A French place to eat
Surrounded by lush greenery, dining alfresco can be both relaxing and frustrating. The hazards include feeding mosquitoes and having dead leaves falling into our food. On the other hand, the balmy evening with a clear sky filled with stars really makes for a memorable dinner.
We arrived five-ish to find a party outside The Playhouse, with the restaurant mostly empty, and were immediately led to a four-seater.
A bottle of water with glasses were presented once we were comfortably seated, and a complimentary bread basket appeared right after we ordered. The slices were delectably soft and fluffy but we would’ve preferred salted butter instead of unsalted one. In any case, it’s so moreish we had to resist a second helping.
Both the iced chocolate ($6) and virgin margarita ($6.50) were good as thirst quenchers, especially when it’s a bit warm sitting under the canvas shade.
Our traditional french onion soup ($14) came piping hot. The beef broth was robust with caramelized onions swimming tantalizing in it. Topped with bread and cheese, it’s a comforting dish worth scalding my tongue for.
Just before we cued for our mains to be served, we were requested to shift to a two-seater out on the timber deck. The table was so much smaller we had to be mindful of our glasses and cutlery.
Initially I wanted coq au vin but it’s unavailable and a suggestion of seafood blanquette in vol au vent ($28) was readily accepted. Despite the creamy white sauce and grated cheese, this dish was surprisingly light and easy on the palate. The seafood (fish, mussels, scallops and prawns) was exceedingly fresh and succulent, while the puff pastry was flaky and crispy.
By comparison, we found the beef bourguignon with mashed potato ($29) a little less enjoyable though it’s delicious nonetheless. The braised beef stew in a red wine sauce was tender and deeply-flavored while the mashed potato was wonderfully creamy with a hint of butter. But it’s quite a heavy dish and I got sick of so much meat.
For dessert, we ordered lemon tart with vanilla ice cream ($9) to share. Topped with mixed berries in a crumbly crust, the curd was velvety smooth and bursting with citrusy goodness.
I was practically semicomatose after the meal, and the dimness only exacerbated the condition. Luckily I revived after a while to appreciate the romantic and tranquil ambience, though it’s a good couple of hours before I could move!
The staff were friendly, attentive and prompt except with the bill but an apology was offered. However, our server might have over-estimated how much we could eat and drink when making suggestions!
Note: It’s interesting The Playhouse is all ready for Halloween, which is still more than a month away!
Total damage: $108.90
The Whimsical Palate 