New in town: Aux Bacchanales, Plaza Singapura — A neat taste of France

Maybe it’s one too many rewatchings of Ratatouille, but my yearning for French food demands quick satisfaction. Luckily for me, Aux Bacchanales has landed in our little red dot. To provide some backstory, this actually isn’t a French chain, to begin with. Instead, it helms from Tokyo, where the bistro boasts nine outlets across Japan. 

Its tenth and first overseas outlet sets up shop in Plaza Singapura, where diners can look forward to indulging in a plethora of French classics after their sessions of retail therapy. Aux Bacchanales stays true to the Parisian theme by adopting a classy layout of plush leather chairs and glossy wooden tables. While we’re still caught in the thick of a pandemic, perhaps a trip to this unique French-inspired eatery could provide us with some respite from the dreaded travel bans.

Now onto the food. If you aren’t familiar with French cuisine, here’s the perfect introductory course with Aux Bacchanales’ specially curated plates to give you a neat little taste of France. It’s difficult to discuss the topic of French food without mentioning crepes. But let’s move past that and talk about galettes instead. These are savoury pancakes made from buckwheat flour instead of wheat flour that’s used in crepes. 

The Galette au Jambon et Champignon (S$15.80) is a fun amalgamation of crispy fried enoki mushrooms, ham, cheese, and an egg in the centre for all things savoury and delicious. If you’re looking to sample some authentic dishes from France, this is a great place to start, at least for now.

As for the main dishes, nothing screams simple French fare like the Steak Frites (S$32.80 for Sirloin, S$34.80 for Ribeye). There’s little not to love about a hunk of grilled beef alongside a mound of crispy french fries, and over here, you can expect this excellent pairing of meat and potatoes to warm your belly. There’s also an enticing red-wine infused Bordelaise sauce to slather your steak with. 

I’ve only scratched the surface at Aux Bacchanales, and I think that a proper visit is due. Who knows, maybe I’ll see you there while munching on pastries and sipping coffee on a quiet Friday afternoon.