Au Petit Salut (Dempsey)

one of the most authentic french bistro in singapore we enjoyed so much. 

for more, go to http://theendangeredsartorialist.wordpress.com/

i think au petit salut is a pretty well known, french fine-dining spot, occupying a prominent spot along harding road that's slight off dempsey -- you can't miss it when you travel down from holland road to orchard road as its this handsome, stately building. that being said, it's not exactly that easily accessible as you have to make some sort of detour and enter from a side road, passing through golf courses and a beautiful, well-preserved old style church building.

ambience wise, au petit salut has this laid back colonial charm. we were seated outside at the verandah which was hmm.. tad warm considering that our table was placed at a spot where the roof was not exactly completely covered and the blazing sun rays seared inwards making my mom somewhat uncomfortable. service was pretty good otherwise, with good recommendations, polite and attentive servers and fast service.

let's get to the food.

we ordered the set lunches. there's two types of set lunch, the $35 one is the cheaper one with more selections whilst the $48 one is a executive set lunch that presumably contains the best dishes (foie gras, lobster ravioli etc..). we settled for the $35 one since it looked pretty decent itself.

my appetizer was homemade duck rilettes served with petit salad and toast. the rilettes (meat that is cubed or chopped, salted heavily and cooked slowly in fat until tender enough to be easily shredded) was tasty and went well with the toast, which was fresh and crispy. i mean, its your quintessential authentic french cuisine recipe executed well -- the flavors are great and tasty, but they're a little tried and tested and lack the innovation that gives it a certain oomph. hmm.. i might be making a blasphemous statement here, but perhaps the dish could have that added pizzazz if some form of sweetness could have been incorporated into the dish? (say maybe changing the toast to a brioche?)

main: pan seared Onglet beef served with shallot confit, pommes frittes

so thanks to wikipedia, i found that Onglet, otherwise known as hanger steak, is a cut of beef steak prized for its flavor (but apparently not particularly tender). its kinda smallish compared to normal cuts of steak, and pardon my ignorance, but i didn't feel that this cut was particularly flavorful or tasty. it was definitely good, and the shallot confit paired well, but it was a little too expected. pommes frittes were executed perfectly - crunchy, shoe-string style crispy and delicious. i'm not really impressed honestly.

dessert: soya cheesecake, jasmine tea sorbet and green tea sauce

yay for creativity once again! french desserts rarely disappoint (as compared to italian ones) and this was no exception. this dessert won my mom's approval for being both utterly delicious and yet obviously healthy. the winner was the jasmine tea sorbet which was light, with faint whiffs of jasmine tea and very refreshing. the soya cheesecake was very light but still held its own because the the jasmine tea sorbet and the green tea sauce were similarly light on the palette and overall the dessert was refreshing, light and yet very yummy.

so.. all in all? if you're searching for typical, authentic french fare, then au petit salut is your place. you get delicious french cuisine at a cheap price (if you choose set lunches) that is of an unparalleled standard. however, innovation and exciting new flavors is what this place seems to lack, except perhaps on the dessert front. perhaps its only the case for set lunches, im not too sure, but i would rather head to st pierre for a set lunch because it has really unique flavors served even during set lunches. and yeah, they serve a whole range of petit fours and amuse bouche, whereas au petit salut only gave fresh bread (which is nice also lah).

this is love! Spend my anniversary over there!! :)

I brought a friend to Au Petit Salut for her birthday dinner. Prior to that, I bought a cake and brought it to the restaurant before their opening hours. A chinese gentleman sweeping the floor outside was the only staff in sight but he was extremely accommodating and ran upstairs to get a member of the service staff who took the cake to keep in the refrigerator. 

When I arrived later with my friend, the same service staff who had taken the cake from me either totally forgot me (which I think is highly unlikely!) or did a most impressive job of feigning ignorance and asked if I had made a reservation. I duly gave him my name (most grateful that he did not spoil the surprise) and he showed me to my table. One of my first impressions of the restaurant was that the staff were attentive yet non intrusive. 

We chose not to go with the set menu and instead ordered from the ala carte menu. Piping hot bread arrived shortly and we tucked in promptly, even asking for a refil of bread since it was hot from the oven with a nice crunchy crust and soft fluffy insides. We had a Degustation de Canard for starters. It was delicious although patrons who aren't fans of duck part/products may not share my enthusiasm for this dish. 

