Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Road Tel: 6431 6156 / 6331 1612O
perating Hours: Lunch: Noon – 2pm (Mon – Fri)Dinner: 7pm – 10pm(Mon – Sat)

Here fine French cooking with light, modern twists and faultless, professional service is the order of the day. The duck confit and seared foie gras were perfectly done and given imaginative twists of fresh herbs and citrus to awaken my jaded palate. A dish of lobster medallion in a warm white asparagus salad served with sliced summer truffle was a standout success, the perfect example of indulgent luxury with a light touch, a dish combining the best from the land and sea: these guys certainly know their oignon. For mains, my braised short ribs with fava beans were not only rich and delicious – the bitterness of the fava beans laudably cutting through the sticky, fatty ribs – but surprisingly well presented. Here it’s best to leave everything in the hands of the extremely experienced and knowledgeable staff. Let the sommelier choose the wine (from the impressive cellar, including all the great chateaux, Champagne and New World estates), let the waiting staff choose the food and let the chefs cook it – you’re in safe hands (as long as you’ve got deep pockets). For those of us with less cash to burn, there is a great lunch deal that allows a thriftier sampling of the chef’s exquisite food.