Pamplemousse - From that moment on, everything changed

Okay, post title has nothing to do with the food nor service. It's referring to something magical that happened which changed the lives of two people ever since ♥


Dempsey Hill is one of my favourite places to dine in due to its secludity(which is sadly diminishing due to increasing popularity) and its peaceful ambience.

I brought my boyf(then-friend) for dinner at Pamplemousse Bistro + Bar, which serves European cuisine with a fusion touch of Jap, Korean, Chinese, Greek, etc here and there. We had the Prix Fix Dinner Menu at $48++ per person, from which diners are given a choice of Appetizer+Main or Main+Dessert. Click here for their menu.

No pictures taken of the warm ciabatta that was served as pre-meal complimentary bread. 

We shared the Pan-seared foie gras, which required an extra $12 supplement. I thought that Pamplemousse's macadamia nut crusted version was an interesting variation but the boyf found it odd instead. Well, to each of his own. I liked how they played up the textures; gritty nuts, soft and curd-like goose liver, and crusty sweet brioche. It was both teasing and pleasing on the palate.

And the Onion soup "Breakfast" was for me only(selfish) :P

Now, this was unlike traditional ones that are served with melted gruyère and croutons, it arrived deconstructed in four parts. The flavourful broth of sweet, caramelized onions came in a generous portion and I felt that I was momentarily transported into a quaint little cottage, enjoying a thick, hearty and comforting bowl of soup.

Sidekicks consisted of cheese croquettes, truffled nori butter, and french toast brioche with caramelized onion fillings which were decent.

For my main, I had my eye on the Uni Tagliolini that was unfortunately not available on that day. Disappointed much :( So my alternative was the Black Cod that was served with caramelized cauliflower, oyster mushrooms, with conpoy and curry leaves sauce.

I was too absorbed in my meal that I forgot to snap pictures of the mains, but I guess you can pretty much imagine how it looks like yeah?

Here's a taste guide: Silky and tender goodness under a crisp skin accompanied with rich and creamy curry sauce(not unlike McD's curry sauce :P). My only gripe was the dry-ish cauliflower. Otherwise, nicely executed but not definitive in any manner that made it truly outstanding.

 Picture courtesy of yumyumtumtum

Boyf's Duck Confit was decent but wasn't spectacular either. It passed the crisp skin test, but would have achieved perfection if the slivers of duck meat were a little moister. It went well with the braised red cabbage which was sweet and slightly sharp in taste, a little along the lines of sauerkraut. The piquant lychee gastrique had a nice caramelized taste and slight sour notes, a perfect counter for the richness of the poultry.

The retrospective overview is that Pamplemousse serves up affordable, new-age European food that are bold in the inclusion of fusion elements(check out their menu and you'll know what I mean) and they're definitely not crappy. Their quiet location and nice Parisian ambience scores them a plus too. Nuff said. A return visit is already on the cards. Hmm.. Their brunch looks nice as well *hint hint* =P

Pamplemousse
Blk 7 Dempsey Road, #01-04 Singapore
Tel: +65 6475 0080

Opening Hours
Tue–Fri: 12pm–2.30pm, 6.30pm–10.30pm
Sat–Sun: 11.30am–2.30pm, 6.30pm–10.30pm
(Closed on Mon)