The Place Located within Fort Canning Park at Pinacotheque De Paris, FORT by Maison Ikkoku was recently opened by the guys behind the popular café along Kandahar Street. Helmed by Executive Chef and Master Mixologist Ethan Leslie Leong, the restaurant and bar has an open concept setting where you can watch all the action with the food and cocktail preparations. The 30-seater restaurant is a cosy space with an industrial and modern chic look designed by Chef Ethan, with nice dim lighting at night and a certain level of privacy.

The Food Chef Ethan has a mixologist background, so you can expect a wide mix of cocktail selections and pairing with the dishes. For omakase lovers, starting 1 December 2015, FORT by Maison Ikkoku will launch their 12-course Omakase for just S$68++ per person.

It’s always nice to start with a welcome drink, and I know I’m in good hands.

From the ala carte menu, we tried some of the signature dishes such as The Sea (S$38++), a combination of Hokkaido Scallop, Irish Oyster, Seaweek, Ikura, Tobiko and Ebiko on a bed of sea salt sorbet. I was intrigued by the presentation other than the freshness of the ingredients, where I watched how the kitchen prepared each component of the dish. Talking about a multi-sensory dining experience, Chef Ethan believes the concept of a wholesome dining experience.

If you love eggs and cheese, it will be a no brainer to order The Nest (S$28). As its name suggest, the presentation took the shape of a bird’s nest using free-range chicken eggs and Mozarella cheese.

How interesting are the cocktails? You will know it’s a fun drink just by its label.

Another signature from the a la carte menu is The Fort (4 pcs S$18 / 8 pcs S$28), made up of Spicy Maguro Hand-roll. I like the local spiciness flavor being infused in a traditional Japanese handroll.

If you have not yet decided where to go for this festive season, the restaurant will be dishing out three-course Festive Menu at S$38++ per person till 31 December 2015, with cocktail pairing available for an additional $20++ for two unique festive cocktails.

The main course of the festive menu is the Holiday Turkey, decorated with watercress puree to add that festive touch. The turkey breast was marinated with a mix of herbs and spices and cooked sous-vide style, which I found to be quite tender unlike most Turkey I had elsewhere. There was also a slight tinge of truffle and cinnamon to deviate a little from the convention.

We tried the Martell Cordon Bleu Lavender Crème Brûlée, which was generously drowned with Martell, not kidding. The cocktail pairing was a very Christmas-y The Snowman, a concoction of spice rum with luscious buttered popcorn, hazelnut and milk.

Rants I must admit it can be quite an adventure to locate the restaurant within Fort Canning Park, which is a good fifteenth minutes walk from Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take it as a romantic stroll, rewarded with the greens of Fort Canning Park.

Will I Return Again? It was indeed a multi-sensory dining experience at FORT by Maison Ikkoku, which evoked my senses from the start to the end of the meal. Give it a shot(s) if you are looking for a wholesome dining experience at reasonable prices.

Make your reservation instantly at FORT By Maison Ikkoku here.

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 3.5/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4/5

FORT by Maison Ikkoku
5 Cox Terrace
Fort Canning Hill, Pinacotheque De Paris
Singapore 179620
Tel: +65 6336 0507

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 4pm to late

Ranted by the Ranter