La Table d’Emma: New restaurant serves up homely French food at unbeatable prices
The elegantly simple name of La Table d’Emma greeted us on the first floor of Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre at Club Street. Opened in April 2024, it specialises in homely French Alsatian cuisine.
Beyond the doors, I could see an airy, bright space and a dance of square tables on an earthy wooden floor. Between the kitchen and me was a shelf of crockery but also books.
It was a scene that resembled the mild chaos of my own place. Homely, I agree. It’s even in the byline – Cuisine Comme à La Maison – food that tastes like home.
La Table d’Emma is named for Chef Michael’s wife. Notice the butterfly in the logo? A favourite of Chef and his mum, it symbolises transformation, particularly how a shared meal can soften hearts and change minds. I like that; it’s happened to me so many times.
I had hardly stepped into the restaurant and I was already rooting for it.
What I tried at La Table d’Emma
The butterfly theme continued indoors, with gorgeous lighting fixtures.
We started our Alsatian adventure with the regional speciality Flammekueche or tarte flambé. It consists of a thin bread dough base topped with fromage blanc, onions and lardons, which are thin strips of absolutely delicious bacon. Chef Michael has happily named his version La Fl-Emma-kueche.
It comes in 4 flavours – La Tradition Onion/Lardons (S$18), La Gratinée À L’emmental (S$20) with Emmental cheese instead of fromage blanc, La Champignons (S$22) which swaps onions for sauteed mushrooms, and La Salmon Fumé Maison (S$24) served with smoked salmon, capers and pickled red onions.
This was so good! I want to say that I loved them all but the La Tradition Onion/Lardons and La Champignons were especially heartwarming. It must be the creamy Fromage blanc– the soft creaminess pairs perfectly with the other ingredients to make every bite a symphony of taste and texture.
If you’re in the mood for seafood, we have to recommend the Seafood Bun with Comté Crust (S$26). Visually, the dappled green and red of the spices and garnishing made for an appetiser in itself. The Comté cheese crust was divinely rich and etched itself into the flavours of the foamy clam chowder. Creamy scallops, prawns and crabmeat completed the palette of myriad complementary flavours.
Our absolute favourite of the day, though, was the Les Bouchées À La Reine d’Emma (S$34). This is a puff pastry crowned with veal, chicken and mushroom velouté. Chef Michael’s butterfly inspiration materialised in the form of delicate pastry, adding a touch of beauty to the bowl (and a smile to my face).
It wasn’t all just looks, either– crisp and crunchy on the outside, it held a luxurious softness within. The velouté was one of the smoothest and creamiest I’ve ever had, truly living up to its name and being the perfect dipping partner for the pastry. We were surprised at the amount of meat there was in this dish; it will quite certainly leave you sated.
For dessert, the Le Mille-Feuille Vanille Hazelnut Praliné made its way to our table. You may know it as Napoleon or vanilla slice but I will just call it… LOVELY! Layers of exquisite vanilla pastry cream alternated between crisp puff pastry, all topped with the crunchiest hazelnut praline made for a light and airy but wonderfully indulgent dessert.
I’m someone who doesn’t particularly like flaky desserts… but I’d still have two!
Given Chef Michael’s long association with Singapore, it’s no surprise that La Table d’Emma has an August National Day Promotion with their Weekday Set Lunch. Celebrate our 59th National Day here all August with a 1-for-1 Set Lunch Menu at just S$59; it’s a beautifully-timed affair to discover the wonders of French cuisine in Singapore.
La Table d’Emma isn’t just for lunch or dinner; it’s the perfect canvas for your special events. Looking for a unique venue for your wedding or bridal shower? This spot offers a charming ambiance and exquisite cuisine to make your special day unforgettable.
Final thoughts
La Table d’Emma wants to brand itself as a homely corner of French Alsatian cuisine. Mission definitely accomplished.
From the décor to the stories behind the name and the motifs to the team behind the food, I am left with memories of a warm welcome and an endearing meal. The Les Bouchées À La Reine d’Emma and Le Mille-Feuille Vanille Hazelnut Praliné were particularly strong standouts, and flag bearers of quality French cuisine in Singapore for the everyday person.
It’s an oui from me!
Expected damage: S$30 – S$50 per pax
*This post is brought to you in partnership with La Table d’Emma.
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