Le Tonkin

Where do you go for French-Vietnamese eats here these days? Le Tonkin, formerly on Mohamed Sultan Road, has moved and taken over Club Tapas on Ann Siang Road. Taking up three split-levels within Club Hotel, it consists of an intimate indoor dining lounge, an outdoor cocktail terrace and an al fresco restaurant terrace. We recommend getting a table outdoors if the evening is balmy.

The menu is pretty generous and offers cold and hot appetisers, soups, salads, mains, cheeses and desserts with Vietnamese and French influences. The Cochine Chine is a refreshing change from the usual rice paper rolls. This is a light and healthy starter comprising larger rice noodles rolled with a trio of fusion flavours - chicken with honey dressing, beef with wasabi leaf and black been paste, and smoked salmon with Peking sauce. Should you prefer something French, try the pan-seared foie gras served with caramelised apples and vanilla fig mash instead, or the lobster bisque cappuccino.

For mains, we highly recommend their signature Vietnamese cha ca la vong - marinated fried seabass flavoured with galangal, turmeric, shallot, shrimp paste, sour rice and fresh dill, served with flavour-soaked beehoon, rice crackers and fragrant herbs. Their pho bo - rice noodles in a flavoursome broth of double-boiled beef bones and spices, topped with slices of tender beef, satisfies, too, though a tad pricey at $20 a bowl. For the French options, the duck confit and pigeon wrapped in filo pastry with pan-seared foie gras and sautéed cabbage are good bets.

Desserts-wise, the kem chay dua (coconut crème brulee) was an absolute delight and a perfect finish to our meal. We savoured every spoonful of the young coconut crème brulee alongside sips of refreshing coconut juice and green tea, and nibbles of Vietnamese ginger candy. Our verdict? The food's good and service, smart. 

The Club Hotel, 28 Ann Siang Road, Tel: 6808-2185