Wednesday, 8 June 2022

Racines – Delectable French Cuisine & Refined Asian Delights

Racines is the main restaurant of Sofitel Singapore City Centre. It serves authentic French cuisine and refined Local Chinese delights. The spread will be prepared by two different culinary teams to ensure the authenticity of the epic dishes.

Entrance to Racines
During our March staycation in Sofitel Singapore City Centre, we dined here to celebrate LD’s birthday. Do take note that Racines refresh their menu regularly, therefore, the food reviewed here might not be on their current menu.

Lychee Mojito
After we were seated, the service staff asked us to scan the menu using the QR code on the table. Once we completed our order, the service staff will bring us the bread bowl. They are served warm and served with unsalted butter.

Bread Bowl with unsalted Butter
We started our meal with Foie Gras ($26) - Pan-seared foie gras with roasted apricot, berry vierge and brioche. The foie gras has a nice seared externally. It is thick, smooth and creamy, paired well with the light and crisp brioche and berry sauce.

Foie Gras
Burratina ($32) with Roasted Cherry Tomato, Arugula and Pesto. One of our favourite cheeses and entree. The burratina is solid and creamy. Instead of the usual olive oil and balsamic vinegar, Racines uses pesto for that green robust flavour together with tomato, sliced radish and arugula salad. It will be nicer with more tomatoes though.

Burratina
Lobster Bisque ($26) with Seafood Ragout and ikura. Solid lobster bisque and you can taste the cognac in it. To add to the twist, the team added ikura inside for the bursting effect when you slurp the soup.

Lobster Bisque
Lamb Rack ($48) Chargrilled Rack of Lamb, Braised artichoke with onion confit, basil chimichurri sauce. The lamb rack is cooked nicely, leaving the middle meat section pink. The meat is tender, juicy, and absent of the strong lamb smell. I like the chimichurri sauce; however, LD disagrees with the peas.

Lamb Rack
Black Cod ($48) Baked Soy Black Cod with grilled leeks, crispy lotus and bonito butter sauce. We like the texture of the cod fillet, as it melts with each bite. It was even better when paired with the tomato and crispy sliced lotus. However, the bonito butter is a bit overpowering and more suitable for broccoli and corn instead of fish.

Black Cod
Black Cod
Baked Light Souffle ($20) with Cointreau with Lime Sorbet. A must order dessert. The souffle is eggy, light and fluffy. The pairing with lime sorbet is just awesome.

Baked Light Souffle
On our visit in April, we decided to try the 3-Course Degustation Dinner ($62).

Part of the Dining Area
We started with crispy toasted sourdough, slathered with a generous amount of duck rillette. It is rich and tasty, while the caramelized balsamic apple, provided the contrasting sweet and tangy flavour to balance the richness of the duck rillette.

Duck Rillette
Duck Rillette
Main was Chargrilled Angus Beef Ribeye with French Fries. Cooked to medium-rare, it is juicy and succulent. While the steak is good and paired well with the chimichurri sauce, the fries can be better with more time in the deep fryer.

Chargrilled Angus Beef Ribeye with French Fries
Dessert was Chocolate Cremeux - Valrhona Chocolate Guanaja crème with Walnut Praline and Caramel Ice Cream. Solid dark chocolate crème with a crispy tart. The caramel ice cream is bold, yet goes well with the chocolate crème. Yummy!

Chocolate Cremeux
Not forgetting, we also ordered the souffle again.

Baked Light Souffle
The décor of the restaurant is spacious and grand at the same time. When you walk into the restaurant, you can see different cooking stations such as dessert station and bakery before you enter the main dining hall. The bar and floor to ceiling wine fridge are the centrepieces of the restaurant. Though service is fine, there is still room for improvement.

The Bar & Wine Chiller
Overall, LD and I like the food served at Racines for the French. When we went in March and April, we notice the menu is similar. I noticed that they have changed the menu for June. No matter what’s on the menu, the souffle is a must-order here. Cheers!

