Michelin-star restaurant Odette certainly had us on its promise of French cuisine with a modern twist. What held our attention, though, is the artful way food here is served.

The restaurant offers lunch and dinner tasting menus, so we got to experience the choicest of seasonal ingredients and a brilliant play of flavors. 

The beautiful, creative presentation of each dish whets the appetite, too!

We also like that the restaurant allows diners to see the chefs in action through the glass-enclosed kitchen. We think that gesture shows that Odette is confident and transparent in what they do.

The tasting menu options are convenient especially if you’re not in the mood to decide what to eat. However, we think offering just that option is limited and reduces the fun for more adventurous eaters.

Odette’s location isn’t that easy to find and not ideal if you’re in a hurry since you have to pass through the National Gallery first. This is a blessing if you have extra time, though, as the gallery is teeming with gorgeous art pieces to feed your eyes.

Those who are in search of French cuisine in Singapore might want to consider Les Amis’ classic fare. 

The three-star Michelin restaurant serves a la carte, so we had more freedom in choosing our dish. The duck breast for mains, bread and cheese, and desserts are a wonder—from their visuals to their textures and flavors.

But perhaps more than the food, we love the expansive old wine selection, which pairs well with classic French dishes.

We also commend Les Amis’ signature warmth and impeccable service, which we expected from a restaurant of its caliber.

The fine dining restaurant has been around since 1994, so there’s a tinge of nostalgia upon entering the space. The interior design is a bit dated, though, but still elegant.

We also observed that diners looking for something out-of-the-box (like some of us) might not become huge fans of Les Amis’ menu since it leans more toward the traditional. 

The food tastes great, no doubt, but we suggest managing your expectations.  

Peranakan dishes are such a comfort to Singaporeans, so we were eager to see how Candlenut will interpret this familiar, homey cuisine.

And after tasting its signature tangy, spicy, and explosive mains, we are convinced that the restaurant is doing alright.  

That said, the menu is an elevated version of the cuisine and not as innovative as those that fusion restaurants offer. If you’re big on creativity, we recommend trying fine dining options that experiment with their menu to higher levels.

We love Candlenut’s comforting desserts and wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. These options helped neutralize the party of flavors of the starters and mains and made the overall dining experience pleasant.

However, we find the design of the space too casual for a fine dining experience, as it is connected with other restaurants. 

We suggest diners who love privacy either book a private dining slot with Candlenut or look for another option.

Also, Candlenut is a busy place due to its popularity and relatively more affordable prices. The need to hurry through your meals to finish the course can be felt at times. 

We understand that there’s a time limit, as the restaurant wants to accommodate more people. That said, we hope that the restaurant can work around the distracting part and make more guests feel welcomed from start to finish.

We find dining in Whitegrass Restaurant a delightful experience in part because of its lovely interior space, arresting enough to pass as an interior design magazine feature.

Moreover, the wait staff here is friendly and attentive (but not too much to the point of overbearing) which helped us settle down and enjoy the culinary adventure.

And what a ride the tasting menu was with its distinct French refinement and subtle Japanese touches. Along with the harmony of flavors is the gorgeous plating that makes each dish worthy of the ’Gram.

Note, though, that big eaters might want to reconsider the restaurant, as the portions are generally small. Perhaps avoiding visiting with a completely empty stomach can help.

We can also expect that some Singaporeans who are used to rich, strong flavors might not be fans of the new Whitegrass Restaurant’s nuanced ones. 

That said, sampling something different from what is familiar is a welcome prospect if you’re looking to broaden your fine dining horizon.   

We believe guests who prioritize atmosphere slightly over food when dining out will be thrilled with Corner House’s prime location.

The preserved colonial house, with its large windows and spacious verandas, allows plenty of light in and provides diners with relaxing views of the surrounding greenery. 

We particularly loved it here during lunch when we were dining bathed in natural light while seated in comfy dining chairs. 

The French-Asian fare, meanwhile, is a whole new brand of comfort, combining refined French cooking with familiar Singapore flavors. In other words, the dishes are layered and harmonious, rich and bursting with taste.

That said, the promise of an Asian twist for each meal might be too broad a stroke. 

Palates might get confused when the Chinese bold, spicy sauces are followed by subtle flavors of Japanese raw ingredients, even though both are Asian.

Communication mishaps can happen, too, given how busy the restaurant is. We hope that Corner House can improve on this aspect so it can delight more guests in the future.