Dining In the Garden - Au Jardin

Au Jardin, part of the Les Amis Group, usually comes to mind when one thinks of a romantic dining spot. However, I discovered that it is a good spot for Friday luncheon too, if you prefer a more casual ambience. I had lunch there last Friday, and thought it would be a good idea to share it with you... if you haven't been there for lunch or never been there at all before. If you are a visitor to Singapore, it will be a quaint spot for you to check out too.

For those who haven't been there, Au Jardin (means "in the garden" in French), is located in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Set in an elegantly restored 1920s colonial residence, it has won several awards since opening in 1998. It serves contemporary French cuisine and is open for dinners only, except for lunch on Fridays. It also serves a semi-buffet brunch on Sundays.



If you look closely, there are glass panels on the 2nd storey. It is really well thought out as you can enjoy the lush greenery, but with an air-conditioned environment. Not to mention, free of mosquitoes and other creepy crawlies. That's the problem I have. As much as I love dining al fresco, I cannot deal with insects. I can imagine this place will be full of them at night, since it is located in the Botanic Gardens.



Priced at S$45++, the four-course set lunch is a good way to sample the cuisine of this fine dining establishment. Here's what I had for lunch.

Amuse Bouche : Cold tomato soup

Appetiser : Pan fried foie gras

(This is a special request and is not part of the set lunch menu, but they can customise on request)

Bonus Appetiser : Cream of cauliflower with mimolette cheese shavings

(My dining companion is working with the Les Amis Group, so perhaps that's why we had a bonus appetiser.)

Main Course : Wagyu beef rib with buckwheat gnocchi

Dessert : Fruit medley with lychee, raspberry and strawberry sorbets

Lunch was really enjoyable and I plan to have a Friday luncheon there very soon, perhaps with some gal pals. However, I am thinking of checking out the Provencale Sunday Brunch this week. Will definitely write a blog entry about that when I do.

P.S: Au Jardin has a buggy, so do call them if it's raining so you can be shuttled from the drop-off point at Botanical Garden. Ladies wearing high heels can also use this service if needed. :)

Official Site : www.lesamis.com.sg