Be ‘Amused’ with this New Casual Eatery and Bar

Every Friday night, most restaurants in Orchard seem to be so jam-packed that it’s hard to find a place where you can chill out with friends. Thankfully, Esmirada Group has introduced a new restaurant which can serve as your sanctuary when you want to have a relaxing dinner to welcome the weekend.

Taking its name from the French term, ‘amuse bouche’ (which literally means mouth amuser), Amuse is a casual eatery and bar which serves a wide array of international mini bites and drinks amidst a snazzy setting in the city. To come up with the finest selection of quality fare, Managing Director Wolfgang Lapper has sought the help of renowned Chef Armin Leitgeb to come up with the dishes on their menu. His inspiration comes from over 20 years of experience of travelling and working in different countries. To make sure that the standards in all dishes are met, Chef Armin has also entrusted the kitchen to his right-hand man, Chef Lee Chee Kheong. Small Plates, Big Flavours

For a more fun dining experience, Amuse revolves around the idea of using small plates for their appetisers. But don’t mistake this for small portions for each dish is good enough for sharing with friends! Start with their bite-size appetisers which include the Salmon Tarte Flambe with sour cream and chives ($9), Beef Tartare Cone with horse radish mouse encased in filo pastry ($14), and the Chili Crab ‘Mantou’ Bun ($9).

After trying out the appetisers, make sure that you try their offerings under the Cured & Cheese. Some of the must-try items are their Joselito Iberico Grand Reserva Ham (40g/$30), Chorizo Iberico (40g/$12), Assorted Cheese Platter ($32), and the Crispy Pork Croutons served with lightly smoked eel ($17) or with the Iberico Pork Belly ($12). Bar Speak One good thing about Amuse is that you don’t have to find another place for drinks. They also have a bar area which has a wide selection of wines and drinks. The bar is headed by Austrian whiz kid, Klaus Leopold, who has come up with unique cocktails such as the Amber Bowl ($18) which is a combination of Rhum Vieux du Pere, apple juice, homemade vanilla syrup, Fee brothers orange bitters, and chilled with an ice ball moulded in-house.

Other highlights include Hugo, which is available by the glass ($12) and jug ($36) and Spritzer Aperol ($15 glass/$38 jug). These thirst quenchers are the rage in Europe and are the ideal drinks to cool you off on a hot weather. Also on their menu are popular tipples such as the sangria, mojito, margarita, and martini. For wine enthusiasts, you would be glad to know that Amuse has over 300 Austrian labels on its wine list. Each glass can be purchased for as low as $11 to $25. Cheap, right? Aside from Austrian wines, they have also imported other brands from France, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, and Australia. These drinks go well with the dishes on their menu. So, if ever you’re looking for a casual place to wine and dine, make sure you check out Amuse! See Also: Bars and lounges worth checking out Explore more dining options in Orchard