A Day In The Life Of Chiyo

i've been to this place 3 times, and everytime is just as good as the last. :) Au Petit Salut serves only set meals for lunch, and set meals as well as ala carte for dinner. There are 2 set lunches: $22+++ and $38+++

Set lunches include an appetiser, main course, dessert and coffee/tea.

So far, for the appetisers, I've tried the burgundy snails (excellent rich taste packed into tiny balls), mixed greens salad with walnut dressing (normal, a little too salty for me, and the walnuts were soggy), and pan-seared foie gras (very good, although i could only eat half of it. i'm not used to the richness)

for main courses, I've tried the seared lamb shank on polenta (taste explosion again, lamb medallions were seared perfectly and medium on the inside. sauce was great, and polenta was buttery and fragrant. i thought it was a better match for the lamb than mashed potato), stewed lamb shank on the bone (very tender, yum) and also stewed beef cheeks (very tender also. although it wasn't as special as the seared lamb, it was still good on its own)

i think what differentiates a good restaurant from an excellent one is the attention it pays to dessert. so far the food had been great, but the dessert was even better! :) this makes me so happy to say it. haha. i've tried chocolate mousse cake with red currant jam (rich and dense, very very nice presenation, although the portion was rather small. this was good, but wait till you hear the rest), choux buns with vanilla ice cream and sliced almonds (perfect with the dark chocolate sauce lavishly drizzled on top. very very nice), creme brulee (you can see the vanilla bean seeds inside, very authentic. the cream was very rich, richer than those i have tasted before, and the caramelised sugar on top was crispy and a very good contrast to the creaminess), and manjari melted chocolate cake with raspberry coulis (the best. warm, melted chocolate cake with chocolate granita. mmmmmm... but i did not like the raspberry coulis)

the service here is polite but aloof. staff are attentive and polished. atmosphere is nice too, incandescent lighting with french music. it's advisable to make a reservation because this place is usually packed for lunch, unless you come before 12.

i will defintely come back here again :)