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they have a pretty cool fusionish menu, which I think would be a tad overpriced if going à la carte, but perfecty delightful at lunch-set-price, which is also offered on weekends (a nice gesture not often seen in restaurants). the food was generally surprisingly good and better than average, even if it wasn’t remarkably outstanding. and perhaps the best recommendation I can give is that I see myself coming back here again.
 
the place is done up really nicely, in one of those colonial-style buildings common in dempsey with high ceilings and impeccably neat and modern furnishings. cosy inside, it has a surprising number of tables placed rather close to each other, but the place was quiet enough that we could chat. service was also helpful and friendly – and I think the food came at a good speed.
 

For pictures and the full review from VeganAsh, click here!



Overall: 8.3/10
I’m often lured into many restaurants in Dempsey by their good marketing efforts only to be disappointed by generic and uninspiring menus. But recently, Pamplemousse reignited my interest in the area with their combination of flawless service and creative European cuisine made with superior ingredients. The ambience is ideal for a business lunch or a semi-formal date.
When I surveyed Pamplemousse’s rather short menu, I was surprised to find that the only vegan friendly/vegan-izable item was a salad. As I was accustomed to doing in the more upmarket restaurants in town (where chefs are typically more flexible and enjoy more artistic license with the dishes offered), I asked the manager if it was possible to custom-make a vegan dish. You could imagine the happy glow on my face when he unexpectedly brandished a vegetarian menu from behind a counter. God knows why Pamplemousse does not insert the vegetarian menu within the main menu as most restaurants with vegetarian menus do, especially since it was clear that at least an equal amount of time and effort was invested into the vegetarian menu. It was certainly one of the best I’ve seen in town. Here’s a good idea of what to expect:
Artichoke Salad


Perfectly cooked fresh artichoke, sweet toasted pine nuts, juicy seared mango cubes and cherry tomatoes mixed with a base of extremely fresh baby spinach and crisp rocket leaves, and topped off with a slightly tangy starfruit and kalamansi dressing. Dried, sweet and crispy starfruit chips made for an interesting addition. Highly recommended. ($18)
Saffron and Pandan Quinoa “Risotto” (sans cheese)

I’m always happy to see the superfood quinoa in local restaurants (it is way too rare!) and Pamplemousse did it justice – the dish featured perfectly fluffy and slightly crunchy quinoa with a hint of saffron and the subtle aroma of pandan. Another highlight of the dish was the fresh and juicy roasted cherry tomatoes, which happily popped and burst into sweet explosions in my mouth with a slight pressure. However, I wasn’t quite as impressed by the smoked shitake (lacked flavour), caramelized cauliflower (too soft), the plain French beans (boring), and the haricot beans (ditto). On the whole, I enjoyed the “risotto” but it needed something more to be sensational. ($22)
Sorbet

I tried both the lychee sorbet and mango sorbet as they were vegan. The former was sweet, light and refreshing but not particularly exciting. I preferred the latter, which was less sweet, denser and had a tangy aftertaste. ($6/scoop)


For pictures and the full review, click here!

At Pamplemousse, 3-course set lunches at $32 were fortunately still available on Xmas day and diners are allowed to mix and match their own appetiser, main and dessert from the 6-course christmas eve dinner that was available the previous night.

For more pictures and details , visit : http://www.dairycream.blogspot.sg/2012/12/pamplemousse-bistro-bar.html


Cream of Chestnut
Smoked Foie Gras | Coconut flesh water and milk | Croutons
This was from the festive menu and we were glad to have given it a try. Though coconut and chestnut might sound weird together, the sweetness from both components was surprisingly not too overpowering. The brown bits on top of the soup were the foie gras that did not resemble foie gras but turned out to be it. With a crunchy coating on the outside, no one expected to taste it until the fats burst in the mouth.

The portions for set lunches are really generous for the price and very good for sharing too. Perhaps dining at dempsey can be quite reasonable if one can find really good deals like this :)