This is definitely one of my most frequently visited restaurants now. I had been longing for its return since its earlier closure and disappearance from the restaurant scene here. Now, Marché sits in both 313@Somerset and VivoCity and best of all, the quality of its food has not gone down. What beats having a huge variety of (European) food to choose from in a Swiss-like marketplace atmosphere that is lively, cosy and fun. This would be a good place for family gatherings, meet ups with friends and for casual dates too without bursting the pocket. Perfect joint indeed.
Just remember to set your “Reserved” table sign when you’re seated and you are all ready to go.
Child-friendly area
Swiss Rosti with Garlic Pork Sausage ($5.80 for rosti, $6.90 for sausage)
Hmmm, who can ever resist a hot piping potato pancake that comes out fresh from an oiled frying pan and then topped with a generous amount of sour cream? The potatoes were beautifully pan fried and were tender enough to be torn apart with just a fork. It’s “blandness” (potatoes are freshly peeled and machine grated on the spot before going into the frying pan) went extremely well with the saltiness of the juicy sausage and the sourness of the cream. I know it is very unhealthy to indulge in ‘burnt’ food but I’m going to request the chef to cook my potatoes a bit longer for that extra burnt crisp next time.
Calamari ($10.90)
These big bite-size morsels were nicely deep fried. The calamaris were very fresh and tender. It’s a must to dip each piece into the tartar sauce before munching. Heavenly. Beware though, these were very oily and you could get sickly in a while. I was kind of removing the flour batter in the last few pieces which still wasn’t too bad because the calamaris themselves (whether fried or not) did taste good after all.
Bundaberg Root Beer ($4.50)
Good old Aussie root beer that’s traditionally brewed to a genuine old recipe from real sarsaparilla root, licorice root, vanilla beans and molasses. A must-order to wash down anything. Really.
Bread pudding ($5.00)
Served warm. The vanilla sauce gave it a nice sweet taste. The bread pudding wasn’t too soggy. In fact, the bread on top was nicely baked and the inside was soft and milky. Gives the tummy a warm fuzzy feeling. Alright, I am a big fan of bread pudding anyway so this is 2 thumbs up for me!
Crepe with fresh berries compote ($5.50 for crepe, $3.00 for compote)
I liked the crepe skin that was freshly made on the spot but the compote was a bit too soury for me. The hubby loved it though and ate all of it. Next time, I should just get some bananas in chocolate sauce.
Waffle with Movenpick ice cream ($5.50 for waffle, $8.90 for double scoop ice cream)
So far the best waffle in town. That’s what I thought. Freshly made on the spot. It was hot and crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Each bite of the hot waffle with cold ice cream (has to be Movenpick ones!) makes you go weak in the knees. I felt like a kid again. Was beaming all the way while eating this =)
Marché Restaurant
313@Somerset
313 Orchard Road #01-39/46
Tel: 6834 4041
Opens: 11.00am to 11.00pm daily