Chef Patrick Heuberger, part-owner and chef of Le Bistrot du Sommelier (right) in a cooking class
Ms. Atas said, “Have you tried Le Bistrot du Sommelier? The steak is to die for. I must bring you there.” Run by Chef Patrick Heuberger, former executive chef of Au Petite Salut, the restaurant serves French-styled steaks.
Beef tenderloin
At the restaurant, we had the famous and signature cote de boeuf (pictured above, 0.8kg-1.2kg), which you have to pre-order a day in advance, that comes with two sides, a salad and sliced baked potatoes in cream and cheese, otherwise known as gratin. Was it the best steak I’ve ever eaten?
The steak was fantastic, juicy, buttery, done to a perfect medium-rare with slightly charred edges. But I think Ms Atas oversold it. With the profiteroles, which were the best in Singapore, crispy puff with super creamy ice cream, we paid slightly more than $80 each person. For that amount of money, I expected better. Besides, I didn’t think it was fair to weigh the bone with the meat and charge for the bone too?
The cost price of steaks isn’t expensive and another reason why I didn’t think the steak warranted such a high price is that the restaurant is cramp and noisy and the style is more of a rustic charm. If I go to JB, I want to pay JB prices. If the restaurant looks casual dining, I want to pay casual dining prices.
Onglet steak
Ms Atas was so smitten by Chef Heuberger that we paid $160 or so per person to attend his cooking demonstration. I shan’t mention the cooking school because it has terrible management issues but that bad experience aside, Chef Heuberger was witty and charismatic, and unlike Chinese kungfu masters who taught 90% of their skills to their disciples, Chef Heuberger taught us everything. All the taitais were enamored by him. You should see their starry, lovelorn eyes.
Cote de bouef
Because of this cooking class, I got to taste four different beef: tenderloin, cote de boeuf, onglet (hanger steak), and tartare. They all tasted amazing and cote de boeuf was indeed the best, juiciest, tenderest, most flavorful and fattest, although the onglet had a nice bite, which may appeal to people who like to chew a little. The secret to the delicious steaks? SO MUCH BUTTER.
In general, Le Bistrot du Sommelier is a cozy, homely restaurant with amazing steaks but I wonder if the price-tag is set too high.
Le Bistrot du Sommelier
53 Armenian St
T: 6333 1982
Website
Facebook
Rating: 3.722/5 stars
Categories: >$60, City Hall, Dhoby Ghaut, French, Large Group, Western
Rubbish Eat Rubbish Grow 
Actually the costs of steaks in Singapore are quite ridiculous, since most establishments use chilled beef not those frozen ones. And the onglet isnt exactly called a flank steak, known widely more as the thick skirt of hanging tender as most would call it
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Oh yes you’re absolutely right on both counts. Cost price of raw steak is cheap.
OMG, I know this is hanger steak. I don’t know why I wrote flank steak. My mistake. Thanks for pointing it out.
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You may wish to try their rillettes & head cheese at the rillette bar on level 2 of the restaurant. Absolutely divine stuff…. My hubby bought some for a french chef/wine maker to try & he thought it tasted better that those he get back home!
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Thanks for the recommendation! I will try it next time.
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