Among the many languages of the world, few are as universal as sharing love through food. This is fostered in a family of fourth-generation farmers in Cantal, France. The matriarch, Odette, would teach her grandson, Julien Royer, about respecting the produce of local terroir and an approach to cooking that highlights the ingredients’ purest form. Little did she know that years later, her name would be immortalised with three MICHELIN stars attached after Chef Julien established his first restaurant in Singapore.
This story comes to life through French fine dining. Honouring his grandmother’s teachings, however, the dishes interpolate local ingredients to reveal hints of Asian influence. As seasonality plays an important role, the carte du jour continues to change, so it’s best to leave expectations behind and let the seven-course tasting menu surprise and entice.
What remains the same is the undeniable ambience. One step inside and guests would realise why it shares a home with the National Gallery Singapore. The dining room’s centrepiece, a hand-made hanging installation by Singaporean artist Dawn Ng, feels like it belongs among the museum’s most whimsical curations. The mise en scène places this restaurant among Paris’ chicest, with crisp white draperies, pearlescent furnishings, and powdery blush-coloured accents. It’s a visual cue of its identity: intrinsically French, but infused with a distinct sense of place.
Exquisite Taste Volume 51
Odette
National Gallery Singapore
1 St Andrew’s Road
Singapore 178957
T: (+65) 98228283
E: enquiry@odetterestaurant.com
W: odetterestaurant.com
IG: @odetterestaurant
