Restaurant André has been heralded as the No.1 restaurant in Singapore pretty much since it first opened in 2010; it even bagged number five spot in Asia at the latest awards ceremony by S. Pellegrino. And while the molecular portions served up here are microscopic in size - and often quite confusing - few dining experiences in Singapore captivate the imagination quite like Restaurant André.
Taiwanese-born chef André Chiang has one key principle: each of the eight dishes on his ever-changing menu correlates to a set of eight elements. Octaphilosophy, he calls it.
In stark contrast to the mindboggling menu, the interior here is kept relatively non-descript, and with space for only 30 diners it’s definitely intimate. The actual location is more memorable, set in a quaint, whitewashed shophouse on a bustling street in Chinatown. It’s easy to find and only a short walk from Outram Park MRT.
The set eight-course menu is compulsorily – no a la carte here! Comprising the eight elements are ‘unique’, ‘pure’, ‘texture’, ‘memory’, ‘salt’, ‘south’, ‘artisan’ and ‘terroir’. With the various amuse bouche dishes and entrées this does add up to around 15 dishes in total, so you won’t feel as bad about dropping $300 per head (without wine).
Looking into Andre’s ‘octaphilosophy’ concept in more detail, the bold flavours in his foie gras jelly with black truffle evoke the ‘memory’ of diners, while his ‘pure’ dishes are prepared without seasoning or the use of electricity. We are told that the menu changes on a daily basis, but some of Restaurant Andre’s more permanent fixtures to the menu include ‘cauliflower puree with risotto in black rice squid ink crackers’, and look out for the deconstructed ‘Snickers Bar’ too. Yes, it sounds borderline pretentious, but with Restaurant André ranking on acclaimed restaurant lists both in Asia and globally, the culinary world certainly seems to think Chiang’s unique concept works on a world-beating level.
Reservations at Restaurant Andre are recommended well in advance, with the Chinatown spot open six days a week (Tuesday to Sunday) for both lunch and dinner.