For mains, we had the oven roasted stuffed french quail and the "Le Cassoulet". The portions were hearty and even though I am ordinarily a rather large eater, I found myself struggling to finish the dish! Maybe ordering extra bread wasn't such a good idea... Both dishes were beautifully prepared and were savoury and satisfying. I did feel that the quail was a touch dry but taken together with the stuffing of mushrooms and foie gras, the combination was awesome. The Le Cassoulet was flavourful and delightfully complex. 

Halfway through my meal, I excused myself to go to the restroom. On the way, out of sight of my friend, a member of the staff  "accosted" me to very politely and tactfully ask if I would sign an indemnity form since I was planning to consume my out-sourced cake on the restaurant premises. I readily agreed to this since I understand a restaurant with high standards had to protect itself. I was also most impressed with how sensitive and delicately the staff handled the situation. I was fully aware that the staff realized that the cake was meant to be a surprise and had chosen the perfect moment to approach me!

When we were done with the main course, all I had to do was murmur softly to the same staff to ask if she would bring the dessert and she gave a quick gracious nod and friendly smile. And the cake with the candles duly placed on it appeared! 

I would most definitely visit Au Petit Salut again, and I would most definitely recommend this restaurant to any friends of family in search of a good recommendation. 

Pictures Here

Au Petit Salut is a semi fine dining restaurant situated on a hill @ harding road since 2007,this multi award-winning flagship restaurant with  dark woods, red brick and white walls atmosphere was  refined, quiet and beautiful. One Hari Raya morning, I actually had plans to go for brunch but sadly the temptation of sleeping in on a public holiday was too good to resist. Having not been to APS for a long time, I decided to check it out again for an early lunch, and my was I surprised the former bistro ambiance was gone as the restaurant was moving towards more of a fine dining experience.  APS offered two different lunch menus @ 35++ and 48++ as both my dining partner and I opted for the prior.

One shocking fact I discovered was that APS did not any  longer bake its own bread but instead imported mass produced ones from Delifrance daily, no wonder the bread had such a drastic difference from the last time i came!

The Salad comprised of Mesclun, Rockets and Arugula, as it was nicely tossed with sufficient dressing ( olive oil and balsamic vinegar ). It was also refreshing from the nice crunchy texture which showed how fresh the vegetables were along with the hard boiled egg olives and anchovies. The tuna was nicely seared being rare in the centre, sadly a little tad too bland though.

Half Dozen Baked Burgundy Snails w Garlic Butter

APS's signature escargots were always a big hit with everyone as almost every table around me had ordered it. It certainly did not disappoint although i had only one, the snails were served pipping hot and seasoned beautifully with garlic butter, tomato coulis and parsley jus. A perfect condiment for bread I must say!

For mains, i had a steak craving so i opted for the Onglet while my partner being a huge seafood lover opted for the Threadfin.

Onglet Steak also known as hanger steak or skirt steak was a cut of beef that if cooked above medium doneness would be tough and rubbery. Thus i opted for my steak to be cooked rare as it certainly did not disappoint. The meat was tender and moist on the inside and had a nice charred crust on the outside as the Shallots confit cooked in red wine reduction complemented it.  On the other hand the fries and bernaise were nothing to rave about as they were pretty average.

The Thread-fin was nicely cooked as the meat was flaky yet succulent as the acidity of the Tomato Confit was not too overpowering and went well with it along with the nicoise vinaigrette. The vegetables had a nice buttery taste and were crunchy yet not undercooked or soggy. Not bad.

The Pear Tart was served warm which was really nice as the pastry was well cooked being glazed and crisp on the outside with icing sugar to the soft and flavorful pear filling which was stewed in rum.  I wasnt the biggest fan of the cocnut ice cream although it was unique in its own way.

Profiteroles are certainly desserts to die for, despite being loaded with bloody lot of calories, we still ordered it and weirdly somehow or another my dining partner and I preferd the others desserts as we gladly swapped with each other. Balls of homemade Vanilla Ice cream which was not too sweet was filled in flaky puff pastries, and despite the ice cream melting, the almond chocolate sauce was still warm, as they were more generous with the sauce than BPS! The sauce was of nice consistency also not too thick nor watery plus i loved the fact they used 73% Verona Chocolate!

