Am I the only one unimpressed by Au Jardin or what?
1. Imagine my disappointment when the menu presented was totally different from the online menu (which is far more interesting), sigh.
2. Point 1 wouldn’t matter if the food itself was good. Since it’s under the Les Amis group, I expected the food to be above average but found it wanting instead. Blame me and my high expectations.
3. If there’s one thing I hate dislike more than subpar food, it’s being rushed through a meal. I think the waiters were rushing the dishes as it was getting close to their closing time, double sigh.
I’m disillusioned.
Friday Luncheon ($45++) kicked off with a amuse bouche of bonito jelly emulsion, scallops and fish roe topped with seaweed. I thought this was a rather awkward combination as the natural sweetness of the scallops was overwhelmed by the salty essence.
I applaud the chef for his presentation of the crispy fried egg with filo crust topped with avruga caviar. Lovely in the looks department! Now, if only it scored in the taste department as well.
I got all excited at the sight of that runny yolk! So I wasn’t prepared for the anticlimax that followed. Bland, bland, bland. It’s just another ordinary egg to me, albeit a fanciful one.
Finally, something I can say I truly like! Compared to the previous 2 dishes, ragout of Boston lobster with orange-vanilla foam was outstanding. I adored the succulent lobster and that hint of citrusy aftertaste. Brilliant.
My pan roasted baby threadfin with stewed split peas flavoured with dried seafood was so humdrum that I’m going to label it as “boring”. Definitely Probably something I can replicate at home. Speaking of which, I actually do have a bag of split peas in my pantry. Guess it’s time to start experimenting soon!
The consensus at the table: Papillote of Japanese pumpkin with vanilla ice cream was the nicest part of the whole meal! I’m partial to anything pumpkin so I did enjoy the pairing of the sweet sweet pumpkin with crispy paper-thin wafer.
Luncheon ended with a cup of tea and les mignardises.
I’m confused now. On one hand, the food didn’t impress enough to make me eager to be back. On the other hand, I think Au Jardin really has the potential to wow and blow me away. Reckon it’s just not my lucky day today?
I’m ambivalent about Au Jardin.
woah..seems like you’re spending quite a fair bit on food recently! But i’m surprised Au Jardin didnt turned out as good as it seems
hello girl, am surfing the net at my kyushu hotel now haha!
hmmm perhaps because it was lunch, and lunch duration is short thats why. omg their vanilla citrus foam is one amazing sauce i absolutely love! (: (:
and yea i realized you’ve been doing quite a few ex lunches lately haha =p
Angeline: I think I was just unlucky and went on a day when the menu was not interesting! There are many positive reviews on it though, so I guess it’s just me haha.
elaine: Oooh, girl, you are making me envious! Eat lots of nice food and remember to take pics ok! Haha, ya I read how much you like Au Jardin! Maybe dinner is more fab =) Come back and we’ll go for nice eats!
i wanted to head there too! hmm looks like the price decrease was not matched by the quality of food…used to be $55 for lunch.
I think that the food served for the $45+++ you paid was good value for money.
If you wish to review Au Jardin properly, I suggest that you try the degustation menu, which is, dare i say, the equivalent of the chef’s resume and thus, a better representation of what the restaurant can offer than a $45 lunch. Of course, it is significantly more costly at $200.
I have found the food excellent, especially the lobster (which is not served as ragout). I think you’ll find that the scallops and alaskan king crab will also be very much to your liking.
On every occasion that I have been there, the service has been impeccable; the waiters are most attentive, yet not intrusive. In addition, I believe that good company makes for a wonderful dining experience and I have been in excellent company.
Although I prefer the degustation menu at Les Amis (on your “I wanna go” list and under the same Group), the setting (at Shaw Centre) is hardly comparable to a seat on the balcony at the Botanic gardens so I would suggest that you temper your “high expectations” when you go there for lunch.
Ok, noted. Sounds like you are a huge fan of Au Jardin! Anyway, I’m not inclined to go back any time soon. If I’m forking out $200, I’d rather head for Saint Pierre or Iggy since they managed to impress me with their set lunches, which I feel is even better value for money =)
I went to Au Jardin recently for their Friday luncheon, and found the service impeccable, and the food satisfying, with an extensive wine list to top
I do agree with the difference in menu from what was published online and what was available that day
And that the amuse bouche and desserts were much lovelier than the main. All in all, it was still a pleasant experience tho’ 