Food & Drink: 7.5/10
Value: 6.5/10 (9/10 with Accor Plus benefits)
Service: 6.5/10
Ambiance: 8/10
Budget per Person: $51 - $80; $81 and above

Racines
9 Wallich Street
5th Floor, Sofitel Singapore City Centre
Singapore 078885

T: +65 6428 5000
OH: Daily
Breakfast, 07.00 – 10.30
Lunch, 12.00 – 15.00
Dinner, 17.30 – 22.00
Menu available online

Sunday, 5 June 2022

Sofitel Singapore City Centre - Luxury Club Room King Bed


Sofitel Singapore City Centre ★★★★★(5 Stars Hotel)
9 Wallich Street
Singapore 078885

T: +65 6428 5000

Room Type: Luxury Club Room, 1 King Size Bed
Room Size: 38sqm
Stayed: March & April 2022
Booking: Accor Plus Member

Sofitel Singapore City Centre
Sofitel Singapore City Centre is nestled in the integrated mixed-use development, Tanjong Pagar Centre. This 223-room luxury hotel is surrounded by heritage shophouses and skyscrapers.

Day View towards Chinatown
At Sofitel Singapore City Centre, you can expect a design that blends Singapore’s rich heritage culture with undeniable French flair. It is vibrant and luxurious yet subtle at the same time.

Location (9/10)
Situated above Tanjong Pagar MRT station, Exit A, the hotel is at a strategic and convenient location to move around. It is 1 MRT stop away from Raffles Place and within walking distance to Shenton Way. It will take about 20 minutes car ride to and from Changi Airport.

Sofitel Singapore City Centre - Night 
While the Guoco Tower mixed development offers a great spread of culinary delights, plus you will also be within walking distance to restaurants at Peck Seah Street, Tras Street, Tanjong Pagar Road and Duxton. If you prefer the famous Singapore Hawker food, Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market & Food Centre, Maxwell Market or even Amoy Street Food Centre are within your reach.

Night View from Room
With a quick stroll along the Tanjong Pagar area, you will be treated to heritage shophouses, temples and daily happenings of Singapore’s heartland as Tanjong Pagar residents going about their days. You can also expand your cultural treat by visiting the Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple or Chinatown Heritage Centre and the surrounding precinct.

Skyscrapers View from The Swimming Pool

Room (9.17/10)
Cleanliness (10/10). Space (9/10). Room Amenities (9/10). Ambience (9/10), Bed & Pillow (9/10), WiFi (9/10).

The room is modern and spacious. The first thing that I notice when I enter the bedroom is the bathtub. Though it is not in your direct line of sight, you just can’t miss it from the corner of your eyes.

The Eyecatching Bathtub
The layout of the room is more of a business hotel. There is King size bed, bedroom bench, desk, huge flatscreen TV, mini bar / beverage station and armchair with ottoman. Though the layout is very standard, it comes down to the small details where Sofitel touch just stands out. This includes the leather business chair, leather finishing on the mini bar and also bedside drawers and the floral artwork behind the armchair.

Luxury Club Room - King Size Bed
Luxury Club Room - King Size Bed
Armchair & Ottoman with The Sofitel Touch
The room is filled with natural lights due to floor to ceiling windows. In the evening, the LED lights lit up the room.

Working Desk
I later found out that the beds use Sofitel’s luxurious MyBed, which was firm yet soft at the same time. The pillow is a bit on the softer side, yet it still provides sufficient support for our heads. LD and I have a great sleep during our stay here.

Luxury Club Room With Natural Light
The bathroom is very spacious. You have a bathtub and basin area is in one section, while the shower and toilet have a separate cubicle, although they share the same glass door. We both totally love the bathtub.

