Encore by Rhubarb

Had a birthday lunch here a few weeks back. Pleasant and spacious for a small outfit in a shophouse. Duxton with all of the choices this wasn’t too bad. Didn’t know it was a Michelin restaurant though, so lucky surprise. Overall the venue was very spaced out and didn't feel crammed so that was nice. There was enough space between each table and for lunch operating with 8 tables felt like a good distance away. It was a nice calming setting without being too rushed. After being spoilt in Japan it was “good” but not fantastic. Will have to start adjusting for Singapore standards. Best part was the warm bread serving. For a not so gluten tolerant personnel having 2 pieces was a bit too much. It was nice and crusty lovely exterior warm fluffy without being too soft. The multigrain was great texture and taste to support the bread. Butter went well on the side. It was great that each piece wasn't too big. Even for my small hands it was easy to break and finish while waiting for the meal. Nice side break from the meal. Each dish was holding some traditional French touch with some new elements. Using the tropics ingredients to compliment the cooking style. It was nice but again comparing to what we had while living in Japan guess our expectations were higher. Need to adjust (note to self again). The staff was very friendly and not too intrusive. They were there to be part of the scenery which is nice when one is having a lunch to relax. Not too much talking but enough to explain then left you to enjoy the meal. It was nice of them to attach a card to the petit snacks on the end. Tolerant for allergies and thankfully they double checked when asked. Overall was not bad for a neighborhood location easy to access. Wish it was slightly warmer as I was sitting under the AC it was chilly. I stopped by for lunch and couldn't hide the feeling that I wanted to try it out since it's in the neighborhood. In terms of space, there are not many seats and you don't feel cramped, but the downside is that the air conditioning is cold. This country may have no choice but to give up. Coming from Japan, I feel like I'm missing something no matter where I go in Singapore, so rather than saying it's a shame, I think it's better to adjust to Kocchi's standards. My first impression was that the bread was delicious. I'm glad it's served piping hot. When you open the crispy outside, steam comes out from the chewy inside, so be careful not to get burned. It was the perfect size so you could easily eat it with butter. Please sell this bread, lol. The other course dishes are Odo's French cuisine, incorporating local ingredients. It was 4 items, but I think 3 items is just right. It's not bad since it's reasonably priced, but I might think twice about it when I hear it's Michelin-starred. It's easy and convenient for a French restaurant in my neighborhood where I casually go for lunch, so I might go there again. Since it was my birthday, I might have been happy to receive some sweets at the end with a message. I thought it was my birthday this year, but I'm happy to be able to celebrate it.