AsiaLIFE

Fancy some authentic French food? You don’t have to look far. Situated along Street 108, La Marmite offers traditional French cuisine. Although the food may not be gastronomic, it makes the French feel right at home. Words by Lim Ka Ea.

Faced with its extensive menu – including starters, mains, desserts, specials and a plat du jour – we finally settled on mussels with garlic butter stuffing (US$6 for 6), a beef fillet with Kampot pepper sauce (US$8.50) and crème brulée (US$4.50). The verdict? C’est fantastique!

The food stands on its own, not hiding behind frilly garnishes. The mussels, each the size of a slender index finger, were fleshy and juicy. The management wasn’t kidding when it came to the garlic butter stuffing – though perhaps a tad too garlicky for non-French taste buds. Nevertheless, they were tasty and made for an appetising starter. The beef fillet came with a choice of four sauces and seven side dishes. We picked ratatouille. The stewed tomatoes, bell peppers and aubergines were light, refreshing and went well with the thin slice of beef fillet. Unfortunately, the sauce was a bit too watered down. This might be a strategy used to tame the strong and pungent taste of Kampot pepper. The crème brulée came in a generous portion, which was great value for money. Its crunchy caramelised top and soft custard provided a pleasant hot and cool sensation to the palate. It was not too sweet either.

Diners will soon be able to sample more traditional dishes from different French regions, according to owner, Manuel. Get excited! These will include cassoulet (bean stew), pot-au-Feu (meat stew) and potée (braised cabbage and pork). However, if you like something more familiar such as magret de canard, roast pork, fish soup, steak tartare, sole meuniere and l’escargots de Bourgogne, there’s no need to wait. These dishes are available now. Manuel assures AsiaLIFE Guide the meat is supplied by Dan Meats, a fine food supplier known for its quality produce.

The restaurant set up is simple but snug, with separate rooms for smoking and non-smoking. The yellow painted walls are lightly decorated with monochromatic pictures, giving it a very subtle Parisian feel. Last but not least, what is a French restaurant without quality wine and cheese? La Marmite offers an extensive wine list and cheese platters. If all this isn’t French enough, try dropping a small piece of dark chocolate in your cup of espresso at the end of your meal. It doesn’t get more French than this. Bon appétit!

La Marmite, 80 Street 108, Tel: 012 391 746. Open from 11am – 2pm, 6 – 10pm