Remember last year's birthday celebration with the sis? I wanted so bad to try French and Au Petit came to mind, away from the Les Amis-Garibaldi group. One week in advance, I made a reservation via email requesting for a "cosy corner" to celebrate a "birthday", of which both were acknowledged. Having read plenty of reviews on "Michael's lousy service", I was mentally prepared but he sounded alright on the phone and over email.
Beware, APS is only open from Mon-Sat, they adhere strictly to the Sabbath (= no work). I had a good laugh over that bit...which restaurant would choose to shut its doors on lucrative Sunday, gets me thinking real hard.
Ok, I'll be honest..the $30++ price tag was a deal sealer.
APS is located inulu Dempsey, especially those without private transport.
Two long bus journeys later, up a long stretch of steps.
Down the lonely path...
Akin to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Finally. Truth be told, if it were a dinner appointment, it would have been utmost spooky.
Finally at the doors...! This sign is only at the 2nd floor restaurant, brunch makers dine a floor lower.
The menu.
The cozy corner...right smack next to a mini waterfall...trickling water sounds..
Outdoors...
The rest of the outdoor area...fully packed they were! Reservations highly highly highly recommended. Amazes me how often locals dine out! Was certainly expecting a larger proportion of expats...apparently not.
Lo and behold! The incense to chase the mosquitoes away, which worked wonderfully except that the smell got a little over the top towards the end of the meal.
The pretty table adornment.
1-for-1 smoothies ($9++)
Banana Smoothie was super yums, bananas were of the right ripeness, blended in creamy milk..the saccharine sweetness..au naturel (I think!) and so very healthy.
Chocolate Smoothie had the chocoaddict grinning, chunks of chocolate within. Tres indulgent, but nope, does not rival Godiva's.
Complimentary bread basket and butter. The bread gets refilled (almost unwillingly) and butter that melts away. True to all raving reviews, the bread is orgasmically good. For once, I've used that word. Warm crusty toasted crunchy on the outside and cottony soft within. I ran out of words I realise but it's soooooo gooooood! Bread without the fancy dandy herbs or onion or even balsamic vinegar and olive oil potentially can taste SO good. Even when eaten cold, it was still so awesome!! Three baskets of these we had, that should be a good enough testimony of this.
More of the lovelies.
A hint of my appetisers.
Vegetable Soup of the Day which turned out to be Potato Leek soup. It always amuses me whenever the sis opts for soup from the whole list of delicious sounding appetizers! Of all things soup. Unbeknownst to all, the whole process of making soup from scratch is anything but easypeasy. Good tasting soups are hard to come by and APS' Potato Leek Soup was delicious with bits of potato, though slightly bland for me (after my uber tasty appetizer, read along to find out why).
Half dozen baked Burgundy snails with tomato and garlic butter blew my senses away. They were served bubbling hot, literally.
Garlic Butter that went superbly well with bread. A match made in heaven.
In true blue French style..these edible snails are délicieux.
Pan seared onglet beef served with confit shallots and french fries
I requested for my beef to be medium and they were served medium well. The table next to us had his served almost raw. Hence, rendering the beef slightly tougher than expected and it was over marinated...go easy on the salt please! The caramelised onions tasted like pickled vegetables which I adored, french fries were probably the most french of this dish...pardon the pun.
Red wine braised beef cheeks, carrots, mushrooms and parsley potatoes
In plain words, this is a beef stew. The sis does not mind beef soft and tender and lacking most in bite so this one worked for her. In comparison, this was too bland but more wholesome this way with the sweet carrots, crumbly potatoes and mushrooms. Order this if you don't mind jelly-like tendons well woven into your chunk of meat.
Choux buns filled with vanilla ice cream in warm chocolate sauce, sliced almonds
So this was another highly raved about dessert. Profiteroles with vanilla ice, note note vanilla bean ice. I requested mine without the chocolate sauce. These just tasted like normal puff pastries with thin ice-cream.
Crème brulée infused with fresh Madagascar vanilla beans
Now now, this humble looking french dessert blew us away. Look at the vanilla bean specks! Weird that they were cluttered at the top. This well torched dessert with a crispy layer of browned sugar with wobbly smooth cream custard. I've got nothing but all praise for this. A must try and probably the best I've eaten, after Les Bouchon's.
Complimentary coffee and tea that was just alright.
Service was thankfully not intrusive, not sure if there is a major difference inside and outside the restaurant. Getting the attention of a server is not difficult, they came to refold the napkins ten times over, refilled the glasses constantly..no birthday cake on the house..no chair for the arm candies (though the expat lady got hers!)..no surprises in service. Food had hits and misses and there ends this adventure with APS.
