The local outpost of multinational French restaurant meets expectations and then some
H Queens is an interesting building, housing some of this year’s most prolific restaurant openings. From Arbor and Ecriture to Virgilio Martinez’s debut Ichu Peru, the art-themed complex is embracing fine dining with a firm focus on the fine side. London-based La Petite Maison opened its doors last month and the restaurant has been full house ever since, with a two-week advance reservation required at the least.
While other restaurants are accessed via H Queen’s lobby on Queen’s Road Central, the proper entrance to La Petite Maison is on Stanley Street. Past the welcoming glass doors is an expansive dining room. Tables were neatly scattered across the square space, set adjacent to a lengthy stretch of a well-stocked bar. The far end of the space lies an open kitchen station where chefs prepare last minute touches to dishes before sending them on the pass. The dining area is handsomely white, which pops when daylight streams in, while in the evening the vibe is sophisticated, complemented with dim lighting. The grey sofas set along the perimeters of the space exudes homely comfort, with beautifully curated art canvases that capture the eccentric style of 20th-century painters of the South of France and the Mediterranean region.
Specialising in French fare—Nicoise to be specific—La Petite Maison is home to a wide range of Mediterranean dishes including some of the simplest but well-executed plates from European cuisine, though most predominately French. We began our meal with pissaladiere, an onion tart with anchovies. The open-top tart featured a bread-like crust, slightly tough but uniformly thin, with a generous helping of caramelised onions filled to the rim, and topped with silvers of cured anchovies. The light brininess of the fish added complexity to the sweet onion spread, a welcoming starter for our meal ahead.