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Singapore-based Pamplemousse, which means “grapefruit” in French, opened in 2009 and serves classic French and Italian dishes. Located at Dempsey Hill, the restaurant is helmed by the widely travelled owner-chef, Adrian Ling and his wife, Cleo Chiang-Ling.
Pamplemousse provides a conducive ambience for diners. The décor is simple yet elegant with white cushioned chairs and a high ceiling. This is complemented by the friendly and personable serving staff.
The restaurant offers a three-course set lunch for S$32/++ with a choice of Appetiser, Main and Dessert. The set dinner is a six-course affair at S$98/++. There is also a weekend brunch available.
The food concept at Pamplemousse is described as “confluence cuisine” – incorporating flavours that flow together. This is clearly seen in the clever use of different spices and ingredients from all over the world.
First impressions count when you dine in a restaurant. Here, they served warm bread, which was a good start. The appetisers served are not your ordinary fare. The first appetiser we tried was Citrus marinated salmon / Pamplemousse confit / Saikyo miso aioli / Croutons. The citrus flavoured salmon gave a slight tangy taste and the dish was light.
One would expect the Pork Knuckle Roulade to be one of the main courses, but it was offered as an appetiser instead. It was paired with Kataifi pastry / smoked shiitake / spinach / grain mustard sauce. The eclectic use of ingredients made the dish memorable.
“Chilli Crab” – flower crab and avocado spring roll / scrambled eggs / spicy chilli sauce / curry leaf oil – was another unusual appetiser. The infusion of local spices such as curry leaf oil and spicy chilli sauce provided a twist to an otherwise ordinary spring roll.
For the mains, we started with the Barramundi – blue mussels / braised fennel and leeks / saffron and lemongrass broth / zucchini. The addition of saffron and lemongrass broth, which are two common local ingredients, exuded a nice fragrance to the dish.
The Duck Confit, which is confit of duck leg / braised red cabbage / pommes sarladaise / lychee gastrique, is the restaurant’s signature dish. What we liked about the duck confit was that the skin was crispy on the outside, while the meat was tender. The lychee gastrique was a sweet and sour sauce that made for a perfect dip for the meat.
We tried an Italian dish as well. This was the Linguine “Vongole” with clams / Thai green curry / Thai basil. This is like a marriage of the East and the West. The linguine cooked with Thai green curry and basil was just irresistible. We slurped them up in quick time.
Desserts at Pamplemousse are excellent. The Toast & Milo, which is Brioche / Dulce de leche / Milo ice cream / caramelised bananas / nutella soil, is a mouthful to pronounce, but they are so smooth and delectable. The scoop of ice cream made of Milo was served alongside some strawberries with dulce de leche (a cream). The caramelised bananas were covered with chocolate-covered brioche ‒ what a joy for someone with a sweet tooth.
The second dessert that we opted for was Crème Brulee, which is Osmanthus crème brulee / lychee sorbet. The crackling sugar on the surface provided a contrast to the soft and creamy base of the crème brulee. It was not too sweet and the lychee sorbet provided a refreshing combination.
The last dessert we had was the Melons and Sago. This is a combination of rock melon / winter melon / honeydew melon / caramel popcorn ice cream / pecan brittle. The chef’s creativity was clearly displayed in this dish. The different types of melons went well with the popcorn ice cream and the bits of crispy pecan.
Pamplemousse stands out at Dempsey Hill for the food that it serves. The chef is bold and dares to experiment with ingredients from both the East and the West. Some people may call it fusion food but at Pamplemousse, it is the clever use of Asian spices and creativity that provides diners with an extraordinary gastronomic experience. For the quality of the food served, the set lunch at S$32/++ is considered reasonably priced.
Address: Block 7, Dempsey Road
#01-04
Singapore 249671
Opening Hours:
Tuesdays – Fridays: 12 pm – 2:30 pm, 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturdays – Sundays: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Closed on Mondays
Tel: +65-6475-0080
Note: Unless otherwise stated, Biz Daily pays for all the meals reviewed in Dining.