We ended of the meal with a cup of Espresso & Earl Grey and despite certain shortcomings it was a rather pleasant meal, although service standards had dropped, the restaurant was packed at that time though, kudos to the ma-tree-d as they only had outdoor seating but upon our requests they made room for us indoors.  Overall Au Petit Salut serves good and heartwarming French Cuisine at affordable prices but with it moving towards the fine dining aspects i would opt for meals at others Bistros such as BPS, BDV LPS which are more affordable options unless I am having  a super bad craving for Burgundy Snails or their Signature Braised Short-ribs, I would definitely be back.

For pictures: http://hungryinsingapore.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/au-petit-salut-lunch/

Both my dining partner and I opted for the 3 course Set Lunch, which cost $35.00++. There were 6 options for each course.

 Cured Smoked Trout served with couscous taboulé, fresh herbs

 My dining partner ordered this. The portion of smoked trout could really be more generous. He didn’t really fancy the couscous.

Half dozen baked Burgundy snails with tomato and garlic butter

I kind of enjoyed this, but as I seldom try escargot, I can’t really tell if this was a good rendition or not.

 Ragout of duck with brunoise of vegetable in crispy filo, green lentils stew

My dining partner had this and he liked it. I tried a mouth of it and it was very crispy, and the taste of the duck wasn’t too overpowering.

Oven baked Atlantic Hake fish served with green vegetables, Niçoise vinaigrette

I had this as my main course. It was decent, the fish was not unfresh, but sadly that’s the most I feel about it.

Exotic trifle of red fruit jelly, mango-passion mousse, fresh kiwi and caramel popcorn

The combination of the different layers worked out quite well as it wasn’t too tangy or sweet when combined. The popcorns added some points to it.

 Crème Brûlée infused with fresh Madagascar vanilla beans

I liked how the serving dish had a large surface area, so that there’ll be more burnt sugar. The crème was good too and specks of vanilla could be seen. No regrets for choosing this.

There were no choices given for the types of coffee or tea served.

Overall, Au Petit Salut didn’t really impress me, though it was decent. Comparing it to Novus which I dined at last week, it was really pale in comparison. I guess I’m unlikely to be heading back unless someone calls for it. Au Petit Salut definately doesn't serve the best set lunch in town. Decent is the best rating I can give to this place.

My husband and I love this place...We've been three times now!

Food is very good

Service is very good

It's a little pricey, and corkage is high @ $40 per bottle but we still BYO to drink really nice Australian wine at a fraction of local prices...

My opinion: Highly recommended!

Well I must say, that my experience at Au Petit Salut (APS) was fine from the start. I booked dinner for 4 for a combined 21st celebration for a close group of friends, and we headed to Dempsey after finding ridiculous surcharges for marina bay restaurants due to the national day celebrations. I had a good time at APS and will surely return, and here are some of my thoughts:

Ambience:

Nice and cosy. Lighting is good for both indoor and outdoor locations. The room is quite spacious and the space was sufficient enough to disperse the chatter of the diners in the room. This allowed for a warm climate that was not too noisy. Perfect for a night out with good friends.



F&B:

We ordered quite a variety of food and the overall standard and presentation of the dishes were quite impressive. 

We begun with French Onion Soup, Lobster Bisque and a dozen escargots. The soups were not as thick as we expected them to be, but the taste was rich nevertheless... The escargots were fresh, well cooked and so tasty that we burnt our tongues in an attempt to gobble down them lovely snails.

On to the main courses. The quality here was good but the taste did not suit the entire party. We ordered lamb saddle, linguine with truffle cream, duck leg confit and lobster risotto. The meat dishes were cooked to perfection and were really outstanding, but the pasta seemed mediocre.

Last came the desert. We had Choux Buns, plum pudding with caramel sauce and warm melted chocolate cake. The deserts were incredible and really presented a wonderful conclusion to the meal. I especially recommend the Choux Buns, which I will be returning to APS for.



Value:

It is a high end restaurant and we spent exactly $75 each after taxes. Good value for good food, though I did expect more from the linguine!

Service:

Even my phone calls at odd hours were greeted by pleasant sounding and well trained staff. The staff were friendly and attentive, and service was prompt. No complaints; just compliments here.

