BRASSERIE GAVROCHE

Brasserie Gavroche is a quaint restaurant located in a tiny shophouse-filled street in the historic Tanjong Pagar area of Singapore. The restaurant is proudly French from the red leather banquettes and mirrors on the walls to the traditional dishes on the menu. Chef Frederic Colin has created a menu reminiscent of his grandfather Henri's kitchen which include family recipes like the Pâté en croûte et foie gras and classic brasserie favorites such as Escargots de Bourgogne and Parmentier de canard confit.

We went with our son recently for arrived early before the Friday evening dinner rush.  By 8:00 pm, the restaurant was busy and the few empty tables were reserved.  For starters, my son and I shared the  Tartine de l'os a moelle (roasted bone marrow and garlic confit which we spread on toasted sourdough.  A had the Tartare de saumon au raifort  - their version made piquant with the addition of horseradish.  A continued with his tartar evening and chose the Tartare de boeuf as his main course, J had the classic Steak frites et sauce Bearnaise while I had my favorite - Pave de rumsteak sauce poivre vert - a thick slab of rump steak covered in spicy green peppercorn sauce and lots of crunchy fries.  And of course to end our brasserie dinner, we couldn't resist ordering dessert - Profiteroles for the boys and a Vacherin for me.  If we can't fly to Paris, then Brasserie Gavroche is the closest we can get in Singapore.

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Brasserie Gavroche
66 Tras Street
Singapore 079005
Tel: +65 6225 8266
*Lunch and dinner Mondays to Fridays, Dinner on Saturdays, Closed Sundays
*Open only for dinner on Public Holidays

* They have also opened a sister restaurant across the street called Cafe and Bar Gavroche with simpler food and an extensive Pastis and wine list open all day everyday (except Monday) from noon till late and serving brunch on Sundays

THE KNOLLS SUNDAY BRUNCH

One of the first weekend brunches we tried in Singapore was at The Knolls in the Capella hotel.  Located right beside the terraced pools of the hotel, The Knolls is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and brunch on Sundays.  

Brunch is a gastronomic affair with a large seafood buffet (fresh oysters, king prawns and scallops), mini-seafood and meat appetizers, an assortment of fresh bread and salads with fresh burrata on the buffet.  The Mediterranean-inspired hot dishes change every Sunday and include - freshly pizzas with shaved truffles, roasted suckling pig, seafood paella, grilled sausages and lamb or beef skewers, assorted grilled vegetables and a roast meat.  There is also an amazing three-tier cheese cart served by a cheese expert who guides you through the day's choices.  Desserts are plentiful as well with pastries, cakes and an ice cream cart all served in individual portions which gives one the chance to try several sweets instead of just one.  There is a free flow of mineral water and soft drinks included in the price and an option to have free flow of champagne and wines or just wines is also possible.  It's a great way to get away and spend a long, leisurely lunch by the pool with a view of the sea and with live music in the background.  Sundays in Sentosa at the Capella brunch is like a mini-holiday from the hustle and bustle of Orchard road.

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The Knolls
Capella Singapore
1 The Knolls, Sentosa
098297 Singapore
Telephone: +65 6591 5046
*Open daily for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. 
*Brunch on Sundays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
(Brunch includes soft drinks, mineral water, coffee and tea) 
$168++ per Adult with free flow Champagne and wines
$148++ per adult with free flow of wines
$128++ per adult for food only
$78++ per child (7-12 years old)
$48++ per child (4-6 years old)

WILD HONEY

On our last day in Singapore, I was running around the city the whole day finishing last-minute errands and squeezing in my doctor's appointment.  Luckily, I still had time for a big breakfast at Wild Honey inside the Mandarin Gallery, another shopping mall on Orchard road.

I had heard about Wild Honey from a cousin who raved about their all-day breakfast menu and was looking forward to a breakfast a deux with my eight-year old.  We were planning to walk the short distance from Mt. Elizabeth to the restaurant but it started to pour suddenly and because we didn't have an umbrella, we were forced to either run across the street and get soaked or take a cab.  Guess what we chose to do?  (no brainer - taxi, of course)We arrived at the mall at 9:30 and went around a little until we found the restaurant amidst all the shuttered shops.  Luckily, as it was still early, we were seated right away and got the cozy table for two right by the door. 

Wild Honey is all about breakfast.  You go up to the counter, give them your table number, place your order, pay your bill then sit and wait to be served.   The big blackboard menu had more than a dozen breakfast options - from the typical full English (eggs, sausage, tomato, mushrooms, baked beans, bacon) or Mexican (Vegetarian burrito, scrambled eggs, potatoes, beans, salsa, guacamole, sour cream) to the more unusual Tunisian (tomato stew, fried eggs & chorizo sausage) or Japanese (omelet balls with smoked salmon, wasabi mayo, rice, salad).  There's bound to be a breakfast dish that you're suddenly craving.  We made our choices pretty quickly - I had the Sweet Morning: (V) French toast stuffed with peach , a double espresso flat white and an orange juice while J had the Canadian - pancakes served with wild Forrest berries compote and lots of crispy back bacon with a hot chocolate.   It's seldom that I go out for breakfast with my son so we had fun chatting and trying to eat all the food on our plates.  When we finally finished, we headed back to the hotel to check-out of our room before rushing off to a lunch date with an old friend.

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Wild Honey

#03-02, Mandarin Gallery, 

Orchard Road, Singapore.
Telephone: +65 62353900

Another branch:

Wild Honey

3rd Floor

Scott's Square

Scotts Road, Singapore 220289