Facing Craig Road, Essen at the Pinnacle is a glorified food court that serves good quality food. (Thankfully, the drink stall isn’t too expensive. Please stay that way.) And Garçons (meaning “boys” in French) is a collaboration between Enoch Teo (of Enoch’s European) and Immanuel Tee (of Immanuel French Kitchen) who knew each other from their stints at Restaurant Andre. Having eaten at the former’s restaurant, I thought it was just ok. But this collaboration brings out the best in him, and there is a notable improvement. Two is better than one.

Garçons + Two Wings

Skip the pork ragout baked rice gratin ($11.50, above) which is a little dry, and isn’t cheesy enough. The pork comes in shreds–not shiok. Also skip the duck confit ($16.90, below), which is dry.

The chicken roti ($14.90) is half a spring chicken with sweet marinated skin. It reminds me of the Cold Storage’s chicken a few years ago, when it was still good and not overly roasted and dry like it is now. It’s not a bad thing to be like a good Cold Storage’s chicken.

The piece de resistance, 12-hour slow-cooked pork belly ($16.90, above), melts in the mouth and isn’t greasy at all. Although Huccalyly didn’t like the honey-balsamic reduction sauce drizzled on top, the other 3 of us loved the sweet sauce as it undercuts the fattiness of the pork. The softness of the fats contrasts the extreme crackling skin. This dish alone convinces me to return to the stall.

We spent about $60 for four persons.

Garçons

1 Cantonment Road, Essen at the Pinnacle #01-01, Singapore 080001
Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-10pm
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Food: 7/10
Value: 7.5/10
Service: NA (food court)
Ambience: NA (food court)
Rating: 3.625/5

There was no way that we could be near a Two Wings stall and not order it. Two Wings has established themselves to be one of the best deep-fried chicken wings in Singapore–super crispy and succulent without a single drop of oil on the golden surface.

This was the third time we had the wings, the first two times at the Bukit Merah outlet. And I’m glad to say strict standards are maintained.

Word of advice: The chilli sauce goes with everything, including the Garcons’ food. They need to bottle the chilli sauce and sell it ASAP.

Two Wings

1 Cantonment Road, Essen at the Pinnacle #01-01, Singapore 080001
T: +65 9667 0368
11:30 am-9:30 pm daily
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Written by A. Nathanael Ho.