Perfectly comfortable and perfectly bland, the Odette’s dining room certainly respects its National Gallery setting but is no advertisement for the fabulous food that comes out of the glass-enclosed, two-Michelin-starred kitchen. Romantic it is not. But while Odette’s intimacy factor may be on a par with the inside of a refrigerator, the culinary treats more than compensate for the restaurant’s palette of muted greys, off-pinks and really rather dreary mirrors and artwork.
Sit up and be amazed by the depth of a dish that champions turbot with Obsiblue prawns and Kaffir lime, or foie gras with abalone, smoked eel broth, cut through with the tangy flavours of yuzu and delectable for its combination of richness and piquancy. A signature creation is the rosemary smoked organic egg, which comes with smoked potato served from a syphon, chorizo Iberico and a meuniere sauce. This might be served with a classy Rioja Alta Blanco Seco.
The wine list, not unnaturally, is a serious excursion through the best French, Spanish and Italian vineyards with lots of serious price tags to match.
So, dont dwell on the mannered and comfortably elegant setting that helps rubber stamp the conservative nature of the clientele; rather settle in, make your order and marvel at the wonders of a kitchen which is both imaginative and technically spot on, and arguably the most accomplished kitchen in Singapore.