Au Petit Salut
Dempsey
Beware, APS is only open from Mon-Sat, they adhere strictly to the Sabbath (= no work). I had a good laugh over that bit...which restaurant would choose to shut its doors on lucrative Sunday, gets me thinking real hard.
Ok, I'll be honest..the $30++ price tag was a deal sealer.
APS is located in
Two long bus journeys later, up a long stretch of steps.
Down the lonely path...
Akin to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Finally. Truth be told, if it were a dinner appointment, it would have been utmost spooky.
Finally at the doors...! This sign is only at the 2nd floor restaurant, brunch makers dine a floor lower.
The menu.
The cozy corner...right smack next to a mini waterfall...trickling water sounds..
Outdoors...
The rest of the outdoor area...fully packed they were! Reservations highly highly highly recommended. Amazes me how often locals dine out! Was certainly expecting a larger proportion of expats...apparently not.
Lo and behold! The incense to chase the mosquitoes away, which worked wonderfully except that the smell got a little over the top towards the end of the meal.
The pretty table adornment.
1-for-1 smoothies ($9++)
Banana Smoothie was super yums, bananas were of the right ripeness, blended in creamy milk..the saccharine sweetness..au naturel (I think!) and so very healthy.
Chocolate Smoothie had the chocoaddict grinning, chunks of chocolate within. Tres indulgent, but nope, does not rival Godiva's.
Complimentary bread basket and butter. The bread gets refilled (almost unwillingly) and butter that melts away. True to all raving reviews, the bread is orgasmically good. For once, I've used that word. Warm crusty toasted crunchy on the outside and cottony soft within. I ran out of words I realise but it's soooooo gooooood! Bread without the fancy dandy herbs or onion or even balsamic vinegar and olive oil potentially can taste SO good. Even when eaten cold, it was still so awesome!! Three baskets of these we had, that should be a good enough testimony of this.
More of the lovelies.
A hint of my appetisers.
Vegetable Soup of the Day which turned out to be Potato Leek soup. It always amuses me whenever the sis opts for soup from the whole list of delicious sounding appetizers! Of all things soup. Unbeknownst to all, the whole process of making soup from scratch is anything but easypeasy. Good tasting soups are hard to come by and APS' Potato Leek Soup was delicious with bits of potato, though slightly bland for me (after my uber tasty appetizer, read along to find out why).
Half dozen baked Burgundy snails with tomato and garlic butter blew my senses away. They were served bubbling hot, literally.
Garlic Butter that went superbly well with bread. A match made in heaven.
In true blue French style..these edible snails are délicieux.
Pan seared onglet beef served with confit shallots and french fries
I requested for my beef to be medium and they were served medium well. The table next to us had his served almost raw. Hence, rendering the beef slightly tougher than expected and it was over marinated...go easy on the salt please! The caramelised onions tasted like pickled vegetables which I adored, french fries were probably the most french of this dish...pardon the pun.
Red wine braised beef cheeks, carrots, mushrooms and parsley potatoes
In plain words, this is a beef stew. The sis does not mind beef soft and tender and lacking most in bite so this one worked for her. In comparison, this was too bland but more wholesome this way with the sweet carrots, crumbly potatoes and mushrooms. Order this if you don't mind jelly-like tendons well woven into your chunk of meat.
Choux buns filled with vanilla ice cream in warm chocolate sauce, sliced almonds
So this was another highly raved about dessert. Profiteroles with vanilla ice, note note vanilla bean ice. I requested mine without the chocolate sauce. These just tasted like normal puff pastries with thin ice-cream.
Crème brulée infused with fresh Madagascar vanilla beans
Now now, this humble looking french dessert blew us away. Look at the vanilla bean specks! Weird that they were cluttered at the top. This well torched dessert with a crispy layer of browned sugar with wobbly smooth cream custard. I've got nothing but all praise for this. A must try and probably the best I've eaten, after Les Bouchon's.
Complimentary coffee and tea that was just alright.
Service was thankfully not intrusive, not sure if there is a major difference inside and outside the restaurant. Getting the attention of a server is not difficult, they came to refold the napkins ten times over, refilled the glasses constantly..no birthday cake on the house..no chair for the arm candies (though the expat lady got hers!)..no surprises in service. Food had hits and misses and there ends this adventure with APS.
Au Petit Salut
Dempsey
Wow $30++ seems very reasonable! Do they have the set lunch on sat too? This is on my to-go-list! Haha.
ReplyDeletehello! yep they do..mon-sat. :) pick your dishes wisely!
ReplyDelete