$50-80

FIFTYTHREE
The menu: Thanks to chef and owner Michael Han, the dishes on offer are well-executed and beautifully presented, with three options for each course. Our entrée of sashimi-style scallops with Earl Grey and lavender granita, balls of compressed watermelon, crisp chicken feet and passion fruit coulis was simply stunning, as were the mains of crisp pork belly with red cabbage puree and braised Wagyu cheek with asian pear ($10 supplement). Desserts don’t disappoint either. Give the five-spiced fried pineapple with brie ice cream a go ($5 supplement) or the Amedei Chuao chocolate ice cream with cassis leather and fresh berries ($10 supplement).
The damage: $53 for three divine courses.
The verdict: We’d gladly lunch here everyday, if we could. The space is understated and elegant (which makes it ideal for a business lunch or an intimate meal with a special someone), the service is exemplary, but above all, the carefully-prepared posh nosh is stellar. As a real bonus, the portions here are generous. We suggest setting aside at least a good hour and a half to get the most out of this experience.
53 Armenian St., 6334-5535. Mon-Fri noon-2pm.

LES AMIS
The menu: With eight starters, five mains and six desserts to choose from, they’ve certainly got their bases covered. We highly recommend chef Armin Leitgeb’s signature lightly-smoked eel “tiède,” with crispy pork croûton, shaved horseradish and Dijon mustard emulsion and homemade ramp leaf pasta with poached Maine lobster and chanterelles ($12 supplement). Other winning items include Hungarian goose foie gras ”parfait” with Gewürztraminer jelly and black Périgord truffles ($20 supplement) and charcoal-grilled Wagyu ribeye with Périgourdine sauce ($25 supplement). End your meal with rhubarb textures and tarragon-scented ice cream or be adventurous and try the pickled Hawaiian papaya, with frozen curry, ginger and lime.
The damage: It’s $70 for three and $88 for four (two appetizers, a main and one dessert) courses. Both sets include coffee or tea.
The verdict: We grant that lunch here doesn’t come cheap, but then again, you’re getting more than just fabulous food. The setting is exquisite.
#02-16 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., 6733-2225. Mon-Sat noon-3pm.

MAJESTIC RESTAURANT
The menu: Expect chef-owner Yong Bing Ngen’s signature style of modern Chinese fare with a twist, exemplified in dishes such as a combination platter of Peking duck skin, pan-seared foie gras and crispy soft shell crab with mangoes. Other dishes include double-boiled shark’s fin soup with black truffle, honey-glazed rack of lamb with XO carrot cake and stewed noodles with shredded abalone, mushrooms and truffle oil.
The damage: $40/60 per person for the five-course premium and deluxe set lunch respectively (for a minimum of two people).
The verdict: There’s just something about Chinese food that makes it bettersuited for bigger groups (we think four is the ideal number). While the food is good and service commendable, larger portions wouldn’t hurt.
G/F New Majestic Hotel, 31-37 Bukit Pasoh Rd., 6511-4718. Daily 11:45am-3pm.

SAINT PIERRE
The menu: The daily set lunch changes weekly, while the executive set lunch enjoys a daily update. We sampled the three-course daily lunch (with four different options for each course), as well as the executive set lunch (no choices, so it’s perfect if you’re indecisive). On our visit, starters such as roasted king prawn with lemon jelly or their classic pan-fried foie gras with port sauce ($8 supplement) were offered, while mains included white miso-crusted black cod with squid ink emulsion and low temperature-braised pork jowl with wasabi-pea velouté. For dessert, we had the choice of chestnut ice cream with white chocolate ganache or an assorted cheese platter ($8 supplement).
The damage: The daily set lunch costs $52 for three courses, while the executive set lunch ($75) has four courses (both come with coffee or tea). If you‘re just looking for a quickie, there’s the option of a main and dessert ($32) or a starter and main, with coffee or tea for $42 (but as far as we’re concerned, what’s the point in that?).
The verdict: The daily set lunch here has options aplenty, twelve in just three courses—you’ve got to love that. It’s also an understated, quiet space ideal for an intimate meal, although we’d only recommend it if you’ve got time to spare (our meal lasted about two hours). Truth be told, it’d be a crime to rush through a meal like this.
#01-01 Central Mall, 3 Magazine Rd., 6438-0887. Mon-Fri noon-2pm.

TIPPLING CLUB
The menu: Treat yourself to chef Ryan Clift’s scrumptious molecular gastronomy fare, without hurting your pocket. It’s a three-course lunch deal, with four different options for each course. We kicked things off with pan-seared Hokkaido scallops, cauliflower brûlée and sakura ebi; for mains, a hearty garden pea risotto with crisp bacon chips or pan-fried kingfish on a bed of beetroot-kuzu noodles. As a delightful finale, a snowball of white chocolate and coconut mousse with yuzu curd proved hard to resist.
The damage: Three courses will set you back $55, but trust us when we say, it’s entirely worth it.
The verdict: Lunches here aren’t quite as full-on as their five- or 10-course dinners, but on a Saturday afternoon, we reckon that’s a good thing. Plus, that just means we have a little more space in our bellies for their tasty cocktails.
8D Dempsey Rd., 6475-2217. Sat noon-2:30pm.