Poulet

We headed to Bugis Plus to watch the newly released Dark Knight on Friday night. The shopping centre was uncrowded presumably because pantang Singaporeans stayed clear of the Bugis area (due to the collapsed scafolding incident a few days earlier).

The show is dark and the characters are brooding and convincing. I totally lapped it all up. But the purpose of my post is not to rave about the show.

Introducing Poulet...one of the newest restaurants to open in Bugis Plus (formerly known as Illuma)

Ambience- very tasteful! Furnishings are reminiscent of a French bistro, complete with brick walls (lining the open kitchen), little street lamps perched between tables and piped in French music. Cutlery and crockery is of good quality. (quite heavy!)  Best of all, prices are reasonable with majority of the dishes going for under $20. Great for an unpretentious but cosy date.

As the name Poulet suggests, the restaurant prides itself for its roast chicken.  The chicken was literally roasted in its own juice, yielding bland tasting but perfectly cooked flesh which was partially redeemed by a tasty cream sauce scattered with chopped onion and field mushroom. I could almost detect a hesitant pause in the waiter's breath when I asked for chili sauce.

For starters, we ordered a platter of buttered garlic escargots. These were fresh and plump. The garlic butter topping was nice but not well melded into the escargots themselves.

Our soups took ages to arrive. While waiting, I was so hungry that I ordered a (disappointingly stale) baguette. Hubby's french onion soup was hearty but lacked the quintessential patch of melted gyuyere cheese.

 I throughly enjoyed the mushroom soup which was thick, buttery and very satisfying.

Hubby's oxtail stew was "fall off the bone" tender and very delicious. Although the portion looks quite big here, the actual amount of meat (after removing the bones) is actually very little. Not recommended as a main course for people with big appetites. The accompanying pearl onions were a nice touch.

Unfortunately, service was so slow that night that we had to pass on dessert (I was quite looking forward to trying their apple tart with vanilla ice cream). I'll probably drop in again just for dessert and drinks next time.

Total damage for 1 starter, 1 side, 2 soups and 2 main courses- $64. 

Seaweed butter from St Pierre

I've been patronising quite a number of pretentious western joints lately. They make me sick in the stomach...the pint sized portions, tight prim smiles of waiters, sparkling/still water (sorry no tap) and excessive price tags.

Yet every once in awhile, a pleasant surprise comes aknocking, St Pierre's being the latest. Their seaweed butter (accompanied with warm bread as a starter) is ridiculously good. So good I just can't stop thinking about it. Best of all? It's free flow. =)

Saint Pierre

In Love Again

I always thought French food was overpriced, pretentious and inaccessible to the man in the street. I'm very glad Saint Pierre proved me wrong.

Service. To me, what really sets St Pierre apart from its competitors is its service. Unlike other chi chi eateries who accord special treatment only to ang mohs, big spenders and regulars, St Pierre treats all its customers equally well. Service staff comprise of an eclectic mix of Asians and Caucasians, all of whom are sharply attired and highly articulate. Food is presented with a flourish and whisked away in a most unobtrusive and tasteful manner. Even plain ol' tap water is served from a very pretty vase-like jug. Frankly, I couldn't ask for more.

A picture of the maitre'd hotel (taken from St Pierre's website)...though he didn't serve us personally , he waved us a friendly goodbye and has a most charming smile

Value. Priced at SGD28, the 2 course set lunch (comprising of a main course and dessert) offers best value for money. If you are feeling more extravagant, top up SGD20 to enjoy a full course set lunch which includes a starter, main course, desssert and coffee/tea. Regardless of how many courses you opt for, cheesesticks and bread are served on the onset, followed by a complimentary amuse bouche.

Food. Our amuse bouche comprised of foie gras mousse served with thin pieces of wafer and random slivers of garden vegetables on a chic stone slab. I am no fan of foie gras but found the overall flavors well balanced and highly refreshing. My unadventurous lunch partner however refused to touch her portion altogether. This caught the attention of our restaurant manager, who immediately replaced her dish with an equally delicious-looking substitute. This is what I call great service.

Amuse bouche: Foie gras mousse served on a stone slab

Whilst the restaurant updates its set menu from time to time, certain perennial favorites have been retained to cater to popular demand. One such item is the miso cod. (I spied with my little eye that at least 90% of the lunchtime patrons had also opted for the cod)


Perfectly cooked and lightly slathered with miso paste, I enjoyed the freshness of the cod and its delicate sweetness. Folks who prefer stronger flavors would however enjoy Ember's version better.

For dessert, we opted for yet another signature dish of the restaurant- Grandma's flourless chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The intense bittersweet richness of the chocolate left us momentarily paralyzed and floating in 7th heaven. It was at this very point that our semi-sluggish brains also started calling out for caffeine. I ordered a pot of L'oriental tea (a light floral concoction) while my partner ordered a pot of English Breakfast tea. (SGD8.50 each). Both were equally sublime.


Everyone loves a surprise and this establishment certainly knows how to pull a good one. Towards the end of our meal, just when we thought it couldn't get any better, we were presented with a complimentary selection of sweets (also referred to as petit fours) daintily arranged in a classy wooden box. Our selection comprised of bite sized chocolate chip cookies, cubes of sugar crusted lemon jellies and white chocolate coated marshmallows. What a glorious finish.


Location/ Ambience: The restaurant is located just a stone throw's away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD. Tucked in a corner of Central Mall just beside the taxi stand. we were able to locate the restaurant without much difficulty. Central Mall used to be a wildly popular watering hole in its heyday but has since faded into obscurity. The whole building resembles a ghost town during lunchtime. Not that we're complaining though. Some peace and quiet during lunchtime is always welcome.

Though smallish in seating capacity, St Pierre still manages to maintain an air of understated elegance, accentuated by the use of soft velvety undertones, crisp white tablecloths and fine tableware. Perfect for intimate gatherings and cosy chic lunches.

This is one fantastic restaurant which I will foresee myself coming back to over and over again.

Saint Pierre
3, Magazine Road
#01-01, Central Mall
Tel: 6438 0887