The Bathroom
Shower & Toilet with Shared Door
The Shower Cubicle 
Shower Amenities
Toilet
Due to the Covid situation, the mini bar is empty. The hot beverage station is stocked up with instant coffee, TWG Tea and also Nespresso Coffee. Near the working table, you will also find a tea set, to cater to your drinking tea experience.

Mini Bar / Beverage Station - With Leather Finishing
Hot Beverages Selections
Tea Set
Room entertainment consists of 55” flat-screen TV, Bose sound system and a good WiFi connection. We were able to stream things on our mobile without any connection error.

Bose Entertainment System
Light & Climate Control System
Other amenities provided bottled drinking water, bathrobes, bedroom slippers, an extra pillow, an iron & ironing board, a foldable luggage stand, in-room safe and hairdryer. Not forgetting Sophie, your personal digital 24/7 concierge.

Wardrobe
Hairdryer, In-room safe & Slippers
Sophie
Dining (8/10)
High Tea at 1864 (8.5/10)
Having heard so much about the High Tea at Sofitel Singapore City Centre, we decided to give it a try. It is priced at $128++ for 2 pax. Served in a customise 2-layer box, it comes with selections of 7 sweets and 4 savouries for each person. Each diner has 2 choices beverages of coffee and tea. We find the high tea is very good, especially the scones and their sweet and savoury macarons.

1864 (Photo From July 2021, no bear)
1864 (Photo From July 2021, no bear)
High Tea 
High Tea
Club Millésime (8/10)
All day refreshment 7.30am to 9.30pm, Apéro Chic 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

Club Millésime
Club Millésime - Part of the Dining Area
Our Club room booking entitled us to Club Millésime, located in the 6th floor of the hotel. The Apéro Chic cocktail hour comes with a selection of canapes, cold cuts, cheeses and hot food together with cocktails, alcoholic beverages, and non-alcoholic hot and cold beverages.

Canapes and Cold Cuts during Apéro Chic
Racines (7.5/10)
Breakfast is served at Racine, in a semi-buffet format. The set menu is limited to 1 set per person, while the beverages and side dishes are free flow. The food is pretty good, especially the egg selections and hash browns. The service can be improved, as it can be very difficult to get the service staff’s attention.

Racines
Breakfast Order Menu (March 2022)
Omelette Set Menu with Viennoiserie Basket, Fruits & Coffee

Vegetarian Set, Waffle, Dim Sum Basket, Fruits, Toast & OJ (April 2022 Menu)
You can click here for the full review of Racines dinner (*will be available soon)

Hotel Facilities (9/10)
The reception is located on the 5th floor, however, the main lobby on the ground floor is not to be missed. You will be welcome by the Singapour Je T’aime, a stunning nine-metre chandelier designed by Lasvit. This stunning art installation of glass leaves that whirl through the lobby, comprises 700 hand-blown glass crystals. Though the crystals are nice, the bears located in the lobby and 1864 are the ones that catch my attention.

Ground Floor Lobby with Singapour Je T’aime
Reception at 5th Floor
The swimming pool and SoFit gym are located on the 6th floor. There is also a complimentary In-Room Fitness Kit and special access to Virgin Active Fitness Club at Guoco tower.

Kids Pool, Sunbathing Area and Lawn
Swimming Pool
Yoga Mat (In the room)
For those who drive, you can park your car at Guoco Tower Carpark B. There is no complimentary parking for hotel guests. However, parking after 5 PM on a weekday, the whole day for Saturday, Sunday and PH are very affordable, capped at $2.50. Updated parking rate, available here.

Services (8.5/10)
The overall service is warm, friendly and at times going above and beyond. Everyone always makes you feel welcomed. We notice that the hotel is short-handed as we see Guest Services Ambassadors and Food & Beverage Ambassadors deployed at different facilities in the hotel and at different times.

Xavier & Sophie
Overall
We have a great time staying at Sofitel Singapore City Centre. We find the accommodation to our liking and we also enjoy the benefits under Accor Plus member. We look forward to our future staycation here. Cheers!!

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