and "fresh".
One of the most beautiful tomato salads we have come across: Salade de tomates Italiennes et haricots verts (S$16) - Vine ripped Italian tomatoes and haricot vert salad, tomato vinaigrette. The Sicilian tomato are at its peak, and they are oh-so-sweet.
Escabeche Maquereau (S$16). No strong fishy smell. Firm flesh supplemented by beet and raddish. Goes well with white wine
Garbure (S$16) - Clear vegetable soup simmered with duck stock, chicken dumplings, garlic butter, croutons, bacon. Please be warned that the serving is huge, and must be shared by 2 or 3 diners.
French sirloin steak (S$40) served with Jerusalem artichoke gratin, sautéed spinach & onion red wine sauce. Medium rare. Steak was rather juicy. Not bad.
We prefer the Joue de bœuf (S$30) braisée au vin rouge (200gm) - Red wine braised beef cheeks with carrots and mushrooms, parsley potatoes. Once again, serving is huge, but we enjoyed every chunk of the beef cubes.
By now, we are too full. Stomach almost bursting. But yet, we still try to find space for the Profiteroles au chocolat (S$14) - Choux buns filled with vanilla ice cream in warm chocolate sauce topped with sliced almonds. Sweet ending to a wonderful Saturday brunch.
Le Bistrot du Sommelier
53 Armenian Street