Set Lunch at The Black Swan restaurant at Cecil Street, Singapore (Closed)

We recently had lunch at The Black Swan restaurant. It is located in that quirky semi-circular old building that sits at the corner where Robinson Road meets Cecil Street to become Collyer Quay. The first thing that came to mind when we entered the restaurant was “this is the perfect place to hold a Great Gatsby themed party!” The Black Swan is really a beauty that has emerged from its not so attractive duckling state of the past. Furnished with an Art Deco theme, we were initially more intrigued with the interior decoration than the menu.

Run by the Lo and Behold Group which also operates the White Rabbit (another beautiful restaurant), these folks apparently know a thing or two about how to set the mood for wining and dining. The restaurant serves “a fresh take on European bistro classics” and has a comprehensive food menu and an even more interesting drinks list. We were there for lunch and were interested to sample their set course lunch offerings. There is a choice of two or three course lunch at $38 and $44 respectively. We both opted for the latter. Our starters were the crab salad and the pan-seared foie gras, for which small upward price adjustments were required.

The salad was very nicely presented and had a few types of vegetables. The crab content was a bit on the low side and the overall dish was quite ordinary. The foie gras dish did not look as nice but was the better choice. The foie gras was smooth and creamy. It was the perfect companion for the toast. We had the duck confit and the Black Swan burger. The duck was very well done with the outside super crispy and the meat inside remaining moist. It was also not gamey at all which is the way I like my duck. The burger came highly recommended. It was attractively served on a wooden platter with a cup of thick-cut fries on the side. The burger was good but not particularly memorable. The fat fries were actually more interesting. One good thing about The Black Swan restaurant is that the portions are just the right size. Not too big or small. By the end of the main course we had just a bit of space left for dessert.

The desserts looked much more attractive than the preceding dishes. Thankfully, they tasted as good as they looked. The dark chocolate dome was simple but will be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates dark chocolate. But the best dish of the day award went to the date and toffee pudding. Now, this was something memorable and it has the taste and texture that you can recall days after you leave the restaurant. The combination of caramelised banana and pudding was not too sweet. The desserts brought the meal to a sweet ending. Overall, the set lunch selections were not bad but we had expected more for our lunch which averaged $50 plus each after all the add-ons. With the benefit of our experience, the best combination for the set lunch at The Black Swan restaurant would be the foie gras, duck confit and toffee pudding. We should add that the coffee was very good and served in a very tasteful manner. We also post below a small sample from their regular menu for a feel of what they offer apart from their set lunch items.

Ratings:
Food: 3
Value: 2
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Overall Rating: 3 TOPs    

The Black Swan
19 Cecil Street
Singapore 049704

Tel: +65 8181 3305

Opening Hours
Monday – Thursday: 11:30am – 1am
Friday: 11:30am – 2am
Saturday: 5pm – 2am

Nearby Stations: Telok Ayer, Raffles Place

#Street Fact – Cecil Street was named after Governor Sir Cecil Clementi Smith who was Governor of the Straits Settlements between 1887 and 1893. Smith Street and Clementi Road were also named after him.

 The Ordinary Patrons
Singapore Food Blog by Ordinary People looking for Places to Eat