Sunday lunch

Thanks to Singapore Restaurant Week, I got to try Le Bon Marché at a much more affordable price. It's located in the upper class area of Singapore, Bukit Timah, where many posh restaurants are situated... Personally, if I were to buy myself a good expensive meal, I'd still prefer Brazil Churrasco on Sixth Avenue anytime over this (disregarding the type of cuisine).

A huge sign reads "Le Bon Marché" outside the restaurant, and you wouldn't be able to miss it! We arrived 15 minutes earlier and the bistro-style restaurant was barely full. We were then ushered to one of the reserved tables. There was no iced water available, so you have to either order a bottle of sparkling water or still water. So we made our choices and ordered, including the drinks I have been recently a bit crazy over -Grapetizer/Appertizer/Peartizer, the pear which is not found in Singapore. They are basically sparkling version of juice.

As we had to wait for the food, we started snapping pictures. Little known to us is that they disallow pictures taken of a board in the restaurant which lists their menu. Usually we just like to take the pictures for fun and memory sake, it never goes up anywhere. Anyway, we respect their rule and avoid snapping one of the board. Looking at the prices, it's insane (but it's Bukit Timah hey!). What we were paying for the meal is only the price of their appetiser on à la carte.

So the food arrived. Let me describe and comment them further with pictures :)
FYI, these are for 2, of course we had our own desserts.

Sliced baguette with olive oil & vinegar

Fresh Crab Salad with Mango & Tomatoes Dice, Cucumber Gazpacho Sauce

 This is not as special as I thought. The crab salad has a very raw smell or taste to it, I reckon its the crab. It has nothing distinctive to make me go "Mmmmmmmm, I want more of it please"... Sadly, no.

Chicken Liver Parfait served with Sourdough Toast and Mesclum Salad

 At least I thought the chicken liver parfait is better. Then again, I think they taste the same everywhere. So the starters were really just alright.

Fillet of Red Snapper, Olive Tapenade & Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Lobster Bisque Sauce

 The fillet is tender, juicy and fresh, but matching with the baby carrots and vegetables gives it a very Asian feel somehow.

Oven Roasted Spring Chicken With Baby Potatoes, Green Zucchini & Tarragon Chicken Jus

 Potatoes are nicely baked. But there is NO SALT CONTROL, this is just too salty. I wonder if they put a handful instead of a pinch or did that whole load of salt got spilled on it instead of coming out from a shaker?! FAIL!!!! Fortunately, under that skin, it isn't that bad but still SALTY SALTY SALTY.

Vanilla Ice Cream Profiteroles with Warm Valrhona Manjari Chocolate Sauce

To be honest, we think that we're just paying for the dessert at the end of the meal. This is just the best thing! The money is just worth it spending on these profiteroles (skip that main course and starter, give me 6 of these!!). The chocolate sauce is warm and slightly bitter, it goes perfect with the vanilla ice cream profiteroles. GIMME MORE GIMME MORE GIMME MORE I say!

By the time, we were done, the restaurant was about 3/4 full. But having called for the bill, we almost waited for 15 minutes. Bad service - the others who ordered the bill at the same time had left and another who called for it 10 minutes later got theirs at the same time as us. There were two waitresses and a general manager out there, I guess it's understandable but hope the service can be more attentive. Also for a place as posh and costly as this, I would have expected utensils to be changed for each course but unfortunately not. There were also no napkins (not a big issue with me personally) but paper serviettes.

My verdict is to go for their dessert or have a glass of French wine... if you feel like pampering yourself! Paying so much (at its original prices) for the quality of food I got, I don't think it's worth breaking my piggy bank for. Well I have read better reviews about them, but I would rather go somewhere along Bukit Timah to better spend that amount of money unless the date is paying for it ;)