Les Bouchons
It has been many years since I last dined at Les Bouchons, back when I visited their Robertson Quay outlet. To be frank, the meal did not leave much of an impression. The only thing I remembered was the free-flow French fries served with every steak. Unfortunately, I am not much of a fries person. Give me some nicely grilled vegetables or other sides with my steak any day!
This time, I decided to revisit Les Bouchons at its original Ann Siang outlet, which opened in 2002. My dinner companion was Ashton, who loves a good steak and French onion soup. With those two favourites on the menu, it seemed like a good place for our father and son dinner.
We started with the French Onion Soup topped with an Emmental crouton. A comforting French classic, although this version was rather ordinary and lacked the depth of flavour I was hoping for.
The Burgundy Snails came swimming in homemade garlic butter, a combination that rarely disappoints when done well. Unfortunately, the snail meat was rubbery, taking away much of the enjoyment. The Angus Beef Tartare, prepared with gherkins, capers, shallots and parsley, was decent but again, nothing particularly memorable.
Thankfully, the steaks fared better and were easily the strongest part of our meal.
The Grilled Australian Black Angus Ribeye, served with shallot butter, was a straightforward and satisfying piece of beef. The butter added richness while allowing the meat to remain the star.
We also ordered the Grilled Australian Wagyu Picanha MB4/5. While competently grilled, I found it lacking the pronounced beefy flavour that I enjoy in a good picanha. This was probably more a reflection of the beef itself rather than the kitchen's execution.
Service, unfortunately, could have been more polished. Our table was just beside the service counter, where we could clearly hear the staff having their personal conversations throughout our dinner. It was a small detail, but one that affected the overall dining experience.
Les Bouchons has been around for more than two decades, and I can understand its appeal to diners looking for an uncomplicated French steakhouse experience. The steaks were decent, but the starters and service did little to elevate the evening.
Would I return? I probably would not wake up one morning craving a meal here. But if a friend organised dinner at Les Bouchons and invited me along, I would certainly turn up.
After all, good company can make even an ordinary meal enjoyable. And this evening, spending time with Ashton was the best part of dinner.