Overall:

I must say that the greatest takeaway from APS was the entire dining experience itself, which I found to be extremely enjoyable. Plus, I will definitely be returning for those Choux Buns.

I was kindly invited to lunch here last week – a last minute choice, but I was pretty pleased as I never say Non to French food J  As it turns out, the menu still looks familiar with some of the same classic bistro dishes that Au Petit Salut has become synonymous with.

Having a sore throat, I went for the less expensive set lunch menu ($32++) and chose some of the lighter dishes:

Entrée: Warm goat’s cheese with frisée and walnut dressing

Plat: Oven baked thread fin with green vegetables, parsley coulis and tomato vinaigrette

Dessert: Choux bun filled with vanilla ice cream in warm chocolate sauce, sprinkled with sliced almonds

A good French restaurant must have good bread.  The one they serve here is decent, and catering to local tastes, it also came with a slab of butter (which was unfortunately very bland).  The bread complemented the goat’s cheese well: this is rather stronger than the ones I typically have on salads, but had been warmed to the right temperature, rendering it slightly runny around the edges.  There was too much dressing though, which I don’t like, not least because it makes the salad limp and soggy.

They had no more thread fin for my main, and I thus had to make do with mackerel.  The fish was cooked well and everything tasted as it should have, but this dish was in the end comme ci, comme ça: nothing special.  Perhaps the acidity and texture of the foods (all soft) made every bite taste too similar.  Boiled new potatoes on the side may have made this better.

Finally, profiteroles.  One of my favourite French desserts!!  So much so that I was willing to inflict more harm on my throat to get at it haha  Well truthfully, the other choices didn’t appeal to me much anyway, except perhaps the pear tarte tatin with vanilla ice cream.  Happily, I liked the profiteroles here a lot!  It’s not as pretty as the one at Prego, but tastes better.  What made the difference was the unctuous warm chocolate sauce.  Together with coffee, a lovely finish!

Service in the al fresco area was above average: the waiters at least took note of which dish should go to whom, and topped up our water promptly.  I don’t mind the occasional lunch here, but would need more of a reason or an occasion to have dinner here, since prices are a lot higher at night. 

My wife and I initially thought of going Prime Society for lunch but found that its under renovation and decided upon Au Petit Salut after looking at the numberous reviews in HGW.

Au Petit Salut sits along Harding Road, slightly away from the Tanglin Village. It is a small bunglow by its own with a private carpark. Compared to the other restaurants in Dampsey, it was full by 12:20pm. Fortunately, they prepared another seat for us as we did not make a reservation.

It is not the type of restaurants in Dampsey with high ceilings. It is relatively enclosed and hence noise can be an issue there. As there was several large tables, the diners have to shout across tables to talk and hence it can be quite irritating for other diners like us who prefers quieter experiences.

Food wise, I will say that the set lunches are very affordable and lower than many Dampsey restaurants. It cost $32 for the usual set lunch and $48 for the Executive Set Lunches. There was sufficient varieties for the main courses for the set lunches as well.

First came the bread, it was certainly soft, fresh and hot enough as a starter. For appetizer, we had the Burgundy Snails with Garlic butter and the Lobster soup. I will say that the snails are really good. I really cleaned up the whole dish without any drip of sauce. The Lobster soup is favourable but I think its a bit too strong. Its quite sick after half a bowl. For main course, we had the Pan Seared Onlet Beef and the Crispy Duck Leg Confit. The beef, though quite thin, was beautifully done that each mouthful of beef actually melt in my mouth. Its too bad that the dish looks dull without any greens except with fries. The Duck Confit was very nice and the skin is roasted to taste like the Chinese roast pork that we ate during wedding dinners. The dish was also well dressed with salad and small baked potatoes. Lastly, its the dessert where we had the Chocolate cake with Sorbet and the Creme Brulee. The chocolate is good but the Brulee so so. We end our meal with 2 cups of coffee.

In all, we spent $94 including taxes and spent a good 2.5 hours in the restaurant chatting and spending our lazy afternoon. Not really very fantastic food or ambience but for a semi fine dining French Cuisine in an exclusive corner of Dampsey, the price is actually comparable to those in most shopping centres. The quality and service is quite satisfactory as well... However, if its for dinner without all these set meals, I may reconsider my option.