For the full review/pics, do visit http://yumyumformytumtum.wordpress.com/2012/03/11/chalk-restaurant-old-school-rediscovering-1st-loves/

Located at Old School @ Mount Sophia (sharing the same compound as Timbre @ Old School), Chalk is no newcomer to the local dining scene. It has been in operation for the past 3 and a half years, serving up a mix of Italian and French cuisine, not to mention a kick a** dessert menu as well. Indoor and alfresco dining options are available, with both eluding the homely and casual vibes of a bistro rather than a restaurant.

In line with the restaurant name, chalkboards are used to display the daily specials and given their relative scarcity, I decided to go for the Mushroom Risotto with Truffle Puree ($31), which is not part of Chalk’s regular menu. I never really thought of Chalk as an authentic Italian eatery, so I was genuinely surprised to discover how great the risotto was. I detected the use of truffle oil which complemented the cheesiness well and helped lift the flavours of the dish. This was easily the best main we had for the night! Chalk should seriously consider adding this into the regular menu.

The Duck Confit with Sweet Potato Mash and Rocket Salad with Balsamic Dressing ($33) is probably one of the best-sellers on the menu. Personally however, I find the meat too dry and salty so its really fortunate that there’s the sweet potato mash to bring the sodium level down a notch. Then again, as long as you are not a fussy food snob, frying a duck thigh in duck fat will still yield a tasty treat.

The Grilled Ribeye with Roasted Garlic Potato, Garden Vegetables & Red Wine Jus ($39) was another surprise. The beef is juicy and tender with the right amounts of fats and a rich and savoury gravy.

The Catch of the Day happened to be Baked Snapper ($30). I usually stay away from snapper as the flesh is really too lean for my liking and it proved true in this case. Moreover, the dish was almost totally bland.

I liked the Duo of Pork – Roasted Pork Belly & Confit Tomato Stuffed with Minced Pork, with Lentils & Fine Beans ($33). The pork comes with a nice proportion of meat to fats, and is absent of any gaminess. Italian 烧肉 anyone?

Chalk does a mean Chocolate Fondant with Vanilla Ice Cream & Sesame Snap ($13) too. Unlike the conventional chocolate lava cakes, this Chocolate Fondant is encrusted with sesame snaps, which results in a crispier exterior.

Just like your first kiss, no other kiss is just as memorable. That’s probably the reason why I am so fond of Chalk’s Sticky Date Pudding with Brandy Butterscotch Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream ($13). Compared to the other Sticky Date Puddings I have tried elsewhere, the ones at Chalk have a higher concentration of date and is less sweet.

If you are dining with friends and don’t mind sharing, I would definitely recommend the Sampler Plate ($25), a chef’s selection of 4 desserts. For this occasion, we were given tasting portions of Creme Brulee, Sticky Date Pudding with Ginger Ice Cream, Blood Orange Sorbet and Vanilla Panna Cotta with Berry Compote. While I am a huge fan of Chalk’s Sticky Date Pudding, I have to admit that their Creme Brulee and Panna Cotta are in a league of their own. The Creme Brulee doesn’t commit the same faults that plague most restaurants; the density is just right, viscous enough to support the caramelized seared layer but not overly so that it resembles a chawanmushi. As for the Panna Cotta, apparently it is incredibly easy to make, just a heated mixture of cream, sugar, vanilla, gelatin and water which is then left to cool so I tend to avoid ordering it at restaurants but Chalk does it so perfectly that it’s making me rethink my future dessert ordering strategies.

Reassessing Chalk objectively at the end of the day, the main draw would be their desserts and I guess maybe it’s time to rediscover my first love and her friends.

I went there with my boyfriend for Valentine's Day. We got lost trying to find the place, because it's tucked at the top of the hill, and we had to climb a huge, long flight of stairs to even get to the middle of the hill. This restaurant's a fine dining restaurant, and climbing the steep, LONG flight of stairs in heels and a dress is brutal.

Once we got to the restaurant, the service was quite good. We ordered our food and the salad came promptly. After we finished our appetizers, we waited for forty-five minutes before a waitress came to our table and told us, " Your mains will come in four minutes." Around us, people who had come later than us were already served their dessert.

I decided to use the ladies' room during this time, and the state of the restrooms there is awful. They were very dirty and small, and is a walk away from the restaurant.

When I came back from the ladies' room, the same waitress came to our table and apologized and said, "Your mains will be coming in three to four minutes.", even though she'd told us that five minutes ago! In all, we ended up waiting an hour for our main courses.

While the food was good (we had the duck conft and the catch of the day), it was not worth the wait. Needless to say, I won't be going back to this restaurant any time soon.

Located in the old Methodist Girls' school on top of Mt Emily, Chalk offers a wonderful al fresco view in the cool of the evening, perfect for bringing your special someone for a meal. Even if you prefer indoors, it allows you a nice view outside cos its walls that separates the outdoor dining is completely made of glass.

The waiters and waitresses are polite, knowledgeable about the food they serve and the heritage of the surroundings, which is a rarity in the local F&B. I must commend Chalk for training their staff well. They are able to explain why certain ingredients are used in certain dishes to complement the taste of the other food items in the dish. Before I go into the food, I must emphasise that the prices are net. Chalk does not charge service tax, so you could consider giving the waiting staff some tips.

For starters, cream of mushroom soup (soup of the day, $13.5), was made of brown mushroom finely grinded, thick and served piping hot. The Caesar salad (special, $17) was accompanied with bacon. Both were served with a hearty serving.

For main course, the grilled ribeye steak served with garlic roasted potato, garden salad and red wine jus ($39). I thought the steak was a bit too chewy for my liking. Otherwise, the dish was alright. The duck confit was served with sweet potato mash, rocket salad with balsamic dressing ($33). The duck was not too dry, as some duck confits could get. I would recommend the duck over the steak.

Cranberry soufflé ($15) was worth the 20min wait. It was soft, fluffy and melt in the mouth texture, earning 2 thumbs up from my wife. The dinner was accompanied with a bottle of house wine Yaldara Estate Cabernet Sauvignant 2010, which it’s goes well with the duck and steak. Opens with aroma of berries, full bodied with low acidity and a short finish.

I would recommend that you come to check out this place soon cos all tenants of the Old School will need to vacate by June 2012 to make way for LTA’s plan to demolish it for new condominiums.