Cafe de Amigo (63p)

Funan Digital Mall #02-15

Tel: 6835 0238

WADA rating: 39 +24= 63 pts
QPI: 6 ($30 per pax or $50 for set dinner and $25 for set lunch)
WFI: B- ($30 per btl but if spending is above $40 per pax , it will be waivered. Good stemware. Good affordable wine list)

We came here long ago when it was still at the Specialist Centre. It was already pretty established and well-known back then. Although it has never been up there with the big boys, it has received certain status of notable mentions. Supposedly famous for its escargots (which we didn’t manage to taste), they are more famous for its owner’s love affair with wines. A lot of wine events have been held here and my guess is that the cuisine here is mostly not overpowering.

What’s Good

Apple Pie
The brightest spark in a fairly dim night. Crispy filo pastry lasden with thinly sliced apple slices that seems to be more savory than sweet. Fluffy light with a teasing touch of apple scents. A very quaffable dessert that doesn’t go over the top in sweetness. This I can have a couple of without getting tired of.

Other Dishes Tasted

Seafood Platter
The squid is alright but not sea fresh. We think the tangy sauce had some black bean sauce mixed in. Its very Chinese influenced. Same for the fish which presented a more local flavour than French.

Chicken Chop with Black Pepper Mushroom sauce
Crispily grilled chicken skin covers a succlent dry chicken drumstick. Decent sauce but once again the flavours are very localized. It is definitely one up from your hawker center chicken chop as the saucing is slightly more complex with tangy flavours. Very hainanese western chicken chop feel to it.

Tiramisu – Generous with the kahlua that makes this better than average as the kahlua does most of the talking.

What’s Not

There really is nothing bad about this place maybe that it is too neutral and somewhat dull in its approach. Although not exciting, it is better than average.

Comments

Excelling in being better than average, this establishment could do with a little more excitement. Flavours are very localized which could work in its favour, depending on how you look at it. It is definitely a Chinese chef cooking western cuisine here. Although it is supposed to be a French bistro (though the name card shows the Eiffel tower painted in the Italian national colours), the food is far from being authentically french.
If the prices shed 10- 20% , this place could be somewhere that I could come more often (especially for the lunches which seem a much better value). In fact, I am more impressed by their wines than the food.

Wine Pairing Done

2001 De Loach Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Sonoma California (WE85)
WADA rated 86pts
Golden yellow. Unmistakable apple core with some white “ass”ness of an aged burg. Some lining of almonds and sweet white chocolate…..white frangipani flowers as well. It was a little corked but blew away after a while and revealed baked pears with cinammon with an almost nail-varnish like finish. Shockingly intense on the nose and palate that humbled me. Wasn’t exactly a seamless wine especially with a disappointingly short finish, but I am still awed by the value and blossoming complexity of this wine.

Wine Pairing Suggestions

I suggest you order your wines from them as it is quite an extensive list that has many affordable aged wines. You might find a piece of buried treasure like I did.