Outwardly, there is no prize for guessing what Le Quartier specialises in. One glance at its exterior – cool navy wood façade and panels of glass windows with sheer white curtains, a French brasserie easily comes to mind. But if that is your guess, then you’re only half right. Le Quartier, which means the neighbourhood in French, is by no mean your typical French restaurant.
It is a pleasant surprise to notice that, gastronomically speaking, the food selections in the menu do not stay put in the border of France. Here, you can find Angel Hair Aglio Olio and Risotto, sitting comfortably among the array of French cuisine like the no-brainer highlights, Escargots Bourgogne and Foie Gras with Blackcurrant Sauce. Another highlight worth mentioning is their Layered Cake of the Day. While it appears to be toothache inducing, the taste is anything but sinful.
Even though its interior looks lavish with decoration of chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, it manages to avoid looking ostentatious thanks to the wooden furniture that blurred the line between contemporary and antique. Guests could park themselves in the back of the restaurant while basking in warm sunlight that seeps through the glass ceiling – a clever solution to lunching in alfresco.
Le Quartier is also more than happy to prepare your favourite cocktail if you’re looking for more than the usual classic choices. But even if you’re not a big fan of alcohol, check out their Apple Iced Tea or Le Quartier Citrus Cooler – a refreshing combination of lemon, lime, cucumber, mint, berries, ginger syrup and sodas, that should have tasted odd but turns out to be a brilliant mix instead.
It’s easy to spent hours in Le Quartier given all the factors mentioned above. Once you settle in, it’s difficult to leave. But, perhaps noticing such effects that the restaurant induced, patrons won’t be chased out just because the clock strikes midnight. Here, you can stay and drink up to your heart’s content as long as you want. As they say in France, “Joie de Vivre!”
