The well-established Paradise Group unveils LÈ Restaurant and Bar, a tapas bar and fine dining concept that’s set on raising the bar high for contemporary Chinese dining.
Braised Cherry Foie Gras with Red Wine ($26)
LÈ Restaurant and Bar portrays refined modern Chinese fine dining as an exciting and voguish affair –a stark contrast to the conventional and dated Chinese cuisine that we are accustomed to.
You are greeted by a chic lounge upon entering LÈ, where you can enjoy an extensive range of cocktails and wines alongside appetising light bites.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, guests can groove to the upbeat tunes by the bar where the DJs are spinning.
Mantou Burger with Braised USDA Prime Beef ($16)
The carefully curated list of tapas comes with an intriguing Asian spin. The Mantou Burger with Braised USDA Prime Beef for instance is a quirky makeover of the traditional braised pork belly with steamed buns snack, featuring tender braised Angus beef wrapped in pillow-soft mantou burger buns.
For the complete LÈ experience, you are encouraged to enjoy pre-dinner tipples at the bar lounge, where the tantalising range of innovative Asian-inspired cocktails will tempt one into sitting back and chill till the stomach starts to rumble.
Autumn Evenings
Autumn Evenings is an elegant concoction of chrysanthemum tea, yuzu juice, elderflower liqueur and soursop with scotch whiskey.
Bartenders are flexible in customising mocktails and virgin drinks for those who are abstaining from alcohol.
LÈ Special
The local dessert ‘Ice Kacang’ triggered the creation of LÈ Special. This cocktail comes in multiple layers of rainbow colours, spiked with caracao, crème de menthe, pomegranate syrup and spiced rum.
Within the cavernous space of more than 10,000 square feet, there is the bar lounge and a 212-seater dining area with eight private dining rooms, three of which can be joined to hold 24 guests, and the other five rooms can be joined to hold 50 guests.
Alaskan Crab ($10, min 2 pcs)
After you’ve had your dose of alcoholic libations, head over to the dining area to continue the gastronomic journey.
Commendable are the international team of English-speaking servers who are as efficient as they are gracious.
Its extensive seafood menu includes novel creations like the Alaskan Crab –a zesty mix of crabmeat, tangy grapefruit cubes and cherry tomatoes enlivened with a sesame dressing.
Dirty Duck ($38 half / $68 whole)
Given Paradise Group’s excellent reputation for its apple wood-roasted Peking duck, the Dirty Duck is LÈ’s rendition with duck that has been stewed in a special blend of spices and flash-fried till crispy.
Shredded tableside by the service staff, the duck is wrapped with cucumber, Hoisin sauce and basil in homemade scallion crepes.
That subtly pungent fragrance of scallion infused in that thin layer of starch –the scallion crepes is something I’d want to learn how to replicate in my home kitchen.
Coral Trout Poached in Lobster Broth ($16 per 100g, $28 for the broth)
One of the highlights for me is the Coral Trout Poached in Lobster Broth.
Presented on a bed of dry ice for that dramatic effect, the show truly begins when the whole filleted coral trout is being lightly poached tableside.
The heavenly lobster broth is the real winner here, almost stealing the show from the pristinely fresh coral trout.
Pan-Seared Grade 9 Australian Wagyu ($160 for 200g / $240 for 300g)
Red meat lovers can start drooling at the sight of these well-marbled chunky cubes of beef.
Yet again another interactive tableside service: chunks of beef seared right before your very eyes. Anchored by a light drizzle of truffle oil and a sprinkling of lemon zest sea salt that aren’t too overwhelming, one can still enjoy the natural beefy flavours that are not masked by excessive saucing.
Stir-Fried Angel Hair with Japanese Dried Ebi ($28 / $42)
The Stir-Fried Angel Hair with Japanese Dried Ebi is another must-try. It has got to be the most fragrant and flavourful stir-fried angel hair pasta I’ve had in my entire life thus far; it is simply full of umami richness.
Sweet Temptation of Mango Sago, Avocado Cream, and Yakult and Sesame Pudding ($13)
If you’re the indecisive and fickle-minded sort who can’t make a decision on what to order, go for the Sweet Temptation for dessert. It comes with three petite portions of Mango Sago, Avocado Cream, and Yakult and Sesame Pudding.
LÈ Restaurant and Bar
#02-314 Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre
Suntec City Mall, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Tel:
Website: paradisegroup.com.sg
Opening hours:
Restaurant Lunch: 11.30am – 3pm daily
Restaurant Dinner: 6pm – 10.30pm daily
Bar: 3pm – 11pm (Sun to Thu), 3pm to 12mn (Fri & Sat)